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