Unit
41
Agreement between subject and verb (2)
With any of, each of, either of, neither of, or none of and a plural noun/pronoun we
can use a singular or plural verb. However, we are more likely to use a singular verb in careful written English.
With a/the majority of, a number of, a lot of, plenty of, all (of), or some (of) and a plural noun/pronoun we use a plural verb. But if we say the number of, we use a singular verb.
After one of and a plural noun/pronoun we use a singular verb. However, after one of + plural noun/pronoun + who we can often use either a singular or plural verb, although a plural verb is more grammatical.
With any of, none of, the majority of, a lot of, plenty of, all (of), some (of) and an uncountable noun we use a singular verb.
With every or each and a singular noun or co-ordinated noun (x and y) we use a singular verb. (For each of, see above.)
With everyone, everybody, everything (and similar words beginning any-, some- and no-) we use a singular verb.
□ I don't think any of them knows (or know) where the money is hidden.
□ Neither of the French athletes has (or have) won this year.
□ A number of refugees have been turned back at the border.
□ The number of books in the library has risen to over five million.
□ One of the reasons I took the job was that I could work from home.
□ He's one of those teachers who insist/ insists on pupils sitting silently in class.
□ All the furniture was destroyed in the fire.
□ None of the equipment appears to be damaged.
□ Every room looks over the harbour.
□ Every boy and girl takes part in the activity.
□ Each child has drawn a picture, hut
□ The children have each drawn a picture.
□ Practically everyone thinks that Phil should be given the job.
When a subject has two or more items joined by and, we usually use a plural verb:
□ Jean and David are moving back to Australia.
However, phrases connected by and can also be followed by singular verbs if we think of them as making up a single item:
□ Meat pie and peas is Tom's favourite at the moment, (or ...are...)
□ The lorry, its cargo and passengers weighs around 35 tonnes, (or ...weigh...)
When a subject is made up of two or more items joined by (either)...or... or (neither)...nor... we use a singular verb if the last item is singular (although a plural verb is sometimes used in informal English), and a plural verb if the last item is plural:
□ Either the station or the cinema is a good place to meet, (or ...are... in informal English)
□ The President or his representatives are to attend the meeting.
If the last item is singular and previous item plural, we can use a singular or plural verb:
□ Either the teachers or the principal is to blame for the accident, (or ...are to blame...)
In there + be/have (see Unit 95) we use a singular verb form with singular and uncountable nouns and a plural form with plural nouns. However, in informal speech we often use a shortened singular form of be or have (= There's) with plural nouns:
□ Over the last few years there have been many improvements in car safety.
□ There's been lots of good films on lately, (or There've been...)
We often do the same with how/here/where + be/have:
□ How's your mum and dad these days? (or How are...})
Exercises
Unit 41
For each set of sentences, choose an appropriate noun or phrase from (i) and a verb from (if). Use the present simple for the verb, active or passive as appropriate. If both singular and plural verb forms are possible, give them both. (A)
his early paintings
Dr Jones's acquaintances
my children the food
know      remain remember
taste
1 a I'd be surprised if any of ...m^^^Jm^MLxm^Mk.... my birthday.
b It's unlikely that any of........................................................................It seems that he destroyed most of the
work he produced during the 1930s.
c  I don't think any of.......................................................................particularly good. In fact, the restaurant is
rather disappointing.
d An investigation is underway to discover whether any of.......................................................................where
he is.
i)	other museums	vegetarians	(a)	charge	exceed	expect	relieve
	victims	medicines					
a Mainly because of the recent health scares involving beef and chicken, the number of
.................................... to rise dramatically in the next five years.
b You can still go into the National Museum for free, although a number of ....................................in
the capital....................................people for entry.
c A number of....................................the symptoms of influenza, but none can cure it.
d It is estimated that the number of....................................of the flooding....................................a hundred
thousand, and further deaths are anticipated.
player the cars these factors
the pieces
influence      last test
try
3 a The whole concert includes 20 short items from young musicians. Each of
.......................................................................about 5 minutes.
b There are four major influences on exchange rates: price levels, tariffs, preference
for imported goods, and productivity. Here we investigate how each of
.......................................................................the exchange rate.
c The aim of the game is quite simple. Each.......................................................................to buy as many
properties on the board as possible, d Each of.......................................................................for safety, fuel economy and reliability.
Complete the sentences with present simple forms of the verb in brackets. If both a singular and plural form are possible, give them both. (A-D)
1 Plenty of European football clubs....................................interested in signing Nilsen from Rowham
City, but the Rowham manager has said that no-one at the club....................................Nilsen to leave.
(bel want)
2 The majority of those questioned....................................that the government's economic polices have
failed, although neither the Prime Minister nor the Education Minister.................................... indicated
that these policies will change, {think/ has)
3 "It's the first time that either of us....................................been to China, but everyone we've met
here....................................been very welcoming and helpful." (have/ have)
4 Professor Smith and Dr Peters....................................that the wreck of the ship and its cargo
....................................a danger to local people fishing near the island, (claim/ constitute)
5 "Oh, good, sausages and chips.................................... my favourite." "Sorry, all the sausages
....................................gone, but there.................................... plenty of chips left if you want some."
(bel has! be)
83
Unit
42
Agreement between subject and verb (3)
Some nouns are usually plural and take a plural verb. These include belongings, clothes, congratulations, earnings, goods, outskirts, overheads, particulars (= information), premises (= building), riches, savings, stairs, surroundings, thanks. The noun whereabouts can be used with either a singular or a plural verb. The nouns police and people always take a plural verb, and the noun staff usually does:
□ The company's earnings have increased for the last five years.
□ Police believe that Thomas is in Brazil, although his exact whereabouts are/is unknown.
□ Staff say that the new computer system has led to greater levels of stress in their work.
Some nouns always end in -s and look as if they are plural, but when we use them as the subject they have a singular verb:
□ The news from the Middle East seems very encouraging.
Other words like this include means (= 'method' or 'money'); some academic disciplines, e.g. economics, linguistics, mathematics, phonetics, physics, politics, statistics; some sports, e.g. athletics, gymnastics; and some diseases, e.g. diabetes, measles, rabies. However, compare:
academic subject	general use
□ Politics is popular at this university.	□ Her politics are bordering on the fascist. (= political belief)
□ Statistics was always my worst subject.	□ Statistics are able to prove anything you want them to. (= numerical information)
□ Economics has only recently been recognised as a scientific study.	□ The economics behind their policies are unreasonable. (= the financial system)
Although the words data and media (= newspaper, television, etc.) are plural (with singular forms datum and medium), they are commonly used with a singular verb. However, in formal contexts such as academic writing a plural verb is preferred. Notice that other similar plurals such as criteria and phenomena (with singular forms criterion and phenomenon) are always used with plural verbs. Compare:
□ All the data is available for public inspection, (or ...are available...) and
□ I agree that the criteria are not of equal importance, (not ...the criteria is not...)
With a phrase referring to a measurement, amount or quantity we usually prefer a singular verb:
□ Only three metres separates the runners in first and second places, (rather than ...separate...)
□ The fifty pounds he gave me was soon spent, {rather than ...were...) and a singular verb must be used when the complement is a singular noun phrase (e.g. a long time):
□ Three hours seems a long time to take on the homework, (not Three hours seem...)
After per cent (also percent or %) (of) we use a singular verb if the per cent phrase refers to a singular or uncountable noun and a plural verb if it refers to a plural noun. Compare:
□ An inflation rate of only 2 per cent makes a big difference to exports, and
□ I would say that about 50 per cent of the houses need major repairs.
However, where we use a singular noun that can be thought of as either a whole unit or a collection of individuals, we can use either a singular or plural verb:
□ Some 80 per cent of the electorate is expected to vote, (or ...are expected...)
D
84
Exercises
Unit 42
42.1 Make any necessary corrections to the underlined verbs. (A-D)
1 Dr Jones's whereabouts has been kept a closely guarded secret by his family.
2 Bill Clinton's politics was inspired by John Kennedy.
3 Phenomena such as sun spots have puzzled scientists for centuries.
4 Some 30 per cent of the milk drunk in the country are. imported.
5 When the soldiers got lost in the jungle, their only means of survival were to eat berries.
6 Over the last decade the company's overheads has increased dramatically.
7 The research data was collected during the period 12th-29rh July 2002.
8 You don't need much sugar for this pudding; ten grams are enough.
9 Modern linguistics is often said to have begun at the start of the 20th century.
10 Congratulations goes to Richard Branch for his excellent exam results.
11 The coastal surroundings of the village is particularly attractive.
12 Nowadays politics seem to be more about saving money than changing society for the better.
13 He feels that the media have criticised him unfairly.
14 I know people often have to wait for hospital treatment, but two years seems ridiculously long.
15 Measles have killed a large number of children in the Nagola region.
16 Further particulars about the house are available from the owner.
17 Around 90 per cent of the concert audience was over 60 years old.
18 Ten kilometers are a long way to run if you're not fit.
19 If athletics are neglected in schools, this will have a big impact on future national teams.
20 People says the house is haunted.
21 Recent statistics provide firm evidence of a rapid increase in living standards in Asia.
22 About 60 per cent of the people questioned wants cars to be banned from the town centre.
42.2 Complete these extracts from newspaper articles with a singular or plural form of the verbs in brackets. If both singular and plural forms are possible, give them both. (A-D; also Unit 40)
1 The outskirts of our cities....................................(have) benefited from the new out-of-town shopping
centres that....................................(have) recently been built.
2 On average, 25 litres of water....................................(be) used each day by each household and it is
anticipated that as the population....................................(expect) higher living standards, this figure
will rise.
3 It has been found that some 30 per cent of the office space in London....................................(be)
presently empty and the Department of Employment....................................(blame) high property
prices.
4 Three centimetres....................................(be) all that separated the first two runners in last night's
10,000 metres and the sports club....................................(have) declared the race a dead-heat.
5 The research group now.................................... (admit) that the criteria they used in the work
....................................(be) not totally reliable.
6 Following last week's major art theft from the Arcon Art Gallery, the premises....................................
(be) searched by police last night and the owner's belongings.................................... (have) been taken
away for further inspection.
7 A survey of the opinions of British students.................................... (show) that economics
....................................(be) the least popular subject studied at university. However, 90 per cent of all
those economics students surveyed....................................(believe) that their courses are well taught.
8 Sufferers from diabetes....................................(have) welcomed the launch by Federex of a new drug to
combat the disease. The company....................................(say) that earnings from the drug
....................................(be) to be put back into further research.
Unit
43
Compound nouns and noun phrases
In a compound consisting of noun + noun, often the second noun gives the general class of things to which the compound belongs and the first noun indicates the type within this class. The first noun usually has a singular form:
□ an address book (= a book for addresses; not an addresses book)
However, there are a number of exceptions. These include -■& when the first noun only has a plural form:
□ a savings account      a customs officer      a clothes shop (compare a shoe shop)
the arms trade (arms = weapons)      a glasses case (glasses = spectacles. Compare 'a glass case' = a case made of glass)      an arts festival (arts = music, drama, film, dance, painting, etc. Compare 'an art festival'; art = painting, drawing and sculpture) ■fr when we refer to an institution (an industry, department, etc.), such as
□ the building materials industry      the publications department
which deals with more than one kind of item or activity (different types of building material, different forms of publication).
Notice that to make a compound noun plural we usually make the second noun plural:
□ coal mine(s)      officc-worker(s)      tea leaf/tea leaves
Sometimes a noun + noun is not appropriate and instead we use noun + -'s + noun (possessive form) or noun + preposition + noun. In general, we prefer noun + -'s + noun -■it when the first noun is the user (a person or animal) of the item in the second noun:
□ a baby's bedroom      a lion's den      a women's clinic      a girls' school      birds' nests H when the item in the second noun is produced by the thing (often an animal) in the first:
□ goat's cheese      duck's eggs      cow's milk
(Note, however, lamb chops and chicken drumsticks (= the lower part of a chicken's leg)) & when we talk about parts of people or animals; but we usually use noun + noun to talk about parts of things. Compare:
□ a woman's face      a boy's arm      but      a pen top      a computer keyboard
We prefer noun + preposition + noun -■& when we talk about some kind of container together with its contents. Compare:
□ a cup of tea (= a cup with tea in it)      and      a tea cup (= a cup for drinking tea from) ■fr when the combination of nouns does not refer to a well-known class of items. Compare:
□ income tax (a recognised class of tax)   and a tax on children's clothes (rather than 'a children's clothes tax')
■ir in the phrases bird of prey   rule of thumb   Chief of Staff  commander-in-chief sister-in-law Notice that we usually make a plural form of these phrases by making the first noun plural (e.g. birds of prey). However, we can say either sisters-in-law or sister-in-laws (and brothers-in-law or brother-in-laws, etc.).
Some compound nouns are made up of verbs and prepositions or adverbs, and may be related to a two- or three-word verb (see Unit 94). Compare:
□ Mansen broke out of the prison by dressing as a woman. (= escaped) and
□ There was a major break-out from the prison last night. (= prisoners escaped)
Countable compound nouns like this have a plural form ending in -s:
□ read-out(s)      push-up(s)      intake(s) outcome(s) However, there are exceptions. For example:
□ looker(s)-on (or onlooker(s))      runner(s)-up      passer(s)-by hanger(s)-on
We can form other kinds of hyphenated phrases that are placed before nouns to say more precisely what the noun refers to:
□ a state-of-the-art (= very modern) computer      day-to-day (= regular) control Grammar review -» compound nouns H4-H6; possessive forms H7-H12
Exercises
Unit 43
43.1 Study the italicised text and make corrections where necessary. (A ft B)
1 Tom worked for a long time in (a) the parks department, but a few years ago he retrained, and now he's (b) a computers programmer. Of course, what he really wants to be is (c) a films star!
2 I was waiting at (a) the bus stop this morning when a cyclist on her way to the (b) girl school up the road got knocked off her bike. Someone got out of a car without looking and (c) the car's door hit her. She was very lucky not to be badly hurt, although she did have (d) a head cut.
3 I shouldn't be long at (a) the corner shop. I've just got three things on my (b) shopping list -(c) a milk bottle, (d) a biscuit packet, and (e) some teethpaste. I'll also look for (f) some goat's cheese, but I don't think they'll have any.
4 The tracks on his latest CD range from (a) love songs to (b) pollution songs.
5 Mary hated going into her grandfather's old (a) tools shed. It was full of (b) spider webs.
6 When Sue was cleaning her (a) armschair, she found a lot of things that had slipped down the back. There was an old (b) pen top, a piece from (c) the 500-pieces jigsaw puzzle that her daughter had been doing, and her (d) glass case with her sunglasses inside.
43.2 First underline the two-word verbs in sentences 1-5, then complete sentences 6-10 with appropriate compound nouns related to these two-word verbs. (C)
1 Dennis tried to cover up the fact that he had gambled and lost most of his money.
2 It is reported that cholera has broken out in the refugee camp.
3 I'm flying to Sydney, but I'm stopping over in Singapore for a few days on the way.
4 On the first Friday of each month, a few of us get together and play ten-pin bowling.
5 We set out from the camp early in the morning, hoping to reach the summit by midday.
6 The minister was taken ill in Iceland during a short....................................on his way back to Canada.
7 We didn't have a big party for Jane's 50,h birthday, just a family.....................................
8 Allegations of a....................................of a major leak of radioactive waste from the nuclear power
plant have been strongly denied by the Energy Ministry.
9 Only two years ago there was a serious....................................of malaria in the town.
10 Even at the....................................of the expedition, they knew they had little chance of crossing the
desert.
43.3 Complete the phrases in (i) with a word from (ii) and then use them in the sentences below. To help you, the meaning of the phrase is given in brackets. (D)
day-to	down-to-	larger-than-	(»)	clock		earth
man/woman-in-the-	once-in-a-	step-by-		life	lifetime	road
middle-of-the-	round-the-			step	street	
1 Although the Managing Director of Transcom was involved in major decisions, she left the ....dSHzf£.~.4$li.....running of the company to her staff, (routine)
2 The Party will never regain power unless it can persuade....................................voters that it has rid
itself of corruption, (not politically extreme)
3 Since the attempt to assassinate him last year, the Defence Minister has been given ....................................protection by the police, (all day and all night)
4 The bookcase came with simple,.................................... instructions on how to assemble it.
(progressing from one stage to the next)
5 When the comet passes close to Earth next week, scientists will have a....................................
opportunity to study its effects on our atmosphere, (very rare)
6 Terry has a refreshing,....................................approach to management. He's much less concerned with
theory than with getting things done in the most efficient way possible, (practical)
7 The....................................isn't interested in the finer points of the government's tax policy. They just
want to know if they are going to take home more or less pay. (ordinary person)
8 Her father was a....................................character who was well known throughout the village for his
eccentric way of dressing and outspoken views, (more exaggerated than usual)
A/an and one
We use a before nouns and noun phrases thar begin with a consonant sound. If the noun or noun phrase starts with a vowel letter but begins with a consonant sound, we also use a:
□ a university (/a ju:n.../)      a European (/a joar.../)      a one-parent family (/a waii.../)
We use an before words that begin with a vowel sound:
□ an orange      an Italian      an umbrella These include words that begin with a silent letter 'h':
□ an hour      an honest child      an honour      an honorary degree
and abbreviations said as individual letters that begin with A, E, F, H, I, L, M, N, O, R, S or X:
□ an_MP (/an em pi:/)      an_FBl agent (/an ef bi: ai.../)      an IOU (/an ai ao ju:/)
But compare abbreviations said as words:
□ a NATO general (/a neitau.../) a FIFA official (a fi:fa.../) but an OPEC meeting (/an aopek.../) Notice that we say
□ a history (book)   but an (or a) historical (novel)
We use a/an (not one) to talk about a particular but unspecified person, thing or event:
□ I really need a cup of coffee.
□ You never see a police officer in this part of town, do you?
We also use a/an, not one, in number and quantity expressions such as:
□ three times a year    half an hour    a quarter of an hour    a day or so (= 'about a day') 50 cents a (= each) litre (notice we can also say '50 cents for one litre')
a week or two (= somewhere between one and two weeks; notice we can also say 'one or two weeks')
a few      a little      a huge number of...
We use a rather than one in the pattern a...of... with possessives, as in:
□ She's a colleague of mine.
□ That's a friend of Bill's.
Before a singular countable noun one and a/an both refer to one thing:
□ We'll be in Australia for one year, (or ...a year.)
□ Wait here for one minute, and I'll be with you. {or ...a minute...)
Using one in sentences like these gives a little more emphasis to the length of time, quantity, amount, etc.:
□ He weighs one hundred and twenty kilos! Would you believe it! (using one emphasises the weight more than using a)
However, we use one rather than a/an if we want to emphasise that we are talking about only one thing or person rather than two or more:
□ Do you want one sandwich or two?
□ Are you staying only one night?
□ I just took one look at her and she started crying.
We use one, not a/an, in the pattern one...other/another:
□ Close one eye, and then the other.
□ Bees carry pollen from one plant to another.
We also use one in phrases such as one day, one evening, one spring, etc. to mean a particular, but unspecified day, evening, spring, etc.:
□ Hope to see you again one day.
□ One evening, while he was working late at the office...
Grammar review: articles -» 16-17
Exercises
Unit 44
Write a or an in the spaces. (A)
1 ..................unpaid bill
2 ..................DIY shop
3 ..................MA in Russian
4 ..................Euro
5 ..................MiG fighter plane
6 ..................Olympic medal
7 ..................AGM
8 ..................U-turn
9 ..................heirloom
10 ..................NASA space launch
11 ..................UN decision
12 ..................SOS message
13 ..................F grade
14 ..................hero
Change a/an or one in these sentences if necessary, or write /. In which sentences are both a/an and one possible? (B £t C)
1 I usually go to the gym four times one week.
2 There's more than one way to solve the problem.
3 I phoned the council to complain, but just got passed on from a person to another.
4 The rate of pay is really good here. You can earn over £20 one hour.
5 Maybe we could go skiing one winter.
6 The apples are 50 cents one kilo.
7 Are you hungry? Would you like one piece of cake?
8 The rules say that there is only one vote per member.
9 You can get seven hours of recording on one disc.
10 'What would Nick like for his birthday?' 'Why don't you ask Emma? She's one good friend of his and will have some ideas.'
11 There's one pen on the floor. Is it yours?
12 The library books are due back in one month.
13 Do you want some of my chips? There are too many here for a person.
14 I'm going to London for one day or two.
15 Either I'll work late tonight or I'll come in early tomorrow, but the report's got to be finished by lunchtime a way or another.
16 It will take more than one morning to finish the decorating.
V
Which is more appropriate, a/an or one? If both a/an and one are possible, write them both. (B Et C)
1 If you wait....................................second I'll get my coat and come too.
I want to see the river....................................last time before I leave.
The Queen is visiting the city....................................day in November.
It was announced that the plane would be approximately....................................hour late.
I could hear the sound of....................................helicopter in the distance.
6 I'd just like to say....................................thing before I go.
7 Martha's baby is....................................year old already.
Dinner should be ready in....................................hour or so.
Paul came over....................................evening last week.
I've painted ....................................wall already and I'll do the other tomorrow.
I'd like to make....................................point here, Ken, if I may.
8
9 10 1 1
12 ....................................large number of people had gathered in the square.
Unit
45
A/an, the and zero article (1)
We usually use the when we talk about things which are unique - there is only one of them (or one set of them):
□ the world    the sky    the atmosphere    the sun    the ground    the climate     the sea the horizon    the human race    the environment    the travel industry    the arms trade
We also refer to general geographical areas with the as in:
□ the beach      the country      the countryside      the town      the seaside      the forest where 'the country' or 'the countryside' means 'the area where there are no towns'. We also talk about:
□ the past      the present      the future
Notice, however, that some nouns like this can be used with zero article (i.e. no article) to refer to a concept in general:
□ Climate is one of the many factors involved in changing farming methods, (or The climate...)
□ The flowers grow best in sandy soil and sun. (= sunshine)
□ In autumn the temperature difference between land and sea reduces, (or ...the land and the sea...)
If we want to describe a particular instance of these we can use a/an. Compare:
□ I could see the plane high up in the sky. and
□ When I woke up there was a bright blue sky.
□ What are your plans for the future? and
□ She dreamt of a future where she could spend more time painting.
We can use the when we make generalisations about classes of things using singular countable nouns. (See also Unit 47A.) Compare the use of the and a/an in these sentences:
□ The computer has revolutionised publishing, (this refers to computers in general) but not A computer has revolutionised publishing, (computers in general have done this, not an individual computer)
□ The computer is an important research tool, and   □ A computer is an important research tool, (this statement is true of both the general class and the individual item)
As an alternative to the + singular countable noun we can use a plural countable noun to talk about a class of things:
□ Computers are an important research tool.
Notice that if the is used with plural and uncountable nouns we refer to a specific thing or group:
□ The computers have arrived. Where shall I put them?
□ The music was wonderful. I could have listened to the orchestra all night.
When we define something or say what is typical of a particular class of people or things, we generally use a/an rather than the:
□ A corkscrew is a gadget for getting corks out of bottles.
□ A garden is there to give you pleasure, not to be a constant worry.
Some nouns can be used uncountably when we talk about the whole substance or idea, but countably when we talk about an instance or more than one instance of it. When these nouns are used countably we can use a/an (and plurals). Compare:
□ I don't drink coffee.    and   □ Would you like a coffee? (= a cup of coffee)
□ She's got blonde hair,  and   □ There's a hair in my soup!
□ He shook with fear.    and   □ He has a fear of heights.
There are many other nouns like this, including conversation, grammar, importance, iron, pleasure, shampoo, sound. (For more see GR:H2 Et H3.) Some of these nouns (e.g. grammar, iron) have different meanings when they are used countably and uncountably (see GR:H3).
Grammar review: articles -» 11-19; countable and uncountable nouns -* H1-H3
Exercises
Unit 45
45.1 Choose one of the following words to complete these sentences. Use the same word in each pair. Add the or a/an in an appropriate place. (A)
beach      future      past world
1 a I think the best Australian wine is as good as any in.....................................
b As a child, Ethel would often daydream about travelling forward in time to....................................
very different from the one she lived in.
2 a If we are elected, we will build our policies on the simple belief that our purpose is to create
bright....................................for our children rather than achieving short-term goals for ourselves.
b Although our current financial position is worrying, we have many new orders for our products and....................................is bright.
3 a As I get older, I seem to remember....................................better than things that happened
very recently.
b At the age of 98, Johnson has....................................that goes back to the start of the last century.
4 a If you want to get away from it all, you can take a small boat to deserted....................................
on one of the islands.
b Dear Mum and Dad, We're having a great holiday. The weather's wonderful and we're spending most of our time on.....................................
45.2 Underline the correct or more likely answer. If both answers are possible, underline them both. (B)
1 We get some strange requests in our shop. We had the customer/ a customer in the other day who wanted to buy chocolate-covered ants.
2 It sometimes seems that the individual/ an individual can have little impact on the decisions that governments take.
3 The invention of a carl the car is normally attributed to the German engineer Gottlieb Daimler.
4 The television! A television has changed the way we obtain information more than any other modern invention.
5 The campaign against smoking in public places argues that its harmful effects are not confined to the smoker/ a smoker.
45.3 Use each of these nouns twice to complete the sentences. Where necessary, add a/an at an appropriate place in the sentence. (C)
conversation      grammar      importance      iron      pleasure      shampoo sound
1 My sisters were clearly having / serious .....so I didn't like to disturb them.
2 It now gives me great....................................to introduce that marvellous ventriloquist, Marco Lutman.
3 The Nile is of critical....................................to the social and economic life of Egypt.
4 As we walked through the jungle we heard....................................we weren't expecting - the ring of
a mobile phone.
5 The failure to teach....................................in schools has caused an overall decline in people's ability
to write well.
6 Most red meat is relatively high in.....................................
7 Within a day of washing my hair it starts to feel greasy. I have yet to find....................................
to solve this problem.
8 ....................................travels at different speeds, depending on the temperature of the air.
9 I got.................................... in my eye this morning in the shower and it's made it really sore.
10 It's real.................................... to travel by rail in Sweden. The trains are clean and punctual.
11 I have.................................... of English printed in 1890 on very thin paper.
12 Because the central government has relocated there, the town of Paraga has taken on ....................................out of all proportion to its size.
13 Although he's got.................................... he never seems to use it. His shirts are always creased.
14 As she walked into the party,....................................ceased and everyone in the crowded room stared
at her.
A/an, the and zero article (2)
We use a/an to say what a person's job is, was, or will be:
□ She was a company director when she retired.
□ Against her parents' wishes, she wants to be a journalist. However, when we give a person's job title, or their unique position, we use the or zero article (i.e. no article), not a/an. Compare:
□ She's been appointed (the) head of the company, and
□ I'm a production manager at Fino. (= there may be more than one production manager)
After the position of, the post of, or the role of we use zero article before a job title:
□ Dr Simons has taken on the position of Head of Department.
We usually use zero article (i.e. no article) before the name of an individual person or place. However, we use the -
when there are two people with the same name and we want to specify which one we are
talking about:
□ That's not the Stephen Fraser I went to school with.
but compare 'There was a Stephen Fraser in my class.' (= a person named Stephen Fraser) & when we want to emphasise that the person we are referring to is the most famous person with that name. Used this way, the is stressed and pronounced /di:/:
□ Do they mean the Ronald Reagan, or someone else?
•fr with an adjective to describe a person, or another noun which tells us their job:
□ the late Buddy Holly □ the artist William Turner when we talk about a family as a whole:
□ The Robinsons are away this weekend.
Notice that a/an, or sometimes zero article, is used with a name when referring to the particular excellent qualities of the person named:
□ Jane plays tennis well, but she'll never be (a) Steffi Graf.
We also use a/an when we refer to an individual example of a product made by a particular manufacturer (e.g I've just bought a Mercedes) or a work by a particular artist (e.g. Do you think it could be a Van Gogh/a Rembrandt?).
You can use a/an before a person's name if you don't know the person yourself. Compare:
□ Dr Perch is here for you. (= I know Dr Perch) and
□ There's a Dr Kenneth Perch on the phone. (= I haven't heard of him before) Do you want to talk to him?
In stories and jokes in conversation, this is commonly used instead of a/an to introduce a new person or thing. Using this highlights the person or thing as the topic of what is to come next:
□ As I was walking along, this spider (= 'a spider') landed on my head, and...
□ This man (= 'a man') goes into a chemist and he says...
We use the before a superlative adjective (the biggest, the most expensive, etc.) when the superlative adjective is followed by a noun or defining phrase:
□ He is the finest young player around at the moment.
However, we can often leave out the, particularly in an informal style, when there is no noun or defining phrase after the superlative adjective. Compare:
□ a: Why did you decide to stay in this hotel?
B: It was (the) cheapest, and It was the cheapest I could find.
Grammar review: articles -» 11-19
Exercises
Unit 46
46.1 Put a/an, the or zero article (-) in the spaces. Give all possible answers. (A-C)
1 A special award was given to....................................novelist Ian McMurphy.
2 I've been offered the position of....................................Director of Personnel.
3 I've always wanted to meet....................................Michael Owen.
4 'What make is your computer?' it's....................................Mac'
5 I'm....................................marketing adviser at Unifleet.
6 Let me introduce you to....................................Paula Cox.
7 We met our good friend....................................Jean Wools when we were in....................................Plymouth.
8 I found myself talking to....................................George Bush! Not....................................George Bush, of
course, but someone with the same name.
9 Brian's....................................manager of the local football team.
10 I didn't even know Joan was interested in art until I heard that she owns....................................Van
Gogh.
11 When Jennie was young she knew.................................... Picasso.
12 She was determined to be....................................author.
13 He has been appointed.................................... Minister for Industry.
14 She recently became....................................minister in the new government.
15 We're going on holiday with....................................Smiths.
16 He's really keen on playing football. He likes to think of himself as.................................... Ronaldo.
17 .................................... Linda Green is outside. Do you want to see her?
46.2 If the underlined the can be left out of these sentences, put brackets around it. (E)
1 It's the best ice-cream I've ever tasted.
2 Jack's boat wasn't the most elegant in the harbour, but it was certainly the biggest.
3 I thought the second competitor was the best, even though he didn't win a prize.
4 This is by far the most valuable painting in the collection.
5 'Why did you ask Jim to go first?' 'Because he's jhe oldest.'
6 Sapphires occur in a variety of colours, but blue ones are the most valuable.
7 The Pacific is the biggest ocean in the world.
8 It's supposed to be the. oldest post office in the country.
46.3 Complete the text with a/an, the, zero article or this. Give alternatives where possible. (Units 45 a 46)
0B
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Something very strange happened to me the other night. As I was going home
(1)....................................man came up to me. He had (2)....................................untidy hair and
(3)....................................paint all over his clothes. He told me that he was (4)....................................
head of the local council and that he was offering me a job as (5)....................................road
sweeper. He said that (6)....................................road sweeper earns a great deal of money
and that I would have (7)....................................responsibility for miles of roads. Well, I just
said 'No thanks' and walked on. When I looked back he had stopped
(8)....................................woman. He was telling her that he was (9)....................................President
of the United States and that he wanted her to be (10)....................................Defence
Secretary...
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Unit
47
94
A/an, the and zero article (3)
With plural and uncountable nouns, zero article (i.e. no article) is used to talk generally, without definite people or things in mind. The is used when we assume the listener or reader will understand who or what we are referring to, or when other words in the noun phrase make the reference specific. Compare:
i i The government has promised not to tax books. (= books generally) and
□ The books have arrived. (= the books you ordered)
□ Music played an important part in his life. (= music generally) and
□ I thought the music used in the film was the best part. (= this particular music)
We often use zero article with the names of holidays, special times of the year, months, and days of the week including Easter, Ramadan, New Year's Day. But compare:
□ I'll see you on Saturday. (= next Saturday)    □ We met on Saturday. (= last Saturday)
□ They arrived on a Saturday as far as I can remember, (we are only interested in the day of the week, not which particular Saturday)
□ They arrived on the Saturday after my birthday, (a particular Saturday, specifying which one)
With winter, summer, spring, autumn, and New Year (meaning the holiday period), we can use either zero article or the:
□ In (the) summer I try to spend as much time as I can in the garden.
We use the when it is understood or we go on to specify which summer, spring, etc. we mean:
□ I'd like to go skiing in the autumn. (= this year) □ I first went skiing in the spring of 1992. We say 'in the New Year' to mean near the beginning of next year:
□ I'll see you again in the New Year.
When we want to describe the features of a particular holiday, season, or other period of time and say that it was somehow special when compared with others, we can use It/That was... + a/an + noun + modifying phrase. Compare:
□ That was a winter I'll never forget. (= compared to other winters it was unforgettable) and
□ That was the winter we went to Norway. (= a statement about a particular winter)
We use zero article with times of the day and night such as midnight, midday, and noon:
□ If possible, I'd like it finished by midday.   □ Midnight couldn't come quickly enough. But notice that we can say either the dawn or dawn:
□ He got back into bed and waited for (the) dawn.
We use the + morning/afternoon/evening for a day which is understood or already specified:
□ I enjoyed the morning, but in the afternoon the course was boring. But compare:
□ Morning is the time I work best. (= mornings in general; The morning... is also possible)
□ I'll be there by (the) morning/evening, (but ...by the afternoon, not ...by afternoon)
□ I waited all morning, (more usual than all the morning/afternoon, etc.)
□ 'You look upset.' 'Yes, I've had a terrible morning.' (= compared to other mornings)
We use by + zero article to talk about means of transport and communication, including go/travel by car/taxi/bus/plane/train/air/sea; contact/communicate by post/email/phone.
Compare:
□ I generally go by bus to work,   and □ I generally take the bus to work.
We often use zero article in patterns where repeated or related words are joined by a preposition and used with a general meaning:
□ The government makes grants according to criteria that differ from region to region. Other examples include person to person, back to back, end to end, face to face, side by side, start to finish, day by day, put pen to paper.
Grammar review: articles -* 11-19
Exercises
Unit 47
Complete these sentences using one of these words. Use the where necessary. Use the same word in both (a) and (b) in each pair. (A)
agriculture      children      fire      holidays      islands      money      parents rain
1 a ....................................as young as ten are working in the clothing industry.
b While you're painting the sitting room, I'll take....................................over to the park.
2 a As the soil quality deteriorated, so too did....................................on which the region depended.
b Around 60% of the labour force in the county is supported by.....................................
3 a Around the world ....................................are being threatened by rising sea levels.
b ....................................off the east coast of Malaysia are beautiful.
4 a I've been really busy at work, so I'm really looking forward to.....................................
b ....................................in the Brazilian rainforests are now becoming popular with adventurous
travellers.
5 a Farmers will be hoping for....................................in the next few weeks.
b Last night....................................was torrential.
6 a I've left....................................I owe you on your desk.
b It is said that....................................is the root of all evil.
7 a Using the new software,....................................will be able to monitor their children's use of the
Internet.
b ....................................of Paul Thomas claimed that he was at home at the time of the robbery.
8 a It isn't known how....................................started.
b Animals fear....................................more than anything else.
Write a/an, the or zero article (-), whichever is more likely, in the spaces in these sentences. Where more than one answer is possible, consider any difference in meaning. (B, C ft D)
1 a Do you remember when Mark and Julie came over and had that terrible row? That was
....................................day I wouldn't want to go through again.
b I couldn't go to Jane's party. It was....................................day I was babysitting for Derek and
Linda.
2 a 'Shall we go out walking on ....................................Sunday?' 'No, I'm busy this weekend.'
b I know the meeting will be on....................................Sunday in June, but I don't know the exact
date yet.
3 a Arc you talking about....................................Christmas we spent in Sweden?
b I'll see you again after....................................Christmas.
4 a The exam results will be sent by.................................... post on 24th August.
b The application forms came in....................................post this morning.
5 a I'd been working in the garden all....................................afternoon and my back ached.
b I've spent....................................afternoon on the phone to my mother.
6 a That old coat of yours won't be warm enough for....................................winter.
b 'I haven't seen Jack for months.' 'He's been away in South Africa for....................................winter.'
7 a The early train to Cambridge was cancelled so I had to go by....................................car.
b It's raining so I think I'll take....................................car.
Complete the sentences using one of the phrases in E. (E)
1 They sat.......................................................................on the bench looking out over the countryside.
2 She was in hospital for several weeks, but.......................................................................her health improved.
3 Tiger Woods is celebrating.......................................................................victories in his last three golf
tournaments.
4 The island is so small you can walk from....................................................................... in about an hour.
5 The disease is easily spread from ........................................................................
Some
Before plural and uncountable nouns we sometimes use some or zero article (i.e. no article) with very little difference in meaning:
□ 'Where were you last week?' 'I was visiting (some) friends.'
□ Before serving, pour (some) yoghurt over the top.
With both some and zero article we are referring to particular people or things but in an indefinite way. When it is used in this way, some is usually pronounced /sam/.
We don't use some to make general statements about whole classes of things or people (GR:I8 Et 19):
□ Furniture can be an expensive item when you buy your first home.
□ Babies need lots of care and attention.
Some is used before a number to mean 'approximately':
□ Some eighty per cent of all residents took part in the vote. (= approximately eighty per cent; beginning 'Eighty per cent...' suggests a more precise figure)
When it is used in this way, some is usually pronounced /saiti/.
When we can't say exactly which person or thing we are talking about because we don't know, can't remember, or want to emphasise that it is not important, we can use some instead of a/an with a singular noun. When it is used in this way, some is usually pronounced AsAm/.
□ He was interrupted twice by some troublemaker in the audience.
We use the phrase some(thing) or other in a similar way:
□ I bought them from some shop or other in New Street, (not ...from a shop or other...)
Any
We usually use any not some (and anyone, anything, etc. not someone, something, etc.) -ft in non-affirmative contexts; that is, lacking positive, affirmative meaning. ft to refer to non-specific, unspecified things.
For example, we generally use any in sentences with a negative meaning when they include negative adverbs such as barely, hardly, never, rarely, scarcely, seldom; negative verbs such as deny, fail, forbid, prevent, prohibit, refuse; negative adjectives such as impossible, reluctant, unable, unlikely; and the preposition without:
□ There's hardly any sugar left. We must get some when we go shopping.
□ I boarded up the windows to prevent any damage during the storm.
□ It was impossible to see anything in the dark.
□ We didn't have tickets, but we got into the stadium without any difficulty.
However, we use some with these negative words-ft when some (pronounced /saiti/) has the implication 'not all' (see 113):
□ We were able to prevent some damage to the house. (= but not all of it)
□ 1 talk to colleagues before I take some decisions, but this one I had to decide on my own. ft when the basic meaning is positive:
□ Somebody isn't telling the truth. (= There is some person (who isn't telling the truth)) ft when we are talking about a particular but unspecified person or thing:
□ I was reluctant to repeat something so critical of Paul. (= a specific criticism)
We often use any in clauses that begin with before, and with comparisons:
□ I cleared up the mess before anyone saw it. ('...before someone saw it' suggests that I have a particular person in mind who might see it)
□ She has as good a chance as anybody of winning the race.
□ The material felt softer than anything she had ever touched before.
Grammar review: some -* 110-114, any -» 115-119, anyone, someone, etc. -* 120-121
Exercises
Unit 48
Complete the sentences with some or zero article (-). If both some and zero article are possible with little difference in meaning, write (some). (A Et GR 110-114)
1 There have been....................................allegations of corruption in the government.
2 If you're going to the library, could you take back....................................books that I've finished reading?
3 The price of........,..........................coffee is at an all-time low.
4 The door kept flying open in the wind so I tied it up with ....................................string.
5 I'm going into town to buy....................................clothes.
6 Tony knows more about....................................jazz than anyone I've every met.
7 It costs much more to make....................................films today than 10 years ago.
8 I need to get.................................... bread from the supermarket.
Rewrite these newspaper headlines in your own words using some to mean 'approximately'. The first is done for you. (B)
1
250 people charged with assault following Molton riots
2 (30^OFALL CITY BUSESFQUND ToIbEUNSAFE^ Unexploded bomb found 5 miles from Newham centre
4
?.S   OF ELECTRICITY FROK'. WiNO   Y >b?U ' 200 jobs to be lost at Encon steel works
Complete the sentences in any appropriate way using some + singular noun or some + singular noun + or other. The first is done for you. (C)
1 I don't know where I got the information from. I must have heard it ^SXLSBSS&lSSSJ&.....
..M.9.<&XM}™.$.S$L.^&1:......
2 I don't know where Richard is. He's probably.................................................................................................................................
3 1 don't know where the book is. Maybe I lent it.............................................................................................................................
4 I don't know where Maggie works. I think it's in.........................................................................................................................
5 I don't know why Ken is still at work. Perhaps he's got to..................................................................................................
Complete these sentences with some, someone, something, any, anyone or anything. Where both some(one/thing) or any(one/thing) are possible, write them both and consider any difference in meaning. (D Et E)
1 John worked hard at learning Japanese but failed to make....................................real progress.
2 I was unable to eat....................................of the food.
3 I always offer to help organise school concerts, but there is seldom....................................for me to do.
4 Janet Jones is....................................I rarely see these days.
5 He denied that he had done....................................wrong.
6 I always get to work before....................................else.
7 The theatre is unlikely to have....................................tickets left for tonight's performance.
8 Despite rowing as hard as we could, we had progressed barely....................................distance from
the shore.
9 ....................................parents never seem to have time to sit down and talk to their children.
10 The regulations of the game forbid....................................ball to rise above shoulder height.
1 I When I last lent my laptop to a friend it came back damaged, so I'm reluctant to lend it
to....................................else.
12 She valued friendship more than....................................in the world.
97