ARTICLES

SECTION 2: ARTICLES
Upper-Intermediate Grammar
Countable & Uncountable
Countable: (banana) Uncountable: (rice)
I eat a banana every day. I eat rice every day
I like bananas. I like rice
A countable noun can be singular It has only one form (singular)
(banana) or plural (bananas)
We can use numbers: (three bananas) We cannot use numbers: (two rices)
Examples: a song, a beach, an accident.. Examples: music, sand, money …
Countable & Uncountable
 Countable  Uncountable
You must use a/an with singular You cannot normally use a/an with
countable nouns: uncountable nouns:
a beach, a student, an umbrella a sand, a music, a rice
You cannot use them alone (without You can use them alone (without
a/the/my) a/the/my)
I need umbrella. ( an umbrella) I eat rice every day.
You can use plural nouns alone: No plural: There are many musics
I like bananas.
Differences in meaning:
 Did you hear a noise? (specific noise)  There’s too much noise here (general)
 I bought a paper to read (newspaper)  I need some paper to write on.
 There’s a hair in my soup (a single hair)  Your hair is beautiful. (not hairs)
 I had some interesting experiences while  I have a lot of experience, that’s why I
travelling (things that happened) was offered this job.
 Enjoy your trip! Have a good time!  I can’t wait. I don’t have time.
 Can I have two coffees and a tea. (cups  I don’t like coffee and tea.
of coffee and a cup of tea)
 I hate orange juice
 I would like an orange juice, please.
News/Advice
 News  Advice
It is always singular and uncountable! It is always singular and uncountable!
This is good news. (not are) It is good advice.

The news was depressing (not were) To advise:
- To give advice
You need to retell a piece of news. - To consult
- To inform
‘the’
 We use ‘the’ when we are thinking of a specific thing.
Susan is looking for a job.

Susan got the job she applied for. (specific job)
Do you have a car?

I cleaned the car yesterday. (specific car)
I have to go to the bank today.

Is there a bank near me?
Usage of ‘the’
 When there’s one of something:  No ‘the’ with breakfast/lunch/dinner
The sun, the earth, the sky, the Internet, the end of What’s for breakfast? We had lunch at 1.
this month, the world…
But: a lovely dinner, an early breakfast, a big
lunch…
 The cinema/the theatre:
I want to go to the cinema or to the theatre.
 No ‘the’ before noun+number
(not a specific, but always with ‘the’)
We are at room 3. The train leaves from
Platform 5. Do you have these shoes in size
 The radio/ the TV
43?Look at question 3 on your test!
I listen to the radio. I watch the TV.
No ‘a’ and ‘the’
I heard it on the radio. I saw it on TV.
Usage of ‘the’
 School  The school
Susan is 10, every day she goes to  Susan’s mother wants to speak to her
school. She is at school now. School daughter’s teacher. So, she has gone
starts at 9 and finishes at 3. to the school. She is at the school
(school- general idea) now. (the school – a specific building)
 Tom is in prison. (as a prisoner)
 Tom’s wife went to the prison.
 Bob had an accident and was taken
 Jane has gone to the hospital to visit
to hospital. He is still in hospital her husband. She is at the hospital.
now.  I went to the university to meet my
 When I leave school, I plan to go to professor.
university.
Usage of ‘the’
 Work:  Bed
I am going to bed now.
Go to work, be at work,
Do you have breakfast in bed?
to start work, to finish work.
But: I sat down on the bed
 Home:  Sea
To go home, arrive home, get home, I want to go to sea. (voyage)
He works on ships. He is at sea all the time.
But: be at home
But: I want to live near the sea.
It is dangerous to swim in the sea.
Usage of ‘the’
 The + Adjective: (to talk about groups of people)
The young, the old, the rich, the poor, the homeless, the unemployed
Should the rich pay more taxes? We need to help the homeless.
 The + Musical Instruments

To play the piano, the guitar, the drums, the trumpet, the violin.
I’d like to play the piano. BUT! I want to have a piano at home.
 The + Nationality
‘Sh/ch’ The English are famous for their accent. The French are famous for their food.
An English, a French An Englishman, a Frenchwoman.
‘Ese’ The Chinese - a Chinese; the Japanese – a Japanese
Usage of ‘the’
 We don’t use ‘the’ with:  We use ‘the’ with:
Continents: Africa, Europe
Oceans/sea/rivers/canals:
Countries: France, Spain
The Atlantic, the Red Sea, the Nile
Cities: New York, Prague
Islands: Sicily People: the Johnsons, the Simpsons
Mountains: Everest Groups of Islands: the Canary Islands
But: the USA, the UK Mountain ranges: the Andes, the Alps
The Czech Republic
The north, the south …
The Dominican Republic, the Netherlands
Usage of ‘the’
We don’t use ‘the’ with:  We use ‘the’ with:
 Streets/roads/squares/parks  Hotels: The Holiday Inn
Fifth Avenue, Hyde Park, Times Square  Theatres/Cinemas: The Bolshoi
 Important institutions  Newspapers: The Financial Times
Harvard University, Heathrow Airport,
Buckingham Palace, Victoria Station
 Organizations: The European Union
But: the Royal Palace (adj, not a name)
 Names with of:
 Shops, restaurants, hotels (named after The bank of England, the Tower of London
people): The University of Cambridge, but:
McDonalds, Macy’s, Barclays
Cambridge University
 Companies: Apple, Amazon, Air Astana
Usage of ‘the’
 Plural noun for one thing:  Singular nouns with plural verbs:
These jeans are comfortable. team, staff, family, audience, government
That is a nice pair of jeans. The government have increased taxes.
 -ics nouns (usually singular) The staff are not happy with the conditions.
Athletics is fun. Economics is difficult. Politics  One thing (money, time, distance)
is interesting. Gymnastics is hard. Five thousand dollars was stolen.
 Singular and Plural. Five years is a long time to be away.
Train is a means of transport. (many means) Two kilometers isn’t very far to walk.
Television series is over. ( many series)  Number+Noun+noun (an adjective)
Emu is a species of bird. (many species) A three-hour break, a 55-year-old woman.
QUESTIONS:
 What is the difference between countable and uncountable nouns?
 Provide an example where the usage of an article depends on the meaning of
the word.
 What is the difference between ‘school’ and ‘the school’?
 What is special about the words ‘news’ and ‘advice’?
 What is the difference between ‘a’ and ‘the’?
 Explain the usage of ‘the’ when there is ‘one of something’.
 What is the difference between ‘sea’ and ‘the sea’?
 Provide an example where we use a plural form for one thing.
QUESTIONS:
 What is the usage of articles before the noun and the number?
 When can an article be used before ‘breakfast’?
 When is the article ‘the’ used before ‘bed’?
 How do we use the article ‘the’ when we talk about groups of people?
 Explain the usage of articles with nationalities.
 With some countries ‘the’ is used and with other it is not. Provide examples.
 Provide an examples of a newspaper, a theatre and the organization.
 Provide an example with an ‘ics’ noun.
 Provide an example with a noun that can be both singular and plural.
 Provide examples with money/time/distance.

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SECTION 2: ARTICLES

This is good news. (not are) It is good advice.

Susan is looking for a job.

Do you have a car?

I have to go to the bank today.

 The + Musical Instruments

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