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