General vs. specific sense General vs. specific sense • FlowersFlowers really brighten up a really brighten up a

room.room.• IndustryIndustry is using computers is using computers

more and more.more and more.• She’s an expert on She’s an expert on English English

literature.literature.• Love Love can cause a lot of suffering.can cause a lot of suffering.

• BUT!!!!BUT!!!!

• The flowersThe flowers you bought are you bought are lovely.lovely.

• The tourism industryThe tourism industry is booming is booming in Malaysia.in Malaysia.

• She is an expert on She is an expert on the literature the literature of England.of England.

• She is She is the lovethe love of my life. of my life.

Task 1 Which of the nouns in these sentencesare specific, and need THE?

1. Put.................... kettle on.2. Switch.................... light on.3. ....................light is needed to read by.4. I’m going to.................... library.5. In case of ……………..fire, doors should not be left

open.6. Luckily, ……………telephone bills don’t come every day.7. Mr Grummett is reading………. book you gave him about …………….gardens.

Task 1 Answers

1. Put.....the............... kettle on.2. Switch…….the............ light on.3. ....................light is needed to read by.4. I’m going to.......the............... library.5. In case of ……………..fire, doors should not be

left open.6. Luckily, ……………telephone bills don’t come

every day.7. Mr Grummett is reading…the…….. book you

gave him about …………….gardens.

Use of definite article before ‘school’, ‘church’ etc.

• They say he’ll have to stay in hospital for six weeks.

• She’s at university studying English.

• School should be a safe place for children.

BUT!!!!!!!

• His mother goes to the hospital to see him every day.

• The university was built in 1800.• The school is right over there.

• We refer to the use

• We refer to a building

Task 2Write the where necessary in these sentences.

1. Can you drive me to university? Sure, it’s on my way.

2. Emily left magazines we asked for on a table.

3. In Italy children start school when they are six or seven.

4. There was a fire at school in Newtown.

5. I never enjoyed studying history.

6. Food at that new restaurant is excellent.

7. He’s been in and out of prison since he left school.

8. Not many children enjoy opera.

Task 2 Answers: 1. Can you drive to the university?

It’s on my way.2. Emily left the magazines we

asked for on a table.3. In Italy children start school

when they are six or seven.4. There was a fire at the school in

Newtown.5. I never enjoyed studying

history. 6. The food at that new restaurant

is excellent.7. He’s been in and out of prison

since he left school. 8. Not many children enjoy opera.

Use of definite article before names of meals

No definite article is used before the names of meals:

1. I never have breakfast.

2. What have we got for dinner?

BUT!!!!!!

When describing a particular meal we use the definite article:

1. The breakfast they serve here is marvellous.

2. The dinner we had at the Webster’s was indigestible.

Use of definite article before names of means of transport

• No definite article when these words are preceded by by:

1. I go by subway.2. She goes to work by bike.

BUT!!!

• Use the definite article to refer to the whole transport system:

1. How long does it take by bus? No idea, butthe subway is quicker.

2. The bike is a more common mode of transport in Holland than in England.

Poem:On the Subway I once saw a man on the subwayWho sat, fully nude, in a calm way,Though the passengers glared,He couldn’t have cared,And, at the next stop, went on his way.

Use of definite article before geographical names

“The” is used with:• seas (the Atlantic, the Pacific,

the North Sea) • mountain ranges (the Alps, the

Andes) • island groups (the British Isles,

the West Indies) • areas (the Midlands, the Lake

District, the Middle East) • rivers (the Danube, the Blue

Nile, the Thames) • deserts (the Gobi, the Sahara) • hotels and pubs (the Red Lion,

the Grand Palace) • cinemas and theatres (the

Playhouse, the Majestic)

BUT: don’t repeat “the” if it is already in the phrase: The river Thames is in London.

Generally, no articles are used with:

• continents (Africa, South America, South East Asia)

• counties and countries (Oklahoma, Bulgaria, Nigeria)

• towns and principal buildings (Ely Cathedral, Oxford University)

• lakes (Lake Como, Lake Windermere, Derwent Water)

• mountains and volcanoes (Everest, Etna, Vesuvius)

BUT!

• Of course, there are always exceptions: The UK, The USA, The Netherlands, The Hague.

1. At present he is Ambassador of the United States to the Netherlands

• It is just a matter of learning them!

Task 3 Translate:

1. De rivier de Theems is de bekendste rivier in Engeland.

2. Zij zaten nog steeds aan het ontbijt toen vader binnenkwam.

3. De school gaat om twaalf uur uit.

4. Na het avondeten gingen we wandelen.

5. Het Bovenmeer ligt in Noord America.

Task 3 Answers

1. The river Thames is the best-known river in England.

2. They were still having breakfast when father came in.

3. School is over at twelve.

4. After dinner/supper we went for a walk.

5. Lake Superior is in North America.

Use of definite article before ’most’ and ‘half’

• When ‘most’ means the greater part of, no article!

1. Most of my friends like reading.

2. He sleeps most of the day on Sundays.

• When ‘most’ means more than anyone else, we

use the definite article!1. He has the most friends of

us all. 2. Who’s got the most

money and can buy pizza for all of us?

• The definite article is never used before ‘half’1. Half of the machines

were defective. 2. Half the size

Use of definite article before ‘last’ and ‘next’

• No definite article used with ‘last’ when it corresponds to Dutch ‘vorig’:

1. Last year we went to Siberia.2. I spent more than I earned

last month.

• ‘last' must be preceded by ‘the’ and followed by ‘few’ when it means ‘de laatste’ dagen, maanden etc.

1. Over the last few weeks I have thought only about you.

2. She has been unusually quiet during the last few classes.

• When ‘next' refers to time no article is used.

1. Next year will be the best year ever.

2. My birthday is next week.

• When ‘next’ refers to order (volgorde) it is preceded by the definite article.

1. The next bus is leaving in five minutes.

2. I’m going to punish the next person who talks.

Next TIME The next ORDER (volgorde)

Use of definite article before names of musical instruments

We use the definite

article in English (but not in

Dutch) before the names of

musical instruments:

Ik speel viool.

I play the violin.

Jamie Cullum speelt piano.

Jamie Cullum plays the piano.

Use of definite article before superlatives

No definite article when a superlative is:

1. A subject complement: The sun is hottest at noon.

2. An adverbial: You know best.

Task 4: Use a superlative to describe:You MUST use at least two subject complements

and two adverbials!Example: Popeye is strongest just after he eats spinach.

1. Van Gogh2. your prime minister3. Coca-Cola4. English5. United States6. your last holiday7. Mrs Grummett’s apple pie8. Elvis Presley

Final task Read the following limerick. What do you notice about the use of the

articles in it?

There was a young lady of Niger

Who rode with a smile on a tiger;

They returned from the ride

With the lady inside

And the smile on the face of the tiger.