Themeans 'you know which one I ones I mean'. It can be used before any noun, singular or plural.
use
example
We use thewhen we talk about some-
thing that has been mentioned before.
I bought a shirt and a sweater.
Theshirt is red and thesweater is blue.
We use thewhen it is clear what we mean.
Open thedoor! (You can see which one.) Turn on theTV!
We use thewith persons or things
that are unique (there's only one).
When I was in Rome I saw thePope. Don't sit in thesun. It's too hot.
We use thewith some time
expressions.
in theevening in themorning in theafternoon at theweekend
We use thewith musical instruments.
Can you play thepiano?
We use thewith superlatives
and ordinal numbers .
She's thefastest runner in our class but today I was thefirst to finish therace.
use
example
We use thewith some names:
a) with the names of rivers, seas and oceans
b) with the names of groups of
islands and mountain ranges
c) with the names of countries that include a union, a republic or a kingdom
d) with the names of hotels, cinemas, theatres, museums and buildings
e) with family names in the plural
theAmazon theBlack Sea
thePacific Ocean
theBahamas theAlps
theUnited States theUnited Kingdom
theRepublic of Croatia
But:Croatia , England, Canada
theHilton theBroadway Cinema theNational Theatre theScience Museum theEmpire State Building
TheGreens are coming to dinner tonight.
We use thein some fixed expresions.
listen to theradio But:watch TV
go to thecinema go to the theatre go to thedoctor's go to the dentist's call thepolice
live at theseaside, live in thecountry
on theleft, on theright, in themiddle, etc.
NO ARTICLE
There are a number of situations when we use no article.
use
example
We use no articlewith the names of people.
This is Paul Smith.
In general, we use no articlewith the names of continents, countries and cities.
He's from London.
Brazil is a country in South America .
We use no articlewith the names of streets, squares, parks and bridges.
Tower Bridge, Hyde Park, Trafalgar Square and Oxford Street are all in London.
We use no articlewith the names of lakes, islands and mountains in the singular.
Lake Michigan is in the States.
Ben Nevis is a mountain in Scotland.
We use no articlewith the names of languages, school subjects, sports and games.
Can you speak French? History is my favourite subject. He loves football and chess.
We use no articlewith the names of the days and months.
I'll see you on Monday. The course ends in June.
We use no articlewith the names of meals.
Let's have breakfast. What time is dinner? What time is supper?
use
example
We use no article in a number of common expressions .
go to school, go to work , go to church go home, at home
go to prison I be in prison (as a prisoner)
go to hospital I be in hospital (as a patient)
go on holiday go to bed
travel by car I by plane I by bus I by train
come on foot fall in love, etc.
COUNTABLE- UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS
Countable nouns are those that can be counted (one apple, two apples , etc.). Uncountable nouns are those that cannot be counted (water, bread, etc.). Uncountable nouns take a singular verb and are not used with a/an.
use
example
Groups of uncountable nouns
include:
• mass nouns
• subjects of study
• sports
• languages
• diseases
• natural phenomena
• collective nouns
• certain other nouns
milk, sugar, wine, etc.
Physics, History, Geography, etc. football, cricket, tennis
Arabic , French, Chinese chickenpox, malaria , measles rain, snow, mist
money, furniture, luggage
accommodation, anger, luck
SOME I ANY I NO & THEIR COMPOUNDS
Some, any and no are used with uncountable nouns and plural countable nouns:
some water, some potatoes .
use
example
Some and its compounds somebody, someone, something, somewhere, etc.) are normally used m affirmative sentences.
There is some wine left in the bottle.
Some and its compounds are also
used in interrogative sentences
hen we expect a positive answer,
for example when we make an
offer or request.
Would you like something to drink?
Any and its compounds (anyone,
anything, etc.) are usually used in
terrogative sentences.
Has anyone seen Jim today?
i ot any is used in negative sentences .
There isn't any petrol in the tank .
use
example
Anyand its compounds can also be used with negative words such as without, never, rarely.
I have never met anyonelike him before.
When anyand its compounds are u.sed in affirmative sentences there is a difference in meaning.
You can do anythingyou like. (it doesn't matter what) Anyonecould have done that. (it doesn't matter who)
Noand its compounds can be used instead of not anyin negative sentences.
Laura didn't say anything.(=She said nothing.)There wasn't anybodyin the house. (=There was nobodyin the house.)
Note:We use a singular verb with compounds of some, anyand no.
There is nothing they can do.
A FEW I FEW- A LITTLE I LITTLE
A fewand feware used with plural countable nouns.
A littleand littleare used with uncountable nouns.
use
example
A fewmeans 'not many, but enough'
We have a few apples.
We can make an apple pie. Fewmeans 'hardly any, almost none' and can be used with veryfor emphasis.
There were (very) fewpeople queuing in the bank.
A littlemeans 'not much, but enough'.
There is a littlecoffee left- would you like another cup?
Littlemeans 'hardly any, almost none' and can be used with veryfor emphasis.
There is (very) littlesugar left. I'll go and buy some.
A LOT OF I LOTS OF - MUCH I MANY
use
example
A lot of /lotsof are used with both plural countable and uncountable nouns. They are normally used in affirmative sentences. The ofis omitted when a lot /lotsare not followed by a noun.
There are a lot /lotsof oranges in the fridge. I can make some juice.
Muchand manyare usually used in negative or interrogative sentences. Muchis used with uncountable nouns and manyis used with plural countable nouns.
There aren't manyparks in the centre of the city. Did you spend muchmoney at the supermarket?
A LOT OF I LOTS OF - MUCH I MANY
use
example
How muchand how manyare used in questions and negations.
How much+ uncountable noun-amount
How many + countable noun- number
How muchpepper shall I put in the soup?
How manychildren do they have?
Too muchis used with uncountable nouns. It has a negative meaning and shows that there is more of something than is wanted or needed.
He couldn't sleep because the children were making too muchnoise.
Too manyis used with plural countable nouns. It has the same negative meaning as too much.
It was very crowded. There were too many peoplethere.
We use many I much I some I anyI most I (a) few I (a) little I several/ oneI two,etc. + offollowed by the I thatI
this I these I thoseand then a noun when talking about a specific group.
Some ofthe houses in that district are very expensive. (houses in that district) But:Some houses are very expensive.
(houses in general)
PRONOUNS
PERSONAL PRONOUNS
POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS
ABSOLUTE PRONOUNS
SUBJECT
OBJECT
(used with a noun)
(used without a noun)
I
me
mybook
It's mine.
You
you
yourcap
It's yours.
He
him
hisroom
It's his.
She
her
herroom
It's hers.
It
it
itstail
We
us
ourhouse
It's ours.
You
you
yourdog
It's yours.
They
them
theircar
It's theirs .
PERSONAL PRONOUNS have two forms:
subject form
object form
I have got a book.
Where is Mary? Is shecoming? Where is Bruno? Heis late. Theyare lovely.
Give methe book, please.
Tell herto come.
We are waiting for him.
We love them.
