Seminar 4B -- Tasks / Worksheet 4 I. Questions 1. a) What do the initial capitals in writing reflect? (e.g. Mount Everest) b) Consider also words such as Hell, Fate, etc. and the following sentence -- `How did Man first discover fire?' 2. Some proper names can be `reclassified as common nouns'. How do you understand this statement? Give examples referring to places and people. 3. Consider the meaning of and differences between the following noun phrases: a) Shakespeare b) young Brown a Shakespeare (two meanings) old Brown the old Shakespeare the Browns the young Shakespeare 4. Explain the use of `the' in the following sentence: `Is he the Newman who went to school with Tom?' 5. The use of articles can be important also semantically. What's the meaning of `Mississippi' and `the Mississippi'? 6. Explain the use of articles and other determiners in the following sentences: a) Do you know that your Mr Wingate has been accused of fraud? b) The Johnsons are giving a party next week. c) That Mr Phillips has been on the phone again! d) The flower arrangement was done a Miss Hilton in Park Road. e) This is a photo of me and Bill Clinton. -- Do you mean the Bill Clinton? 7. What's the difference in reference between the following phrases: a) England v. the England of Queen Victoria b) Brno v. the Brno of my youth 8. Give an example of a name containing a genitive. Do we use `the' in such a phrase? 9. Which of the following phrases are wrong? a) the Lord Nelson a) Sir James b) the Captain Smith b) Sir James Wilson c) the President c) Sir Wilson 10. Explain the difference between: a) He arrived on Sunday. b) He arrived on a Sunday. When do we use `the' with days? Give an example. 11. Names of streets and cities are used without articles, but there are some exceptions. Which ones? 12. Names of countries can be used with or without `the'. Give examples. 13. What' s the meaning or reference of the word `Italian' in the following sentences: a) The new Italian government decided to raise taxes. b) She speaks Italian fluently. c) I met an Italian in Prague once. I showed him around the city. d) The Italians at the next table are rather noisy. e) The Italians are an energetic people. 14. Both the following phrases are correct and there's no difference in meaning. Explain the use of the article. She's American. = She's an American. Think of some similar examples, other than nationality. II. PRACTICE 1. Put in `the' where necessary: 1. Who is _________ Doctor Johnson? 2. I was ill, so I went to see _____ doctor. 3. _______ President is the most powerful person in _____ United States. 4. _______ President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. 5. Do you know _______ Wilsons? They're a very nice couple. 6. Do you know _______ Professor Brown's phone number? 2. Some of the following sentences are correct, but some need `the'. Correct the sentences where necessary: 1. Everest was first climbed in 1953. 2. Milan is in north of Italy. 3. Africa is much larger than Europe. 4. Last year I visited Mexico and United States. 5. South of England is warmer than north. 6. Portugal is in Western Europe. 7. France and Britain are separated by Channel. 8. Jim has travelled a lot in Middle East. 9. Chicago is on Lake Michigan. 10. The highest mountain in Africa is Kilimanjaro. 11. Next year we are going skiing in Swiss Alps. 12. United Kingdom consists of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 13. Seychelles are a group of islands in Indian Ocean. 14. River Volga flows in Caspian Sea. 3. Choose the correct form: 1. Have you ever been to British Museum / the British Museum? 2. Hyde Park / The Hyde Park is a very large park in central London. 3. Another park in central London is St James's Park / the St James's Park. 4. Grand Hotel / The Grand Hotel is in Baker Street / the Baker Street. 5. We flew to New York from Gatwick Airport / the Gatwick Airport near London. 6. Frank is a student at Liverpool University / the Liverpool University. 7. If you're looking for a good clothes shop, I would recommend Harrison's / the Harrison's. 8. If you're looking for a good pub, I would recommend Ship Inn / the Ship Inn. 9. Statue of Liberty / The Statue of Liberty is at the entrance to New York Harbour / the New York Harbour. 10. You should go to Science Museum / the Science Museum. It's very interesting. 11. John works for IBM / the IBM now. He used to work for British Telecom / the British Telecom. 12. Which cinema are you going to this evening? -- Classic / The Classic. 13. I'd like to go to China and see Great Wall / the Great Wall. 14. Which newspaper shall I buy -- Independent / The Independent or Herald / The Herald? 15. This book is published by Cambridge University Press / the Cambridge University Press? 4. Supply `the' or -: 1. I like to read newspapers like ____ Times and _____ Washington Post. 2. I read _____ Economist every week and ______ Time magazine. 3. Do you think ____ New Yorker and _____ Punch have much in common? 4. We can't be sure about the history of ______ human race, but _____ man developed earlier than we think, though we certainly weren't around at the time of ____ dinosaurs. 5. A lot of people object to attempts to bring up ____ Titanic. 6. France celebrated the 200^th anniversary of _____ French Revolution in 1989. 7. My oldest son joined ____ Navy and now my youngest son wants to join ____ Army. 8. In many countries the head of state is called ______ President. 9. Do you know who killed ______ President Lincoln? 10. Because of `the greenhouse effect' _____ climate of the world is changing. 5. Which of the following are wrong or unacceptable: 1. Excuse me, Mr -- can you tell me the way to the station, please? 2. Good morning, Doctor. 3. Don't ask me. Ask Mrs Elizabeth. 4. Can I introduce you to Mrs Elizabeth Jackson? 5. I have an appointment with Doctor White. 6. Can I help you, Mrs? 7. Can I help you, Madam? 8. May I have a word with you please, Professor? 9. I've addressed the letter to Professor John Williams. Is that right? 10. Nurse, could I speak to you for a moment, please?