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■ Form: A (AN)
The initial sound of the word that immediately follows the indefinite article determines whether it should be a or an:
the form a is used before a word beginning with a consonant sound (a man, a red apple, a year, a house) and the form
an is used before a word beginning with a vowel sound (an apple, an hour, an honest man)
- The nouns that take the indefinite article in the singular take the zero article in the plural:
e.g. A cat is a domestic animal = Cats are domestic animals.
➔ Make the singular sentences plural and the plural sentences singular. 1. A small computer isn't expensive. 2. A
watch doesn't last forever. 3. I like plays with messages. 4. I admire politicians who are sincere. 6. Even an efficient
system can break down. 7. A road map is always out of date. 8. A rule is meant to be broken. 9. Inns shouldn't charge
much. 10. How much do car radios cost? 11. A bus leaves here every hour. 12. How long does a letter take to get
there?
■ Form: THE
■ Uses: both with singular and plural count nouns and with uncount nouns.
e.g That's the man we saw last night. Those are the men we saw last night. The new furniture is beautiful.
1. to indicate something which is already known (specific reference): I ordered a book and the book has arrived.
2. to indicate something which is common knowledge (with nouns whose reference is immediately understood by the
users of the language): the earth, the sea, the sky, the weather, the press . He's gone to the cinema/ the theatre/ the
bank.
3. with an adjective to represent a class of persons: the old = old people in general; the sick = sick people in general.
4. before superlatives: John is the best student in the class.
5. with a singular count noun to represent a class of animals/ things (generic reference): The whale is a mammal.
6. with uncount nouns if speaking in specific terms: The sugar on the table is from Cuba.
➔ Supply the definite or the indefinite article: 1. We were looking for ... place to spend ... night. ... place we found
turned out to be in ... charming village. ... village was called Lodsworth. 4. When you go out, would you please stop at
... supermarket and get some oranges. 5. I've got ... appointment this afternoon. I've got to go to ... doctor's. 6. We went
to ... theatre last night and saw Othello. It's ... wonderful play. 7. We prefer to spend our holidays in ... country, ...
mountains or by ... sea. 8. We have seen what ... earth looks like from ... moon. 9. This is the front room. ... ceiling and
... walls need decorating, but ... floor is in good order. We'll probably cover it with ... carpet. . 11. ... history of ...
world is ... history of ... war. 12. Is there ... moon round ... planet Venus?
■ Uses:
1. with plural count nouns (when they mean everything within a certain class) in general statements: Tigers are cats.
Women need better opportunities. Apples are good for your health.
2. with uncount nouns in general statements: He likes music/ beer/ chess/ baseball. Life is short.
3. with most proper nouns: Beethoven composed nine symphonies.
4. with common nouns in abstract or specialized use:
a) seasons: e.g. spring, summer
b) institutions: e.g. to be/ to go to bed/ church/ prison/ hospital/ class; to be at/ to go to school/ sea.
c) means of transport: e.g. to travel/ to leave by bus/ car/ boat/ train/ plane.
d) times of the day and night: e.g. at dawn/ daybreak/ sunrise/ sunset/ noon/ midnight/ dusk/ twilight/ night;
by night; day and night; before morning.
e) meals: e.g. breakfast, lunch, cocktails, supper.
f) illnesses: appendicitis, diabetes, influenza, anaemia, hepatitis
g) parallel structures: e.g. arm in arm, day by day, man to man, face to face, husband and wife, from right to
left, from top to bottom.
➔ Supply the definite article for specific reference and the zero article for generic reference.
1. A lot of people are giving up ... meat. 2. ... meat we had for lunch last Sunday was tough. 3. I don't know much
about ... life of ... Napoleon. 4. ... running is supposed to be good for you. 5. I ought to be fit with all ... running I do,
but I don't feel fit. 6. Which is your favourite color? ... blue. 7. I think ... blue one will suit you best. ... Blue is more
your color. 8. We learned ... English at school, but ... English we learned was useless. 9. ... Washington is a safe city
today, but ... Washington of the 18th century was pretty rough. 10. ... watches have become very cheap and very
attractive. 11. Most of ... watches you see today work on ... quartz. 12. ... indoor plants require a lot of effort and
attention. 13. ... Mozart gives me a great deal of pleasure. 14. ... Mozart recording you bought for my birthday is first
class. 15. What has been the longest period of ... peace in ... history? 16. If you study ... History, you have to read a lot
of books. 17. ... fasting during ... Ramadam is more difficult in the summer months. 18. ... journeys to unknown places
require a lot of preparation. 19. ... lives of ... poets and ... playwrights have often been unbearably difficult. 20. I'm not
interested in the price of ... silver or the price of ... gold. 21. ... time is ... money. 22. I often listen to ... music and I like
... classical music best.
➔ Mark with an X those sentences which are wrong and explain why:
1. Excuse me, Mr__, can you tell me the way to the station? 2. Good morning, Doctor__. 3. Don't tell me. Tell Mrs
Elisabeth__ . 4. May I introduce you to Mrs Elisabeth Caldwell__? 5. I have an appointment with Dr Green __. 6. I
have just received a phone call from cousin Jeffrey__ . 7. Can I help you, Mrs__ . 8. Can I help you, Madam__ . 9. Sir
Falstaff__ is a famous Shakespeare character. 10. May I have a word with you please, Professor__? 11. I have
addressed the letter to Professor Michael O'Connor__. Is that right? 12. Nurse__, could I speak to you for a moment,
please?
- The zero article is used with school, hospital, prison, bed, church, class, college, sea, town, university, work when
we are referring to their normal purpose: Ann has gone to school. Michael is in hospital.
- The indefinite article is used when we are not referring to their normal purpose: Ann has gone to school for a
meeting. I'm going to make the bed.
- Nouns which are not part of this special group behave normally: e.g. Ann is at the office (perhaps to work). John is in
the kitchen (perhaps to eat). The company has an office in London.
- Use - the definite article with: the flue, the plague, the mumps, the measles.
- the indefinite article: a cold, a headache, a sore throat.
- use or omit the indefinite article with: to catch (a) cold, to have (a/an) backache/ earache/ stomach-ache/
toothache.
Proper nouns (names) with unique reference take either the definite or the zero article.
- certain names of cities: The Hague - names of cities: Toronto, Paris, London
● ordinal numbers before nouns: the First World ● cardinal numbers after nouns: World War One,
War, the third chapter chapter three
● newspapers: The New York Times, The Times ● magazines: Newsweek, Time magazine