GRAMMAR
Articles
Definite article
Basic uses of articles are assumed known.
• Classes
This is one way to refer to classes, and is perhaps more formal than using a plural: The tiger is threatened with extinction.
• National groups Groups as a whole:
The French eat in restaurants more than the English. Single examples are not formed in the same way: a Frenchman/woman, an Englishman/woman
• Other groups
If these are clearly plural:
the Social Democrats, the Rolling Stones
• Unique objects
the moon, the sun Note that there are other suns and moons in the universe. This planet has a small moon.
• Titles
These tend to be unique'.
the director of studies If the title is post-modified (has a description coming after the noun), the is more likely, but not essential. Compare:
She became President in 2008.
She became (the) president of the country in 2008.
• Other titles
The may be part of the title, and so is capitalized. Newspapers: The Independent, The Sunday Times
• Musical instruments
Jane plays the flute, (in general) The guitar is my favourite instrument, (in general) It is, of course, still possible to use an article when we refer to an object. There was a small brown flute in the window of the shop.
9 Emphatic use
This is heavily stressed and emphasizes the following noun.
This hotel is the place to stay. See also Grammar 12.
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GRAMMAR 14 ARTICLES
• Geographical names The following use the:
Rivers: the Thames
Mountain ranges: the Alps
Oceans: the Mediterranean
Unique features: the Channel, the Arctic
Compass points/areas: the East, the Middle East
Countries: collective or plural: The United Kingdom, The Netherlands This does not apply to:
Mountain peaks: Everest (but The Matterhorn)
Lakes: Lake Geneva
Continents: Asia
Countries: France The definite article is sometimes used before Lebanon and Gambia: The Lebanon      The Gambia
• Place names
Post-modification, especially with ... of... plays a role in place names. Compare:
Leeds University/The University of Leeds
London Bridge/ The Tower of London If the first part of a place-name is another name, then normal rules about zero article apply.
Browns Restaurant
The Garden House Hotel The same applies in geographical names:
Canvey Island
The Isle of Man
• Most and the most
Most hotels in England are very expensive, (making a generalization) This is the most expensive hotel in town, (talking about a specific hotel)
• Importance of context
The definite article refers to already mentioned items, and so its use depends on context.
The Smiths had a son and a daughter. The son was in the Army and the daughter was training to be a doctor. On the Saturday, there was a terrible storm. Here, the Saturday refers to a day in an area of time already mentioned. On the Saturday of that week ...
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ADVANCED LANGUAGE PRACTICE Indefinite article
• Jobs
Compare: Tony is a builder. Tony was the builder of that house.
• In measuring
Three times a week. Fifty kilometres an hour. £3.50 a kilo. £15,000 a year. Formally, per can replace a/an.
She was convicted of driving at more than 120 kilometres per hour.
• Unknown people
Use of a/an emphasizes that a person is unknown. A Mr Jones called while you were out.
Zero article
• Names Compare:
Matthew Smith is one of my favourite artists, (a person) A Matthew Smith hangs in their bedroom, (a painting)
• Some unique organizations do not use the.
Parliament, but The (House of) Commons
• Streets
Most streets do not use an article.
Green Road Godwin Street
Common exceptions are:
The High Street The Strand
and street names without preceding adjectives. Compare:
Holly Drive The Drive
Translation problems
Study these sentences. Would you use an article in your language? I really like rugby. A pound and a half of cheese. I was holding it in my hand. Its a film about homeless people. Terry has flu. I've got a headache.
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GRAMMAR 14 ARTICLES
1 Complete the text by writing a/an or the in each space, or leave the space blank.
It has been announced that for (1).........tye.........third consecutive month
there has been (2).......................rise in (3).......................number of
(4).......................people unemployed, rather than (5).......................fall that
had been predicted. (6).......................rise was blamed on (7).......................
continuing uncertainty over (8).......................government economic policy,
and couldn't come at (9).......................worse time for (10).......................
Prime Minister, who is facing (11).......................growing criticism over
(12).......................way (13).......................present crisis is being handled.
(14).......................MPs are increasingly voicing (15).......................fears that
despite (16).......................recent reduction of (17).......................business
taxes and cuts in (18).......................interest rates, (19).......................
government still expects (20).......................recovery of the economy to take
three or even four years. To make (21).......................matters worse,
(22).......................number of small businesses going into (23).......................
liquidation is still at (24).......................record level, and (25).......................
housing market is showing no signs of recovery. Some backbenchers expect
(26).......................general election before (27).......................end of
(28).......................winter unless there is (29).......................rapid change of
(30).......................fortune.
2 Underline the most suitable option. A dash (-) means that no article is included.
1 Helen doesn't like the/- cream cakes sold in a/the local bakery.
2 The/- handball is fast becoming a/the popular sport worldwide.
3 We could see that the/- Alps were covered in the/- snow.
4 Its a/- long time since I met a/- lovely person like you!
5 Carol has a/- degree in the/- engineering from the/- University of London.
6 At the/- present moment, the/- man seems to have the/an uncertain future.
7 The/- problem for the/- today's students is how to survive financially.
8 The/- French enjoy spending holidays in the/- countryside.
9 Please do not turn on a/the water-heater in a/the bathroom.
10 Sue bought a/the Picasso I was telling you about the/- last week.
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ADVANCED LANGUAGE PRACTICE
3 Correct any errors in these sentences.
1 Its not a first-class accommodation unless it has a private bathroom.
it's v^ot fyrs.t-class acc,ovu.vu,odatiov^ unless It has a -private bathroom,.
2 On this record twins play piano duet.
3 The halfway through meal we realized what waiter had said.
4 If the Mrs Hillier phones, say I'm away on trip.
5 There is a wonderful scenery in eastern part of Turkey.
6 Cocker spaniel is one of most popular pet dogs.
7 There is going to be fog and a cold weather all the next week.
8 I spent very interesting holiday at the Lake Coniston in England.
9 We are against war in general, so of course we are against war like this between superpower and developing country.
10 The burglaries are definitely on increase.
4 Complete each sentence with a/an or the, or leave the space blank.
1 I'm going to stand for Parliament at.................next election.
2 When I left.......................station, I had to stand in.......................queue for
.......................taxi for.......................long time.
3 We took.......................trip around London and saw.......................Tower Bridge.
4 .......................happiness of the majority depends on.......................hard work for
everyone.
5 .......................most main roads in this part of.......................country follow
.......................line of.......................roads built by.......................Romans.
6 Have you got...............the new album by..................Anxious Frogs'?
7 If I had.......................time, I would like to take up.......................archery.
8 We spent.......................pleasant evening having.......................meal at....................
Pizza Pan Restaurant.
9 .......................Nile flows right through.......................city.
10 .......................summer I spent in.......................USA was one of.......................best
in my life.
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