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