Chapter two The Articles

The uses of the articles A(n) means per: 60 mph means sixty miles per hour, but we often say sixty miles an hour. e.g. once a week, twice a month, The speed of this car was 160 miles an hour

Known and specified The means one member of the class to represent the whole class Form: the + singular e.g. The Hawaiian goose is in danger of extinction. (abstract thinking) The Hawaiian geese are in danger of extinction. (concrete thinking) The + adjective means the whole class of people described by the adjective e.g. we have made special arrangements for the handicapped and the disabled To refer to one such person, you would say: the handicapped person

Other uses for the Titles and dates using ordinal numbers e.g. Elizabeth II = Queen Elizabeth the Second 13 April = April the thirteenth, the thirteenth of April N.B. There are cases where ordinal numbers are used without the when we are talking about prizes and competitions e.g. The Spanish contestant was in second place

Cases where the is left out The is not used in the pattern: title + name e.g. Mr. and Mrs. Smith, President Nilson The is sometimes omitted in fixed expressions especially in these forms: Verb + NOUN: to take place, to make friends Preposition + NOUN: on time, for example N.B. There are some exceptions: We say at night but in the morning The may be omitted with the names of the seasons: in (the) spring, before (the) winter.

Cases where the is left out Expressions on the pattern TO + NOUN and IN/AT+NOUN which refer to the activity or function associated with the noun: To go to school= to be in full time education Therefore we say: The student went to school (an everyday action) but the woman went to the school ( may be she will talk to the teacher)

Other examples : to go to prison, to be in bed, to be at school Exceptions: to the office, to the theatre BY+ NOUN is used to express the method of travelling e.g. to go by bus, by air, by taxi, by car Sometimes we use the pattern ON+ NOUN e.g. on foot, on horseback

Deliberate omission of articles The articles are left out whenever you want to save space, time, or money as in: Headlines: POLICE QUESTION YOUTH AFTER BRITISH MUSEUMEXPLOSION = The police are questioning a youth following an explosion which took place in or near the British museum

Deliberate omission of articles Telegrams: REGRET MEETING CANCELLED STOP SUGGEST DATE BEFORE NEXT AGM STOP LETTER= We regret that the meeting has been cancelled. We suggest that a date should be chosen before the next AGM. We will send you a letter about this matter right away.

Deliberate omission of articles Notices and labels: DO NOT LEAN OUT OF WINDOW RING BELL AND WAIT

Demonstratives Form of the demonstratives Singular and plural This, that (singular) These, those (plural) THIS etc. + NOUN: This house, these houses/ that day, those days THIS/THAT + ONE Which piece do you want? I want this one / I want that one. In the plural: I want these. ( without one)

Form of the demonstratives This etc. as pronoun These are my books; those must be to someone else. This etc. + ADJECTIVE + NOUN e.g. this old house, that certain feeling This etc. + NOUN + OF mine –yours- ours e.g. that old car of yours

Meaning of the demonstratives This identifies sth near to the speaker; it is associated with here. That identifies sth farther from the speaker; it is associated with theirs. Meanings: Physical location e.g. All students are here? ( inside the classroom) The book is not here but there

Meaning of the demonstratives Sphere of interest: demonstratives are often used not simply to describe things which are physically located near or farther from the speaker, but to identify things which are inside or outside the speaker`s personal universe or sphere of interest This: here, towards, come, near to, bring That: there, away from, go, far from,take

Meaning of the demonstratives E.g. I can`t stand this rainy weather (here) What is that object in the sky?(there) This key chain looks interesting(holding) This key chain looks interesting ( pointing) Do you want this one or this one? Do you want this one or that one? Listen to this joke ( near) Just listen to that noisy motorbike

Other uses This is sometimes used instead of a(n) in the sense of known but not yet specified, when people are telling you about an experience they have had. e.g. We met this marvellous man when we were in Bristol. He took us to this fantastic restaurant in this funny old house…

Other uses Referring forward and referring backward This is used to refer sth which has been already said, or is about to be said The way to get justice is like this: go and get a policeman. The policeman stopped the woman to get her license but this led her to be in prison. That can only be backward. “Prove it?” “That`s easy.”

Other uses That/those in comparative statements The feathers of owls are softer than those of other birds. Those who I don’t believe those people who back terrorism. This in time expressions: this morning,year Emphatic use of that