Grammar for advanced students 05: Article - Thẩm Tâm Vy

 Thẩm Tâm Vy, December 2nd, 2018 GRAMMAR PRACTICE 05 ARTICLES 
GRAMMAR PRACTICE FOR ADVANCED STUDENTS 5 
ARTICLES 
Definite Article 
 It is assumed that the basic rules for the uses of articles are already known before 
studying these following. 
A. Classes 
 This is one way to refer to classes, and is perhaps more formal than using a plural: 
 - The tiger is threatened with extinction. 
B. 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 
C. Other groups 
 If these are clearly plural: 
 - the Social Democrats, the Rolling Stones 
D. Unique objects 
 - the moon, the sun 
Note that there are other suns and moons in the universe. 
 - This planet has a small moon. 
E. 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. 
F. Other titles 
 The may be part of the title, and so is capitalized. 
Newspapers: The Independent / The Sunday Times / The Financial Times 
G. 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 indefinite article when we refer to an object. 
 - There was a small brown flute in the window of the shop. 
H. Emphatic use 
 The article is heavily stressed and emphasizes the noun that follows. 
 - This hotel is the place to stay. 
I. Geographical names 
 The following use the: 
 Rivers: the Thames, the Seine, the Mekong River, 
 Mountain ranges: the Alps, the Himalayas 
 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, Europe, Africa, America 
 Countries: France, Germany, Vietnam, 
The definite article is sometimes used before Lebanon and Gambia: 
 The Lebanon The Gambia 
J. 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 
 - Canvey Island / The Isle of Man 
 If the first part of a place-name is another name, then we do not use an article. 
 - Browns Restaurant 
 - The Garden House Hotel / the Loch Ness monster 
K. Most (of) and the most 
 When most refers to the largest part of something, it has no article in front. 
 - Most delegates / most of the delegates, more than 75% in fact, were in favour of the 
proposal 
 When most refers to the largest number or amount compared to all the other people or 
things, it can be used with an article. 
 - Paula Thompson received (the) most votes. 
 - During the road tests, this car used (the) most petrol. 
L. Importance of context 
 The definite article is used to refer 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. 
 - The first week of our holiday was awful. On the Saturday there was a terrible storm. 
 Here, the Saturday refers to a day in a period of time already mentioned. 
 - On the Saturday of that week ... 
Indefinite Article 
A. Jobs 
 Compare: Tony is a builder. Tony was the builder of that house. 
B. In measuring 
 - Three times a week. Fifty kilometres an hour. 
 - £3.50 a kilo / £15,000 a year 
Formally, per can replace a / an. 
 Thẩm Tâm Vy, December 2nd, 2018 GRAMMAR PRACTICE 05 ARTICLES 
 - She was convicted of driving at more than 120 kilometres per hour. 
C. Unknown people 
 Use of a / an emphasizes that a person is unknown. 
 - A Mr Jones called while you were out. 
Zero Article 
A. Names 
Compare: 
 - Matthew Smith is one of my favourite artists. (a person) 
 - A Matthew Smith hangs in their bedroom. (a painting by Matthew Smith) 
 Some unique organizations do not use the. 
 - Parliament, but The (House of) Commons 
B. 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. 
 - I really like rugby. - I’d like a pound and a half of cheese. 
 - I was holding it in my hand. - It’s a film about homeless people. 
 - Alex has flu. - I’ve got a headache. 
PRACTICE 
I. Complete the text with a / an or the, or write - if no article is needed. 
 It has been announced that for (1)...the...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. 
II. Underline the best options to complete each sentence. A dash (-) means that no 
article is needed. 
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. It’s 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. 
III. Correct the errors in these sentences. 
1. It’s not a first-class accommodation unless it has a private bathroom. 
 It’s not first-class accomodation unless it has a separate 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. 
IV. Complete each sentence with a / an or the, or write - if no article is needed. 
1. Fm going to stand for Parliament at....the....next election. 
2. When I left..........station, Î had to stand in........queue for.........taxi for........long time. 
3. We took........... rip 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. 
V. Complete each sentence with a / an or the, or write - if no article is needed. 
1. She was...the..first woman to cross..........Atlantic in.......canoe. 
2. Go down...........High Street and turn right in to.........Mill Road. 
3. Please let me carry.........shopping. It’s...........least I can do. 
4. I don’t like...........milk in..........coffee. 
5. At...........end of..........busy day,.........sleep is.........best tonic. 
 Thẩm Tâm Vy, December 2nd, 2018 GRAMMAR PRACTICE 05 ARTICLES 
6. ...........James Joyce I knew wasn’t...........novelist and wasn’t..........Irish either. 
7. Well go for.........walk if ........sun comes out. 
8. This is...........last time I do you...........favour for a while. 
9. I’m staying in..........Hilton so you can leave me...........message. 
10. Jim became...........furniture salesman after losing............first job he had. 
VI. There are 10 incorrect uses of the in the following text. Underline them. 
 Word processing and the caiculator 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 wave 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 country. 
 At 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 correctly, or for 
that matter to learn even the most basic 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 future look to the computer to make the decisions for them, to tell them who 
to marry or what kind of the house to buy? Are we heading for a future individual 
incapable of the independent human thought? 
VII. 
1. Please watch....the...cabin attendant as she demonstrates.........use of..........oxygen 
mask. 
2. Paul spent..........half of his life in..........Far East 
3. You have to use at.............least..........pint and..........half of milk. 
4. Dick h as............ sore throat and is taking.............medicine. 
5. We arranged............accommodation on ..........outskirts of.............city. 
6. There is ......very difficult crossword in..........Times. 
7. Could you give me................information Tasked for in............letter I sent you? 
8. I bought........... jewellery for my sister but it wasn’t ...............kind she likes. 
9. I always wanted to be...........astronaut but............ambition wore off. 
10. And...........last of all, don’t forget to put...........cat out for............night. 
VIII. Underline the best options to complete the sentence. A dash (-) means that no 
article is needed. 
1. Brenda is the / - ideal for a / the job. She has a / - wealth of the / - experience. 
2. The / - safety at the / - work is a / - major concern for us. 
3. The / - poorest people in the / - country live in this city. 
4. Have you seen a / the new Hamlet at the / - National Theatre? 
5. There is a / - beautiful countryside within an / - easy reach of a / the hotel. 
6. I have a / - terrible cold and am staying in the / - bed today. 
7. I earn £6 an / the hour as a / - supermarket cashier on the / - Saturdays. 
8. The/ - charge for an / - excess luggage is £10 a / the kilo. 
9. The / - most of the / - life is a / - matter of getting on with the / - others. 
10. Britain is officially called The / - United Kingdom of The / - Great Britain and 
The / - Northern Ireland. 
ANSWER KEY 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzaCsQ0fZOc