Aims dominate the use of definite and indefinite

Aims: - dominate the use of definite and indefinite articles the/a/an/ and no article - help you with your homework. Grammar files: 18 and 19 Unit 3

Introduction: English has two articles: the and a/an. The is used to refer to specific or particular nouns (a/an is used with nonspecific or non-particular nouns); We call the definite article and a/an the indefinite article. the = definite article a/an = indefinite article For example, if I say, "Let's read the book, " I mean a specific book. Here's another way to explain it: The is used to refer to a specific or particular member of a group. For example, "I just saw the most popular movie of the year. " There are many movies, but only one particular movie is the most popular. Therefore, we use the.

"A/an" is used to refer to a non-specific or non-particular member of the group. For example, "I would like to see a movie. " Here, we're not talking about a specific movie. We're talking about any movie. (=qualsevol) There are many movies, and I want to see any movie. I don't have a specific one in mind. Let's look at each kind of article a little more closely.

Indefinite Articles: a and an Page 209 Student’s book “a" and "an" signal that the noun modified is indefinite, referring to any member of a group. For example: My daughter wants a dog for Christmas. " This refers to any dog. We don't know which dog because we haven't found the dog yet.

The definite Article: THE Page 209 Student’s book The signals that the noun is definite, that it refers to a particular member of a group. For example: "The dog that bit me ran away. " Here, we're talking about a specific dog, the dog that bit me.

The definite Article: THE There are some specific rules for using the with geographical nouns. Do not use the before: - names of most countries/territories: Italy, Mexico, Bolivia; Exceptions: the Netherlands, the UK, the Philippines, the USA … - names of cities, towns, or states: Seoul, Canillo, Miami - names of streets: Washington Blvd. , Jerez St. , Main St. - names of lakes and bays: Lake Titicaca, Lake Erie except with a group of lakes like the Great Lakes - names of mountains: Mount Everest, Mount Fuji except with ranges of mountains like the Andes or the Rockies or unusual names like the Matterhorn - names of continents (Asia, Europe) - names of islands (Easter Island, Menorca) except with island chains like the Aleutians, the Hebrides, or the Canary Islands

The definite Article: THE use the before: -names of rivers, oceans and seas: the Nile, the Segre, the Pacific ocean -points on the globe: the Equator, the North Pole -geographical areas: the Middle East, the West - deserts, forests, gulfs, and peninsulas: the Sahara, the Persian Gulf, the Black Forest, the Iberian Peninsula

The use of We usually use no article to talk about things in general: - - Inflation is rising. - Students are worried about exams. (Note! students generally, so no article) - I love chocolate. - Information is important to any organisation. - Coffee is bad for you. We do not use an article when talking about sports Skiing is difficult

Activities: On WORKBOOK: page 25 the or Activity 2 ? ? Activity 3 the imperial an metric systems

1. Why don’t ______ British peoplethe use _____ euro like almost everyone else in ____ Europe? the ______British are very 2. Basically, it’s because attached to certain aspects of _____ British life. 3. However, _______ life of many people in the _______ Britain would be easier if ____ metric system were really used. the by 4. _______ choice will no doubt be made, not the but by ______ British public, government. 5. Wouldn’t it be great if ____ European the countries used ____ same systems to measure ______ distances and ____

Activity: On WORKBOOK: page 25 Activity 3 the imperial an metric systems

1. Their cottage was in a beautiful valley about 12 miles from the sea. La casa de camp es trobava en una bonica vall a una vintena de kilòmetres del mar. 2. For the past few years he has lived in a tiny room measuring just 9 feet by six. Fa uns anys que viu en una habitació minúscula de només tres metres per dos. 3. The double-decker came to a halt no more than 6 inches from the shop window. L’autobús de dos pisos s’aturà a poc més de 15 centímetres de l’aparador de la botiga.

4. The thieves stole everything except the 2 pounds of butter and the pint of milk in the fridge. Els lladres ho van robar tot excepte el quilogram de mantega i el mig litre de llet de la nevera. 5. Twelve stones seems rather heavy for someone only 5 feet tall. Un pes de 65 quilos sembla bastant un pes excessiu per a algú que no fa més de metre cinquanta.

Grammar files: 18 and 19 Practise for the exam … Student’s book: Pages 208, 209 Activities “Entraînement”