MULTIMEDIA-ENGLISH

Before doing this activity you may need to read the text you will find at the end


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

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)