14 G R A M M A R Articles Definite art icle 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 threaten[.]
14 GRA M M AR 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 m ore than the English Single examples are not formed in the same way: a Frenchm an/w om an, an Englishm an/w om an • Other groups If these are clearly plural: the Social Democrats, the Rolling Stones • Uniąue objects the moon, the sun Note that there are other suns and moons in the universe This planet has a smali moon • Titles These tend to be ‘uniąue’ the director ofstudies If the title is post-modified (has a description coming after the noun), the is more likely, but not essential Compare: She becam e President in 2008 She becam e (the) president o fth e country in 2008 • Other titles T he may be part of the title, and so is capitalized Newspapers: The Independent, The Sunday Times • Musical instruments Janeplays th eflu te (in generał) The guitar is my favourite instrument, (in generał) It is, of course, still possible to use an article when we refer to an object There was a smali brow nflute in the window o fth e shop • Emphatic use This is heavily stressed and emphasizes the following noun This hotel is the place to stay See also Grammar 12 104 GRA M M AR14ARTICLES • Geographical names The following use the: Rivers: the Tham es Mountain ranges; the Alps Oceans: the M editerranean Uniąue features; the Channel, the Arctic Compass points/areas: the East, the M iddle East Countries: collective or plural; The United Kingdom , The Netherlands This does not apply to: Mountain peaks: Everest (but The M atterhorn) 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 o f plays a role in place names Compare: Leeds University/T/ic University of Leeds London Bridge/T/ie 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 H ouse Hotel The same applies in geographical names: Canvey Island The Isle of Man • M ost 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 T he Smiths had a son and a daughter The son was in the A rm y 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 ofthat week 105 ADVANCED LANGUAGE PRACTICE Indefinite article • Jobs Compare: Tony is a builder Tony was the builder o f that house • In measuring Three times a week Fifty kilometres an hour £ a kilo £ ,0 0 a year Formally, p e r can replace a/an She was co m icted o fd riv in g at m ore than 120 kilometres p er hour • Unknown people Use of a/an emphasizes that a person is unknown A M r Jones called while you were out Zero articie • Names Compare: Matthew Smith is one o f my favourite artists (a person) A Matthew Smith hangs in their bedroom (a painting) • Some unique organizations not use the Parliament, but The (H ouse of) Com m ons • Streets Most streets 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 p o u n d and a h a lf o f cheese I was holding it in my hand Its a film about homeless people Terry has fiu l ’ve got a headache 10 106 GRA M M AR14ARTICLES Com ple te the text by w riting a /a n or th e in each space, or leave the space blank It has been announced that for ( ) third consecutive month there has been ( ) se in ( ) number of ( ) people unemployed, rather than ( ) fail that had been predicted ( ) rise w as blamed on ( ) continuing uncertainty over ( ) governm ent economic policy, and couldn't come at ( ) worse time for ( ) Prime Minister, who is facing ( 1 ) gro w ing criticism over ( ) w ay ( ) present crisis is being handled ( ) M Ps are increasingly voicing ( ) fears that despite ( ) recent reduction of ( ) business taxes and cuts in ( ) interest rates, ( ) governm ent still expects ( ) recovery of the economy to take three or even four years To make ( ) matters worse, ( 2 ) number of smali businesses going into ( ) liquidation is still at ( ) record level, and ( ) housing market is show ing no signs of recovery Some backbenchers expect ( ) genera⌅ election before ( ) end of ( ) Winter uniess there is ( ) rapid change of ( ) fortun u n a erlin e the most suitable option A dash (-) means that no article is included Helen doesn t like th e/- cream cakes sold in a/the local bakery T h e /- handball is fast becoming a/the popular sport worldwide We could see that th e/- Alps were covered in th e/- snow It s a /- long time sińce I met a /- lovely person like you! Carol has a /- degree in th e/- engineering from th e/- University of London At th e/- present moment, th e/- man seems to have the/an uncertain futurę T h e /- problem for th e/- today s students is how to survive financially T h e /- French enjoy spending holidays in th e/- countryside Please not turn on a/the water-heater in a/the bathroom 10 Sue bought a/the Picasso I was telling you about th e/- last week 107 ADVANCED LANGUAGE PRACTICE Correct any errors in these sentences Its not a first-class accommodation unless it has a private bathroom it's iA.ot -^rst-oLass uciA/Less Lt has a prL\/ate bathroom, On this record twins play piano duet The halfway through meal we realized what waiter had said If the Mrs Hillier phones, say Tm away on trip There is a wonderful scenery in eastern part of Turkey Cocker spaniel is one of most popular pet dogs There is going to be fog and a cold weather all the next week I spent very interesting holiday at the Lake Coniston in England We are against war in generał, so of course we are against war like this between superpower and developing country 10 The burglaries are definitely on increase Comple te each sentence with a /a n or th e, or leave the space blank Fm going to stand for Parliament a t next election When I le ft station, I had to stand i n queue for taxi fo r long time We to o k trip around London and saw Tower Bridge happiness of the majority depends o n hard work for everyone most main roads in this part o f country follow line o f roads built b y Romans Have you g o t the new album b y Anxious Frogsl If I h a d time, I would like to take u p archery We spent pleasant evening having meal a t Pizza Pan Restaurant Nile flows right through city 10 summer I spent i n USA was one o f bes: in my life 108 GRA M M AR14ARTICLES Com ple te each sentence with a /a n or th e, or leave the space blank She w as first woman to cross Atlantic in canoe Go down High Street and turn right in to Mili Road Please let me carry shopping It s least I can I don t lik e milk i n coffee A t end o f busy day, .sleep is best tonie James Joyce I knew wasn t novelist and wasn t Irish either W eil go fo r walk i f sun comes out This i s last time I y o u favour for a while I’m staying i n Hilton so you can leave m e message 10 Jim becam e furniture salesman after losing .first job he had There are ten extra appearances of th e in the follo w ing text Underline them W ord Processing and the calculator are without a shadow of doubt here to stay, and in the many respects our lives are the much richer for them But the teachers and other academics are claiming that we are now starting to feel the first significant w ave of their effects on a generation of the users It seems nobody under the age of 20 can spell or add up any more Even several professors at leading universities have commented on the detrimental effect the digital revolution has had on the most intelligent young minds in the coun try A t the root of one part of the problem, evidently, lies the automatic spellcheck now widely available on the word processing software Professor John Silver of the Sydney University, Australia, said: 'W hy should we bother to learn how to spell correctiy, or for that matter to learn even the most basie of the mathematical sums, when at the press of a button we have our problem answered for us? The implications are enormous Will the adults of the futur look to the Computer to make the decisions for them, to tell them who to marry or w t kind of the house to buy? Are we heading for a futur individual incapable of the independent human thought?' 109 ADVANCED LANGUAGE PRACTICE Complete each sentence with a / an or the, or leave the space blank Please w atch cabin attendant as she demonstrates .use o f oxygen mask Paul spent half of his life i n Far East You have to use a t least .pint an d half of milk Dick h a s sore throat and is taking medicine We arranged accommodation o n outskirts of city There i s very difficult crossword in Times’ Could you give m e Information I asked for i n letter I sent you? I bought jewellery for my sister but it w asn t .kind she likes I always wanted to b e astronaut b u t ambition wore off 10 A n d last of all, dont forget to p u t cat out for night Underline the most suitable option A dash (-J m eans that no article is needed Brenda is the/- ideał for a/the job She has al- wealth of f/ie/- experience T/ze/- safety at f/ze/- work is al- major concern for us r/ze/- poorest people in thel- country live in this city Have you seen a/the new ‘Hamlet’ at f/ze/- National Theatre? There is al- beautiful countryside within ani- easy reach of a/f/ze hotel I have al- terrible cold and am staying in f/ze/- bed today I earn £3 anithe hour as al- supermarket cashier on f/ze/- Saturdays T/ze/- charge for ani- excess luggage is £10 aithe kilo r/ze/- most of f/ze/- life is al- matter of getting on with f/ze/- others 10 Britain is officially called T/ze/- United Kingdom of T/ze/- Great Britain and T/ze/Northern Ireland 110 ... in th e /- snow It s a /- long time sińce I met a /- lovely person like you! Carol has a /- degree in th e /- engineering from th e /- University of London At th e /- present moment, th e /- man seems... A dash (-J m eans that no article is needed Brenda is the /- ideał for a/the job She has al- wealth of f/ie /- experience T/ze /- safety at f/ze /- work is al- major concern for us r/ze /- poorest... staying in f/ze /- bed today I earn £3 anithe hour as al- supermarket cashier on f/ze /- Saturdays T/ze /- charge for ani- excess luggage is £10 aithe kilo r/ze /- most of f/ze /- life is al- matter of