11 class

ARTICLES

Use a/an when the listener doesn't know which thing we mean. Use the when it is clear which thing we

mean: for example, in a ioOrn we talk about the light / the floor / the ceiling / the door, etc.

Tom sat down on o chair. (we don't know which chair)

Tom sat down on the chair nearest the door. (we know which chair) Ann is looking for a job. (not a particular job)

Did Ann get the job she applied for? (a particular job)

Can you turn off the light, please? (the light in this room)

Where is the toilet, please? (the toilet in this buiJding/house)

Also: the police / the fire-brigade / the army, the bank, the post office, the doctor, the dentist.

1 must go to the bank to change some money and then 1'in going to the post office to buy some stamps. (The speaker is usually thinking of a particular bank or post office.)

John isn't very well. He has gone to the doctor. (his doctor)

Use the when there is only one of something.

What is the longest river in the world? (There is only one longest river in the world.) We went to the most expensive restaurant in town.

Paris is the capital of France.

Also: the moon / the world / the universe / the sea / the sky / the ground / the countryside / the country

The earth goes round the sun.

Would you rather live in a town or in the country? Don't sit on the ground! It's wet.

We looked up at all the stars in the sky.

But: go to sea / be at sea (without the) when the meaning is go/be on a voyage. Ken is a seaman. He spends most of his life at sea.

But: space (not 'the space') when we mean space in the universe. There are millions of stars іл space. (not 'in the space')

Say the cinema / the theatre / the radio But: television (without the) We went to the cinema last night.

Do you often go to the theatre? We often listen to the radio.

I watched the news on television.

Do not nonnally use the with the names of meals: lunch/breakfast, etc. Use а when there is an

adjective before lunch/breakfast ete.

What time is lunch?

What did yon have for breakfast?

Thank you. That was a very nice lunch, (not 'that was very nlce lunch')

But: а meal

We had а meal in а restaurant.

Use the with some adjectives. The meaning  is always plural. You cannot say 'a blind' or ’an unemployed’. You have to say 'a blind man', 'an unemployed woman' etc.

the rich          the poor      the blind       the deaf       the old       the young     the sick       the dead the

disabled           the unemployed          the injured

That man over there is collecting money for the blind.

Why doesn't the government do more to help the unemployed?

Use the with some nationality adjectives when you mean 'the people of that country'.

the British         the English     the Welsh       the Irish          the Dutch        the  Swiss the French  the Russians                                     the Arabs       the Chinese    the Italians     the Japanese

The French are famous for their food. (= the French people)

Why do the English think they are so wondcrful? (= the English people)

Use prison / school / university / college / church without an article.

a criminal goes to prison (not 'to the prison'); a child goes to school; a student goes to university/college.

After I leave school, l want to go to university. (as a pupil/student) Why aren’t the children at school today? (as pupils)

Mrs Kelly goes to church every Sunday. (for a religious service) Ken's brother is in prison for robbery. (he is a prisoner)

Use ’be in prison’, but usually ’be at school/university/college. ’In church’ and ’at church’ are

both possible.

Mr Kelly went to the school to meet his daughter's teacher. (He didn't go there as a pupil.) Excuse me, where is the university, please? (a particular building)

The workmen went to the church to repair the roof. (They didn't go to a religious service.)

Ken went to the prison to visit his brother. (He went as a visitor, not as a prisoner; he went to the prison where his brother was.)

Use ’go to bed / be in bed’ etc. (not 'the bed')

It's time to go to bed how.

Is Tom still in bet.

Use go to work / be at work / start work / finish work etc. (not 'the work')

Why isn't Ann at work today? What time do you finish works

Use go home / come home / be at home / stay at home etc. (not 'the home') Come on! Let's go home.

Will you be at home tomorrow?