The Article The Definite Article THE The Indefinite Article A/AN Zero Article

The Definite Article THEThe definite article “the” is the most frequent word in English.

Is used with countable and uncountable nouns:

- Countable nouns : boy – boys -> the boy- Uncountable nouns : sun – no plural form -> the Sun

Before a consonant we pronounce “the” [ ðə ] : the man

Before a vowel we pronounce “the” [ ði ] : the union

o When people know what they are talking about

Where’s the bathroom ? On the second floor.

o Something which has already been mentioned

A boy and a girl fell in love. The boy and the girl got married two years later.

o Things we consider unique : the Sun, the Moon, the Earth, the sky o With adjectives like rich, poor, elderly, unemployed to talk about groups of people: the

blind, the deaf, the dumb

Life can be very hard for the poor.

o Nationalities : the Japanese, the British

BUT !!! - One person ( in particular ) : an Australian - People ( in general ) : the Australians

o Before superlatives: the best, the most beautiful, the prettiest, the taller and ordinal numbers : the first, the third

o Collective nouns to refer to a system or service : the police, the government, the armyo Musical instruments : to play the violin/ the guitar

She is learning the guitar.

o Geographical features : - Rivers : the Danube, the Mississippi- Oceans : the Atlantic, the Pacific

The former = primul/prima dintre 2 sau mai multe personae

The latter = al doilea/a doua dintre 2 sau mai multe persoane

- Seas: the North Sea, the Mediterranean- Deserts : the Sahara, the Gobi- Canals: the Panama Canal- Mountain ranges : the Alps, the Himalayas- Groups of islands - Large areas of the world : the Middle East, the West- Plural country names : the United States of America

o Contries whose name include words like kingdom, states or republic : the United Kingdom, the Kingdom of Nepal, the Unitated States

o Countries which have plural nouns as their names : the Netherlands, the Philippineso Newspapers, magazines o Well known buildings or works of art : the Taj Mahal, the British Museum, the Eiffel Tower,

the Mona Lisa, the Empire State Buildingo Organisations : the United Nationso Hotels, pubs, restaurants, cinemas, theatres, museums, galleries

BUT!!! We do not use the definite article if the name of the hotel or restaurant is the name of the owner : Brown’s, Brown’s Hotel

o Families : the Obamas, the Jacksonso Shipso Nouns which name days, months, years and seasons : the year 2001, the spring of 1954, the

month of Mayo The cardinal points as nouns

The train is going to the south.

o Periods, events and historical documents : the Stone Age, the Civil War, the French Revolution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence

BUT!!! World War I / II

o Common expressions

THE is omitted before :- Proper nouns : I’ll see Ann tomorrow.- Names of sports, games, activities, days, months, holidays, colours, drinks, meals and

languages ( not followed by the word “language” ):

He plays football well.

He likes red.

We speak German. BUT!!! The ancient Greek language is hardly used now.

- Names of countries, cities, streets, squares, bridges, parks, stations, individual mountains, islands, lakes, continents

- Possessive adjectives : That isn’t your pen.- Two-word names whose first word is the name of a person or place : John F. Kennedy

Airport

- Pubs, restaurants, shops, banks and hotels which have the name of their founder : Tom’s Bar

- Bed, church, college, court, hospital, prison, school, university, when we refer to the purpose for which they exist:

John went to hospital ( as a patient)

His mother went to the hospital to see him last week. ( as a visitor)

- Work ( place of work ) never takes “ the” : She is at work.- The words home, father/mother when we talk about our own home/parents : Father is at

home.- Means of transport : by bus, by car, by train, by plane

She travelled by bus. BUT!!! She caught the 5 o’clock bus.

- Illnesses: flu/ the flu; measles/the measles ( pojar ); mumps/ the mumps ( oreion)

BUT!!! He got malaria.

- With uncountable and plural countable nouns when talking about something in general:

Trees produce oxygen.

- With the words this/that/these/those : this bag, those cars

I. Insert THE where necessary :

1) Where’s nearest shopping centre ?2) We must protect environment.3) I often go to the cinema on Saturday.4) Mary and Hugh want to get married at end of June.5) She had lunch in a nice restaurant.6) Jim and Henry talked to me at same time.7) I signed at bottom of the page.8) They usually spend their holiday at seaside.9) They heard the news on the radio.10) I and my sister like surfing the internet.11) Janet and Fiona live on fifth floor.12) Go ahead and you will see bank on left.13) Andy plays violin very beautifully.14) She called me in the middle of the night.15) He received the most beautiful present.

II. What do you call the people of these countries ?

One person (in particular ) People ( in general)

1) Australia an Australian the Australians2) Japan3) Brazil4) Argentina

5) Poland6) England7) Sweden8) Canada9) Russia10) Romania

III. Fill the blanks using the words below and the definite article THE:Back, moon, sky, government, sea, radio, police, army, young, rich

1) The moon moves around the Earth.2) ___________ have the future in their hands. 3) I found the answer key at____________ of the book.4) We went swimming in ____________.5) I heard a good song on _______________ last night.6) I think you should call __________________ .7) ______________ announced new taxes.8) He decided to join __________________.9) _______________ usually go to very expensive clubs.10) Can you see that bird up in ________________?

IV. Decide where you must use THE :

1) The British Museum has many famous exhibits.2) ___________ president is ____________ head of __________ government in ________ US.3) ____________ Bucharest is ____________ south of ________________ Romania.4) Do you read ___________ Guardian or _______________________ Independent?5) He stayed at _____________ Ritz Hotel when he was in ________________ London.6) I arrived at ____________________ Heathrow Airport two hours later.7) ___________________ Odeon Theatre is in _____________ O’Connell Street.8) There are some beautiful castles along ____________________ Loire Valley.9) _______________________ Taj Mahal is visited by thousands of tourists every year.10) Have you ever visited ______________ Tower of _____________ London ?11) ______________ Statue of ______________ Liberty is at ________________ entrance of

__________ New York.12) You should visit _________________ Museum of _________________ Modern Art.13) We flew to ______________ Los Angeles from _______________ Gatwick Airport.14) Mark sent us some postcards with _____________ Great Wall of ______________ China.15) _______________ Empire State Building is a 102-storey landmark in New York.

V. Circle the correct answer :1) The red flower/ Red flower smell lovely.2) The water/Water boils at 100 C.3) My brother repairs the cars/cars.4) The life/Life isn’t always easy.

5) The vegetables/ Vegetables are good for you.6) The food/ Food isn’t expensive in my country.7) The men/Men never ask for directions.8) The rooms/ Rooms of my flat are very spacious.9) His favourite sport is the basketball/basketball.10) I can’t sing this song because I forgot the words/ words.11) The shops/Shops in my neighbourhood aren’t very crowded.12) The money/Money doesn’t bring happiness.13) Where are the people/people in this department?14) Can you pass me the bread/bread, please ?15) I enjoy going to the parties/ parties.

VI. Tick the correct sentences and correct the wrong ones:

1) Gabriel went to cinema yesterday. -> Gabriel went to the cinema yesterday.2) They took the injured cyclist to the hospital.3) There are a lot of traffic jams in the morning when people go to the work.4) Do many people go to the university in your country ?5) John’s mother goes to church every Sunday.6) My grandfather has never been to the hospital.7) If you kill someone, you will go to the prison.8) Mary isn’t at the home.9) Why aren’t her children at the school today ?10) We will meet after the work tomorrow.11) He is in the bed at this time of the day. 12) How do you get home from school ?13) What time do you go to bed ?14) Will you be at the home in the evening ?15) He feels better, but he’s still in hospital.