She was very courageous to learn to _______ski at fifty.
Last updated Jun 24, 2026
Correct Answer:
Option B —
No Article
The sentence should read: "She was very courageous to learn to ski at fifty."
Why "No Article" is the correct choice:
Verb Usage: In this sentence, "ski" is used as a verb (the action of sliding on snow). When used as a verb, we do not place an article before it.
Activity vs. Noun: We use articles like "the" before sports or activities only when we are referring to them as specific nouns (e.g., "The skiing at this resort is excellent"). In your sentence, however, "ski" is part of the infinitive phrase "to ski," which describes the action she learned.
Why the other options don't fit:
A) a: An article cannot be placed before an infinitive verb (e.g., "to a ski" is grammatically incorrect).
C) an: Similar to "a," this article is used before nouns starting with a vowel sound. It is not used before a verb.
D) the: Using "the" here ("to the ski") would turn the action into a noun, suggesting she learned to use a specific piece of equipment (the ski), rather than learning the activity of skiing itself.
Answer verified by Quintessence Classes faculty — Karan Nagar, Srinagar.
