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Use of the Article: Special cases

Use of the Article: Special cases
Activity Drag&Drop
Activity Drag&Drop
Pracise some special cases in the use of the English article. Complete the blanks with the best option available.
 

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Instructions

Click on the words at the bottom and drag them into the empty boxes of the sentence to complete it.
 

SPECIAL USES OF "THE"



THE  + adjectives

We use THE with adjectives to talk about general groups of people having that quality (you don’t need a noun). In this case we use a plural verb.  

- The young = the young people
- The homeless are specially vulnerable in winter
- Do you think the rich should pay more taxes to help the poor?
 
More common examples:  the young / the old / the elderly / the poor / the unemployed / the homeless /  the sick / the disabled / the injured / the dead

We also use this same construction with some nationality adjectives with no equivalent noun:
 
- The British are worried about violence in schools
- There was a conflict between the English and the Welsh
 
Other nationalities have a noun, so they don't use that construction:
- Germans are interested in new markets (not: The German are...)
- Russians have a very complicated history
- Spaniards have one of the best public health systems in the world


SPECIAL USES OF "A"



We use A meaning "per" (distributive)

- That’s two pounds a kilo = that's two pounds per kilo (every kilo is two pounds, so 3 kilos is 6 pounds)

- He was driving at sixty miles an hour
- I go to the cinema twice a month (= two times every month)
 
Before singular count nouns in exclamations.

- What a day!  (countable singular)
- What a pretty girl!  (countable singular)
but:
- What nice weather!  (uncountable)
- What pretty girls!  (countable plural)

exception: What a pity! (uncountable)
 
We often suppress the article (or possessive) after the conjunction "and" in a pair of things that often go together.

- I need a knife and fork
- He went out with a raincoat and umbrella
- Those are the king and queen
- My uncle and aunt came to visit me
but:
- I found a hat and a camera in the car  (not: a hat and camera)

Items

Gapped text Items
He always drives at 100 kilometres ______________________ hour -- / an / a / the
I need ______________________ knife and ______________________ fork -- / an / a / -- / a / the / an / the
I see him once ______________________ year every the / the / a / an / in the / --
We visit my grandmother twice ______________________ week an / the / -- / a
That is a special law for ______________________ the disabled / the disableds / disableds
It's three pounds ______________________ the kilo / a kilo / the kilos
I've got a friend ______________________ in Dorset and cousin / and a cousin
There's no rest for ______________________ (weary = tired) the weary / the wearies
______________________ sister are on a trip My father and my / My father and / My father and the
______________________ are very warm The Spanish people / Spanish people / The Spanish
______________________ are very friendly The Spanish / Spaniards
______________________ are always on time Germans / The German
______________________ are very polite The British people / The British / Britishes / The Britishes
______________________ ______________________ very poor people are / The homeless / Homelesses / is
______________________ Irish have a different accent The Irish people / -- / Irishes / The / The Irishes
______________________ had a new baby King and queen / The king and queen / King and the queen / The king and the queen
In our society there is a problem between ______________________ and ______________________ the rich people / the riches / the poors / the poor / the poor people / the rich
They dine out three times ______________________ month every the / the / a / every a / -- / for / for a
What ______________________ dirty shirt! a / the / --
What ______________________ horrible car! the / a / --
What ______________________ nice day! -- / the / a
What ______________________ strange man! a / the / --
What ______________________ cold weather! -- / an / the / a
What ______________________ excellent wine! a / -- / an / the
What ______________________ hot tea! a / -- / the / an
What ______________________ interesting animals! an / a / -- / the
What ______________________ nice people! -- / a / an / the
What ______________________ noisy children! -- / an / a / the
What ______________________ white milk! an / a / -- / the
______________________ have many problems to find a job now The youngs / Young / Youngs / The young
She brought comfort to ______________________ sick / the sicks / sicks / the sick
We meet once ______________________ year for the / an / for a / for / the / a
You must check this counter three times ______________________ day in / a / the / for the / for a / in the
This light flashes three times ______________________ second a / every the / for the / in the / at a / the
______________________ dad live down the street My mum and / My mum and my / Mum and my
You're not coming? Oh, what ______________________ pity! a / an / the / --
It was a terrible accident, but the injured ______________________ better are / is
The elderly ______________________ a lot of money in health care spend / spends
Total number of items: 38
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