Если по какой-либо причине говорящий предполагает, что слушающий понимает, о каком именно предмете или предметах он говорит, тогда употребляется артикль "the".
Такими причинами чаще всего могут быть:
1. Данный предмет уже упоминался в разговоре.
2. Данный предмет нельзя перепутать с другим, поскольку он является единственным вообще или в данных обстоятельствах. То же относится и ко всему количеству чего-либо, поскольку другого количества того же нет.
Если говорящий впервые рассказывает о чем-то слушающему или он хочет рассказать ему, что какой-то предмет является чем-то (или человек кем-то), тогда употребляется неопределенный артикль в форме "a" или "an" (форма "an" употребляется для благозвучия перед существительными, начинающимися на гласный звук). Помните, что неопределенный артикль употребляется только со словами, обозначающими что-то (или кого-то), что можно пересчитать и только с одним таким предметом.
ПРИМЕЧАНИЕ:
Обычно, если нет дополнительных смыслов, артикли не употребляются с существительными, обозначающими:
1. Абстрактные понятия, чувства и пр.
2. Вещества и материалы (если речь не идет об отдельных сортах и видах).
3. С человеческими именами и кличками животных.
С названиями, то есть именами неживых предметов или явлений, например, географическими названиями, названиями изданий, кораблей, крупных строений, машин и так далее многое решает традиция: артикль либо не употребляется вовсе, либо используется определенный артикль "the". Сверяйтесь с грамматическими справочниками.
УПРАЖНЕНИЕ 1
Ниже находится отрывок текста, в котором пробелами заменены неопределенные артикли вида "a" и определенные артикли "the". Артикли вида "an", а также "нулевые артикли", то есть места, где по каким-то правилам артикль перед существительным отсутствует, заменены или отмечены не были. То есть вместо каждого пробела должно стоять "the" или "a". (В связи с этим, в случае письменного выполнения упражнения, рациональнее будет расставить только артикли "а", оставив пустыми пробелы, где должен быть артикль "the").
ВАЖНО: Мысленно или письменно подставляя нужный артикль, будьте готовы объяснить себе соответствующий выбор исходя из вышеизложенного смыслового правила.
Правильность ответов можно проверить по оригинальному тексту: ССЫЛКА
"Well... [_] picture isn't bad. Not bad at all... I owe him some bonus," thought [_] editor-in-chief of [_] popular sci, sci-fi, and fantasy magazine "Amazing world" meaning by "him" [_] artist, of course. (As this is an impeccably and in every aspect truthful story, we have to convey verbatim not only all [_] words spoken, but all [_] words thought as well.) On [_] desk before [_] editor lay to be signed for [_] press [_] preprint of [_] September issue. Still, it was only [_] paper version. [_] main reader, as well as looker, waited for issue's coalescing in [_] cyberspace.
On [_] magazine's cover, shown from [_] bird's eye view - more precisely, seen with [_] eyes of [_] passengers of an anti-gravitational flying vehicle - was depicted [_] chain of giant wind turbines stretching and accordingly decreasing in perspective towards [_] horizon. And out there, at [_] foothills of blue mountains, gleamed violet fields of solar panels. Amazing world of [_] future...
However, [_] editor was held back by [_] present. It still remained [_] good hour of [_] working day, but [_] decision was made and nothing prevented him from signing [_] copy and going home to begin [_] next day [_] long-awaited vacation, if not for two circumstances.
First: his (and general) secretary Lisa took an early leave today in order to pick up from or take to somewhere (maybe both) her child, which gave [_] editor too good to squander an opportunity to climb [_] pedestal of heroic devotion (in such hot weather, for sure) to [_] common publishing cause and this particular business' prosperity... and so on and so forth. It was clear that such moral stamina required some compensation in [_] form of [_] ticket to this show for [_] editor himself and, therefore, today - from tick to tick.
Despite being [_] humble person and consequently easy to satisfy with [_] only spectator, [_] editor, quite naturally, didn't grudge [_] good example to his staff, for which reason he called [_] video conference, having ended not half an hour ago. Of course it was not [_] same as personal attendance, but one have to live such hard times one have to live in.
No, there was something else mildly gnawing at his sense of perfection, as it is always [_] case with making virtue of necessity. For [_] real reason of [_] editor's staying in [_] office was that [_] same Lisa reported to him that their refrigerator had refused to work and all her efforts to reanimate it were in vain, so she called [_] service and they promised to send [_] repairman later in [_] afternoon, and since [_] editor was staying in anyway, could he please... alright? It was hard not to notice that Lisa (who called herself [_] smart and resourceful lady) diplomatically placed this information after receiving [_] editor's willing agreement to her early leave, so he couldn"t help feeling [_] little duped and trapped.
The magazine's headquarters on [_] seventh floor of an office building consisted of [_] small reception area and another one, much bigger room. This latter, flooded at [_] moment with sunlight, had [_] business-like atmosphere. It combined functions of [_] editor's study, meeting room and [_] warehouse for computer equipment standing on metallic shelves and for something else in boxes piled at [_] corners and under tables, not to mention [_] coffee machine, tea appliances, and, surely, [_] fridge. However, there was enough space left and [_] view from [_] windows, not obscured with tall buildings, disposed to dreamy reflections. [_] only digression from [_] second best office style was [_] two-barrel shotgun hanging on [_] wall behind [_] editor's chair.
The editor sighed, got out [_] wet tissue from [_] pack, and wiped his bald head and his rheumy bulging eyes. Neither [_] wide open windows, nor [_] big fan, standing on [_] floor three meters away from his desk, did not save [_] situation. [_] editor filled [_] glass with mineral water, but even it, pouring out of [_] bottle, gurgled somehow lifelessly. "Warm..."
The editor pulled his laptop closer.
The job of [_] chief editor has its perquisites. What for [_] common office employee would be justly considered [_] deplorable transgression against discipline and [_] stealing of [_] working time (like loitering in [_] Internet), [_] same thing in [_] case of it being done by [_] boss acquires respectable colors of development [_] editorial strategies. But [_] news feed on [_] screen could hardly vouch for its usefulness in either capacity. It was full of reports of heavy rains that flooded Europe, of [_] forest fires in Yakutia, [_] heat dome over North America, and [_] decrease in [_] planet's albedo due to [_] melting of [_] Arctic ice shield. Another terrible summer of another coronavirus year...
"If it goes on like this," thought [_] editor, "then in just [_] few years..."
In his mind vision appeared [_] limitless, deepest Canadian marshes and Siberian swamps, bound for [_] time being by permafrost along with trillions of cubic meters of methane, [_] greenhouse gas dozens of times more dangerous than infamous carbon dioxide. [_] small step is only needed to gain [_] critical mass of heat in [_] atmosphere and then some weather fluke will trigger [_] unstoppable chain reaction. And there will be [_] year when [_] winter won't come. And those swamps will turn into swamps again. [_] precipitous melting of [_] Antarctic and Greenland ice will commence, flooding giant continental areas with 70-meter layer of [_] brackish ocean waters, turning all [_] biggest cities into swamps as well, unsuitable for people's living.
"And all will be over in [_] forty and two months. But first [_] dragon with seven heads will rise from [_] abyss of [_] sea, and each head will have [_] corona," [_] editor recalled. "And [_] dragon will make every survivor receive [_] digital inscription on his hand or forehead, without which no one will be allowed to buy or sell..."
A knock on [_] door.
The editor shuddered and opened his eyes. [_] shabby, no longer young man in [_] washed overalls stood on [_] threshold, holding in his hand [_] sizable toolcase, typical for plumbers, electricians and suchlike professionals.
"Who called [_] doctor for [_] sick fridge?" he asked cheerfully.
"Yes, yes, this is it," said [_] editor. "Here it is."
The repairman unhurriedly entered [_] room, for some reason looked around and, coming to [_] refrigerator, opened its door. After saying [_] password or spell "Isobutane!" to someone there, he turned to [_] editor.
"Have you notice? - before it broke, was it gurgling?"
"Gurgling," [_] editor nodded automatically. "I mean, no, I don't remember."
"Let's see..."
The repairman began to move [_] refrigerator away from [_] wall, then took out from his case some kind of electrical device and half hide himself with it into [_] resulting gorge. After [_] few minutes of silence, mumbling, and shuffling, there was heard [_] short inhuman hiss and "Aha!" After which [_] repairman appeared from behind [_] refrigerator entirely.
"A good news and [_] bad news. [_] compressor windings are intact, we just need to change [_] pill..."
"The pill?"
"Yes, [_] posistor in [_] start relay. But there was almost no coolant left in [_] system, and that's [_] bad news. Must be [_] leakage somewhere. Can you help me move it around?"
Together with [_] editor they completely draw [_] refrigerator away from [_] wall and turned it so its back faced [_] room now.
"So where is [_] pill?"
"Here."
The editor squatted down next to [_] repairman. Flattered by his interest [_] repairman added:
"And this is [_] charging valve. [_] coolant is filled through this fitting - see? It's much [_] same as in car tires. As [_] rule they dead solder this pipe at [_] factory, but it seem your refrigerator has already been repaired and someone soldered in [_] valve to make it easier to fill it and control [_] pressure.
"It has been repaired already?.." [_] editor got thoughtful. "I don't remember where [_] fridge came from; most likely it was left in [_] office when I rented it. But it looks pretty new, doesn't it?"
"Yes, not old at all. But... that's [_] way they make them now. Planned obsolescence. Have you heard of [_] concept?"
"Sure. [_] eternal light bulbs. We often get comments and emails on that score."
"Light bulbs or no light bulbs, but no one better than us, repairmen, sees how [_] quality of household appliances changes from year to year," [_] repairman said touchily, taking out from his kit [_] small compressor and some kind of brass pressure gauges with multi-colored tubes. "Just ten or fifteen years ago they made much more reliable things. And now it's quite good if it worked out its guarantee term..."
"What are you going to do?"
"I'll pump some air into [_] system and look for [_] leak. It's good as well that [_] condenser... this grate that heats up... that it is outside."
"Where else would it be?"
"Most often they hide it inside nowadays. Do you see any logic in that? Putting hot tubes inside [_] fridge box, hehe. They say it's more beautiful and you can put [_] refrigerator closer to [_] wall. Great achievement, that. As if anyone sees this side at all. In [_] older models you could turn out [_] few screws and remove [_] entire unit from [_] refrigerator box. Both repair and disassembly were easy. But now [_] f... now you can"t really repair it from [_] to Z. Do you think it's just happened that way? No, [_] engineers are given such tasks on purpose. If [_] reparability was demanded before, now it is [_] un-reparability. [_] colossal industry made [_] world-wide U-turn and nobody seemed to notice anything. Light bulb, indeed...
"But even that's not all. [_] normal engineering task is to ensure strength balancing, that is, to make so that all [_] main parts of [_] machine would have approximately [_] same service life, so that it worked long without failures, and when it breaks after all, you wouldn"t grudge to scrap it all together. And in case [_] repair and maintenance works are still necessary, [_] design must allow them to be as simple and convenient as possible. Well, [_] task of engineers saboteurs is completely different now, and also, by [_] way, not an easy one. [_] main problem is to find points and means for [_] strength un-balancing. Simply speaking, to find where to plant [_] bomb. So that it would be impossible to defuse it, and [_] consequences of [_] explosion would be devastating, and it would explode exactly when necessary."
The repairman turned off his compressor and closed [_] tap on [_] brass thing.
"May I?.." he reached for [_] bottle with mineral water on [_] editor's desk.
"Be my guest. Only it's warm..."
The repairman took [_] bottle and pour [_] little water on [_] sponge, which he procured from his toolcase along with small piece of soap. Then he made lather and began to smear with it suspicious places in [_] refrigerator watching if bubbles would appear. [_] editor remained standing by.
"Take, for example, [_] compressor," [_] repairman resumed his gabbling. "Is it [_] good place to put [_] "bomb" there? No, it isn't. First, if [_] compressor breaks, it is only [_] compressor that breaks. Secondly, it is easy to replace. Thirdly, it is too complex. If you try to introduce [_] defect into it, then it is unpredictable: it can break down in [_] week or [_] year, or it can last ten years. Which is unacceptable, because it must work exactly three years of warranty plus one year maximum. [_] same applies to [_] electronic panel: you have to make it reliable, because you don"t know what will burn out there and when, apart from it"s too easy to replace... Easy, but not cheap. In [_] assembled refrigerator [_] same control unit costs three of four times less than if you buy it separately. It's [_] same blatant stick and carrot policy, of course, to make [_] client throw out quite [_] fit refrigerator and buy [_] new one. Although, I"ll tell you [_] secret, nobody needs all this electronics either. And [_] quality of [_] cold is [_] same, whether it is produced by [_] simple refrigerator or [_] fancy one..."
"Where, then, they are planting [_] "bombs"?
"Pipes. They connect them using glue. Glue! Here you see soldered pipes, but there inside, away from [_] eye, they are glued. Because, you see, soldering also provide too unreliable... um, unreliability. And [_] sealant is destroyed in due time. Chemical decomposition. Well, not only [_] connections. [_] pipes themselves is [_] weak link too. It's like [_] safety fuse... or maybe [_] other way around. If one doesn't work, then [_] other will. Guaranteed breakage, so to speak. And again, you can't just use [_] low quality pipes. There must be [_] precise destroying factor. All my colleagues know very well at which constructive elements [_] pipes break first, ninety five percent of all such cases. Do you think [_] designers are unaware? But they do nothing, although it would be easy to protect them at those places."
"Can't we protect them ourselves? Or glue [_] connections all over again?"
"But how?" [_] repairman retorted in [_] caustic tone. "To get access to those places and connections you'd have to break apart [_] entire refrigerator. That's why I said it's good that you have [_] condenser of this type. It's mendable or - if needs be - replaceable, and [_] leakages are easily detectable here. Instead, most often now they not only glue pipes one to another, but they glue [_] whole condenser to [_] inside here (he patted [_] refrigerator on [_] side wall), and then fill [_] space between outer and inner walls with polyurethane foam. And that's [_] end of [_] story. You can't get there, you can do nothing. [_] same thing with [_] evaporator, only they glue it to [_] plastic inner wall, where you have [_] ice freezing on. By [_] way, you also have such evaporator.
"Therefore," groaned [_] repairman, getting up from his haunches, "we are going to do this. I checked all [_] available connections, no leaks are visible. Now we have to wait at least half an hour. If [_] pressure on [_] gauge does not drop, then I change [_] filter and refill [_] system. If it falls, then I will also advise you to buy [_] new refrigerator. Such piece of sh... designer's art, it could only make sense to repair for some grandma in [_] village, and even in that case self-respecting craftsmen do not try to cut [_] walls and pick out [_] foam so that only shreds fly (the repairman giggled here, apparently remembering something), but leave [_] factory devises in peace and do everything in [_] new way... Or maybe it's better to say in [_] old way, but definitely [_] right way, as it should have been done from [_] very beginning. They drill holes in [_] rear side of [_] refrigerator and put everything separately, inside and out, both [_] condenser and [_] evaporator. And no glue."
The editor returned to his table. [_] repairman also dragged [_] free chair to [_] refrigerator and sat down to wait for [_] readings of [_] pressure gauge.
"It seems to me that you are drawing too global conclusions from poor-quality tube connections and, I fully admit, unfortunate design," [_] editor said. "In my opinion, there is no reason to call it deliberate sabotage. Besides, [_] world does not converged on refrigerators, even if we talk only about household appliances. Say, do you repair washing machines?"
"Sometimes it happens."
"And what are there [_] clockwork bombs from [_] designers-saboteurs?"
"Why not? All [_] conditions are met. Devastating, timing, concealment. In fact, it is [_] only place in [_] washing machine I myself see suitable for that purpose. So it is hardly [_] coincidence again. Otherwise they would have to plant [_] special chip disabling [_] machine after certain time of using, [_] same way they did in printers. There was [_] scandalous story on that score some years ago... Probably they are more cautious now, so if there is [_] crucial mechanical part they would use rather it. People tend to be more fatalistic when it comes to raw materials. Not forgetting to scold [_] manufacturers for economizing on them, of course."
"Don't they?"
"Producing five refrigerators working four years each instead of one working twenty? You must be joking."
The silence fell again. Then [_] editor get up from his armchair, came to [_] fan and rearranged it so that [_] share of [_] air flow went to [_] repairman as well.
УПРАЖНЕНИЕ 2
Распечатайте и тренируйтесь. Ответы после каждого упражнения. В конце - правила употребления артиклей. It is optional.
Я не составитель, просто привел в удобный вид.
Insert a or an if necessary.
1 My neighbour is . . . photographer; let's ask him for . . . advice about colour films.<>2 We had . . . fish and . . . chips for . . . lunch. ~ That doesn't sound . . . very interesting lunch.<>3 I had . . . very bad night; I didn't sleep . . . wink.<>4 He is . . . vegetarian; you won't get . . . meat at his house. He'll give you . . . nut cutlet. ~Last time I had . . . nut cutlet I had . . . indigestion.<>5 . . . travel agent would give you . . . information about . . . hotels.<>6 We'd better go by . . . taxi--if we can get . . . taxi at such . . . hour as 2 a.m.<>7 . . . person who suffers from . . . claustrophobia has . . . dread of being confined in . . . small space, and would always prefer . . . stairs to . . . lift.<>8 Do you take . . . sugar in . . . coffee? ~ I used to, but now I'm on . . . diet. I'm trying to lose . . . weight.<>9 . . . man suffering from . . . shock should not be given anything to drink.<>10 You'll get . . . shock if you touch . . . live wire with that screwdriver. Why don't you get . . . screwdriver with . . . insulated handle?<>11 It costs fifty-five and . . . half pence and I've only got . . . fifty pence piece. ~ You can pay by . . . cheque here. ~ But can I write . . . cheque for . . . fifty-five and . . . half pence?<>12 . . . Mr Smith is . . . old customer and . . . honest man. ~ Why do you say that? Has he been accused of . . . dishonesty?<>13 I'm not . . . wage-earner; I'm . . . self-employed man. I have . . . business of my own. ~ Then you're not . . . worker; you're . . . capitalist!<>14 When he was charged with . . . murder he said he had . . . alibi.<>15 . . . friend of mine is expecting . . . baby. If it's . . . girl she's going to be called Etheldreda. ~ What . . . name to give . . . girl!<>16 I have . . . hour and . . . half for lunch. ~ I only have . . . half . . . hour--barely . . . time for . . . smoke and ... cup of coffee.<>17 I hope you have . . . lovely time and . . . good weather. ~ But I'm not going for . . . holiday; I'm going on . . . business.<>18 He looked at me with . . . horror when I explained that I was . . . double agent.<>19 I wouldn't climb . . . mountain for ?1,000! I have . . . horror of . . . heights.<>20 I have . . . headache and . . . sore throat. I think I've got . . . cold. ~ I think you're getting . . . flu.<>21 . . . Mr Jones called while you were out (neither of us knows this man). He wants to make . . . complaint about . . . article in the paper. He was in . . . very bad temper.<>22 If you go by . . . train you can have quite . . . comfortable journey, but make sure you get . . . express, not . . . train that stops at all the stations.<>23 . . . few people know (hardly anyone knows) that there is . . . secret passage from this house to . . . old smugglers' cave in the cliffs.<>24 I'm having . . . few friends in to . . . coffee tomorrow evening. <> Would you like to come? ~ I'd love to, but I'm afraid I'm going to . . . concert.<>25 It's time you had . . . holiday. You haven't had . . . day off for . . . month.<>26 He broke ...leg in... skiing accident. It's still in . . . plaster.<>27 I want . . . assistant with . . . knowledge of French and . . . experience of . . . office routine.<>28 I see that your house is built of . . . wood. Are you insured against ... fire?<>29 The escaping prisoner camped in . . . wood but he didn't light . . . fire because . . . smoke rising from the wood might attract . . . attention.<>30 I had . . . amazing experience last night. I saw . . . dinosaur eating . . . meat pie in . . . London park. ~ You mean you had . . . nightmare. Anyway, dinosaurs didn't eat . . . meat.<>31 I'll pay you . . . hundred . . . week. It's not . . . enormous salary but after all you are . . . completely unskilled man.<>32 If you kept . . . graph you could see at . . . glance whether you were making . . . profit or . . . loss.<>33 . . . little (hardly anything) is known about the effect of this drug; yet . . . chemist will sell it to you without . . . prescription.<>34 I have . . . little money left; let's have dinner in . . . restaurant.<>35 Would it be . . . trouble to you to buy me . . . newspaper on your way home?<>36 . . . man is . . . reasoning animal.
(note that '-' indicates that no article is required.) la,- 2-,-,-;a 3 a, a 4 a,-; a; a,- 5A,-,- 6-,a,an 7 A, -, a, a,-, a 8-,-;a,- 9A,- 10 a, a; a, an II a, a;-: a, -,a 12-, an, an;- 13 a, a; a; a, a 14-, an 15 A, a; a; a, a 16 an, a;-, an,-, a, a 17 a,-; a,- 18-,a 19 a; a,- 20 a, a; a; - 21 A; a, an; a 22-,a, an, a 23-,a, an 24 a,-; a 25 a: a, a 26 a, a:- 27 an, a,-,- 28-;- 29 a, a,-,- 30 an; a, a, a: a;-I 31 a, a; an, a 32 a, a, a, a 33-,a, a 34 a, a 35 a, a 36-,a
Insert the if necessary.
1 . . . youngest boy has just started going to . . . school; . . . eldest boy is at . . . college.<>2 She lives on . . . top floor of an old house. When . . . wind blows, all . . . windows rattle.<>3 . . . darkness doesn't worry . . . cats; . . . cats can see in . . . dark.<>4 My little boys say that they want to be . . . spacemen, but most of them will probably end up in . . . less dramatic jobs.<>5 Do you know . . . time? ~Yes, . . . clock in . . . hall has just struck nine. ~ Then it isn't . . . time to go yet.<>6 He was sent to . . . prison for . . . six months for . . . shop-lifting.<> When . . . six months are over he'll be released; . . . difficulty then will be to find . . . work. ~ Do you go to . . . prison to visit him?<>7 I went to . . . school to talk to . . . headmistress. I persuaded her to let Ann give up . . . gymnastics and take . . . ballet lessons instead.<>8 . . . ballet isn't much use for . . . girls; it is much better to be able to play . . . piano.<>9 I am on... night duty. When you go to . . . bed, I go to . . . work.<>10 Peter's at . . . office but you could get him on . . . phone. There's a telephone box just round . . . corner<>11 He got... bronchitis and was taken to . . . hospital. I expect they'll send him home <> at . . . end of . . . week. ~ Have you rung . . . hospital to ask how he is?<>12 Ann's habit of riding a motorcycle up and down . . . road early in . . . morning annoyed . . . neighbours and in . . . end they took her to . . . court.<>13 He first went to . . . sea in a Swedish ship, so as well as learning . . . navigation he had to learn . . . Swedish.<>14 . . . family hotels are . . . hotels which welcome . . . parents and . . . children.<>15 On . . . Sundays my father stays in . . . bed till ten o'clock, reading . . . Sunday papers.<>16 Then he gets up, puts on . . . old clothes, has . . . breakfast and starts . . . work in . . . garden.<>17 My mother goes to . . . church in . . . morning, and in . . . afternoon goes to visit . . . friends.<>18 Like many women, she loves . . . tea parties and . . . gossip.<>19 My parents have ... cold meat and . . . salad for . . . supper, . . . winter and . . . summer.<>20 During . . . meal he talks about . . . garden and she tells him . . . village gossip.<>21 We have a very good train service from here to . . . city centre and most people go to . . . work by train. You can go by . . . bus too, of course, but you can't get a season ticket on . . . bus.<>22 . . . dead no longer need . . . help. We must concern ourselves with . . . living. We must build . . . houses and . . . schools and . . . playgrounds.<>23 I'd like to see . . . Mr Smith please. ~Do you mean . . . Mr Smith who works in . . . box office or . . . other Mr Smith?<>24 Did you come by . . . air? ~ No, I came by . . . sea. I had a lovely voyage on . . . Queen Elizabeth II.<>25 . . . most of . . . stories that . . . people tell about . . . Irish aren't true.<>26 . . . married couples with . . . children often rent . . . cottages by . . . seaside for . . . summer holidays.<>. . . men hire boats and go for . . . trips along . . . coast; . . . children spend . . . day on . . . beach and . . . poor mothers spend . . . most of . . . time doing . . . cooking and cleaning.<>27 It's usually safe to walk on . . . sand, but here, when . . . tide is coming in, . . . sand becomes dangerously soft. . . . people have been swallowed up by it.<>28 When . . . Titanic was crossing . . . Atlantic she struck an iceberg which tore a huge hole in her bow. . . . captain ordered . . . crew to help . . . passengers into . . . boats.<>29 Everywhere . . . man has cut down . . . forests in order to cultivate . . . ground, or to use . . . wood as . . . fuel or as . . . building material.<>30 But . . . interference with . . . nature often brings . . . disaster. . . . tree-felling sometimes turns . . . fertile land into a dustbowl.<>31 . . . people think that . . . lead is . . . heaviest metal, but . . . gold is heavier.<>32 Our air hostess said, '. . . rack is only for . . . light articles. . . . heavy things such as . . . bottles must be put on . . . floor.'<>33 . . . windows are supposed to let in . . . light; but . . . windows of this house are so small that we have to have . . . electric light on all . . . time.<>34 There'11 always be a conflict between . . . old and . . . young. . . . young people want . . . change but . . . old people want . . . things to stay . . . same.<>35 . . . power tends to corrupt and . . . absolute power corrupts absolutely.<>36 You can fool some of . . . people all . . . time, and all . . . people some of . . . time; but you cannot fool all . . . people all . . . time.
(As before '-' indicates that no article is required, '(the)' indicates that the article is optional.)
1 The,-, the,- 2 the; the, the 3-,-,-, the 4-,- 5 the; the, the;- 6-,-,-; the, the,-; the 7 the, the;-,- 8-,-,the 9-; -,- 10 the, the; the II-,-; the, the; the 12 the, the, the, the, - 13-,-,- 14-, -,-,- 15-,-, the 16-,-,-, the 17-, the, the, - 18-,- 19-,-, -,-,- 20 the, the, the 21 the, -; -,the 22 The, -; the;-,-,- 23-; the, the, the 24-;-; the 25-, the,-, the 26-, -,-,the, the; The,-,the; the, the, the, the, -, the, the 27 -, the, the; - 28 the, the; The, the, the, the 29 -, -, the, the, -,- 30-,-,-;-,- 31-,-, the, - 32 The, -;-,-,the 33-, (the), the, the, the 34 (the), (the); -,-,-,-, the 35-. - 36 the, the, the, the, the, the
Insert a, an or the if necessary.
1 There was . . . knock on . . . door. I opened it and found . . . small dark man in . . . blue overcoat and . . . woollen cap.<>2 He said he was . . . employee of . . . gas company and had come to read . . . meter.<>3 But I had . . . suspicion that he wasn't speaking . . . truth because . . . meter readers usually wear . . . peaked caps.<>4 However, I took him to . . . meter, which is in . . . dark corner under . . . stairs <> (. . . meters are usually in . . . dark corners under . . . stairs).<>5 I asked if he had . . . torch; he said he disliked torches and always read . . . meters by . . . light of . . . match.<>6 I remarked that if there was . . . leak in . . . gaspipe there might be . . . explosion while he was reading . . . meter.<>7 He said, 'As . . . matter of . . . fact, there was . . . explosion in . . . last house I visited; and Mr Smith, . . . owner of . . . house, was burnt in . . . face.'<>8 'Mr Smith was holding . . . lighted match at . . . time of . . . explosion.'<>9 To prevent . . . possible repetition of this accident, I lent him . . . torch.<>10 He switched on . . . torch, read . . . meter and wrote . . . reading down on . . . back of . . . envelope.<>11 I said in . . . surprise that . . . meter readers usually put . . . readings down in . . . book.<>12 He said that he had had . . . book but that it had been burnt in . . . fire in . . . Mr Smith's house.<>13 By this time I had come to . . . conclusion that he wasn't . . . genuine meter reader; and . . . moment he left . . . house I rang . . . police.<>14 Are John and Mary . . . cousins? ~ No, they aren't . . . cousins; they are . . . brother and . . . sister.<>15 . . . fog was so thick that we couldn't see . . . side of . . . road. We followed . . . car in front of us and hoped that we were going . . . right way.<>16 I can't remember . . . exact date of . . . storm, but I know it was . . . Sunday because everybody was at . . . church. On . . . Monday . . . post didn't come because . . . roads were blocked by . . . fallen trees.<>17 Peter thinks that this is quite . . . cheap restaurant.<>18 There's been . . . murder here. ~ Where's . . . body?~ There isn't . . . body. ~ Then how do you know there's been . . . murder?<>19 Number . . . hundred and two, - . . house next door to us, is for sale. It's quite . - . nice house with . . . big rooms. . . . back windows look out on . . . park.<>20 I don't know what . . . price . . . owners are asking. But Dry and Rot are . . . agents. You could give them . . . ring and make them . . . offer.<>21 . . . postman's little boy says that he'd rather be . . . dentist than . . . doctor, because . . . dentists don't get called out at . . . night.<>22 Just as . . . air hostess (there was only one on the plane) was handing me . . . cup of . . . coffee . . . plane gave . . . lurch and . . . coffee went all over . . . person on . . . other side of . . . gangway.<>23 There was . . . collision between . . . car and . . . cyclist at . . . crossroads near . . . my house early in . . . morning. . . . cyclist was taken to . . . hospital with . . . concussion. . . . driver of . . . car was treated for . . . shock. . . . witnesses say that . . . car was going at . . . seventy miles . . . hour.<>24 Professor Jones, . . . man who discovered . . . new drug that everyone is talking about, refused to give . . . press conference.<>25 Peter Piper, . . . student in . . . professor's college, asked him why he refused to talk to . . . press.<>26 We're going to . . . tea with . . . Smiths today, aren't we? Shall we take . . . car? ~ We can go by . . . car if you wash . . . car first. We can't go to . . . Mrs Smith's in . . . <> car all covered with . . . mud.<>27 He got . . . job in . . . south and spent . . . next two years doing . . . work he really enjoyed.<>28 It is . . . pleasure to do . . . business with such . . . efficient organization.<>29 . . . day after . . . day passed without . . . news, and we began to lose ... hope.<>30 Would you like to hear . . . story about . . . Englishman, . . . Irishman and . . . Scotsman? ~ No. I've heard . . . stories about . . . Englishmen, . . . Irishmen and . . . Scotsmen before <> and they are all . . . same.<>31 But mine is not . . . typical story. In my story . . . Scotsman is generous, . . . Irishman is logical and . . . Englishman is romantic. ~ Oh, if it's . . . fantastic story I'll listen with . . . pleasure.<>32 My aunt lived on . . . ground floor of . . . old house on . . . River Thames. She was very much afraid of . . . burglars and always locked up . . . house very carefully before she went to . . . bed. She also took . . . precaution of looking under . . . bed to see if . . . burglar was hiding there.<>33 '. . . modern burglars don't hide under . . . beds,' said her daughter. I'll go on looking just . . . same,' said my aunt.<>34 One morning she rang her daughter in . . . triumph. 1 found . . . burglar under . . . bed . . . last night,' she said, 'and he was quite . . . young man.'<>35 . . . apples are sold by . . . pound. These are forty pence . . . pound.<>36 It was . . . windy morning but they hired . . . boat and went for . . . sail along . . . coast. In . . - afternoon . . . wind increased and they soon found themselves in . . . difficulties.<>
(Two words separated by an oblique, e.g. the/his, indicate that either is a possible answer. The first word is normally the preferred answer.)
1 a, the; a, a 2 an, the, the 3 a, the,-,- 4 the, a, the,-.-.(the) 5 a,-,the, a 6 a, a/the, an, the 7 a,-, an, the, the, the, the 8 a, the, the 9 a, a 10 the, the, the, the, an 11-.-.(the), a 12 a, the, 13 the, a, the, the, the 14-;-,-,- 15 The, the, the; the, the 16 the, the, a,-: (the), the, the,- 17 a 18 a; the; a: a 19 a, the: a, -; The, the 20-,the; the; a, an 21 The, a, a,-,- 22 the, a, - , the, a, the, the, the, the 23 a, a, a, the, -, the; The, -, -; The, the, -; -, the,-, an 24 the, the, a 25 a, the, the 26-,the; the;-,the;-,a, - 27 a, the, the,- 28 a,-, an 29-,-, -,- 30 a, an, an, a:-, -, -, -, the 31 a; the, the, the: a, - 32 the, an, the; -, the, -: the, the, a 33-,-; the 34-; a, the, -,a 35-, the; a 36 a, a, a, the; the, the, -
Insert a, an, the, or my, his, her, our, your, their if necessary.
1 He took off . . . coat and set to work.<>2 Why are you standing there with . . . hands in . . . pockets?<>3 At most meetings . . . people vote by raising . . . right hands.<>4 The bullet struck him in . . . foot.<>5 They tied . . . hands behind . . . back and locked him in a cellar.<>6 He took . . . shoes off and entered on . . . tiptoe.<>7 Someone threw . . . egg which struck the speaker on . . . shoulder.<>8 I have . . . headache.<>9 I have . . . pain in . . . shoulder.<>10 The windscreen was smashed and the driver was cut in . . . face by broken glass.<>11 He was . . . very tall man with . . . dark hair and . . . small beard, but I couldn't see . . . eyes because he was wearing . . . dark glasses.<>12 He tore . . . trousers getting over a barbed wire fence.<>13 Brother and sister were quite unlike each other. He had . . . fair wavy hair; . . . hair was dark and straight.<>14 She pulled . . . sleeve to attract his attention.<>15 She pulled him by . . . sleeve.<>16 'Hands up!' said the masked man, and we all put . . . hands up.<>17 Ask . . . woman in front of you to take off . . . hat.<>18 He stroked . . . chin thoughtfully.<>19 If you're too hot why don't you take off . . . coat?<>20 I saw him raise . . . right hand and take . . . oath.<>21 The lioness bit him in . . . leg.<>22 You should change . . . wet shoes, or you'll catch another cold.<>23 There was a shot and a policeman came out with . . . blood running down . . . face.<>24 We shook . . . hands with . . . host.<>25 He fell off his horse and injured . . . back.<>26 The barman seized the drunk by . . . collar.<>27 Leave . . . coats in . . . cloakroom; don't bring them into . . . theatre.<>28 He fell down a flight of stairs and broke . . . rib.<>29 He pointed to a woman in . . . green dress.<>30 He is . . . thoroughly selfish man; he wouldn't lift . . . finger to help anyone.<>31 You'll strain . . . eyes if you read in . . . bad light.<>32 She was on . . . knees, scrubbing . . . kitchen floor.<>33 He has . . . horrible job; I wouldn't like to be in . . . shoes.<>34 You've got . . . shirt on inside out.<>35 'Pull up . . . socks,' said his mother.<>36 I hit . . . thumb with a hammer when I was hanging the picture.
1 his 2 your, your 3 -, their 4 the 5 his, his 6 his, - 7 an, the 8 a 9 a, my 10 the II a,-, a, his,- 12 his 13-, her 14 his 15 the 16 our 17 the, her 18 his 19 your 20 his, the 21 the 22 your 23-, his 24-.our/the 25 his 26 the/his 27 your, the, the 28 a 29 a 30 a, a 31 your, (a) 32 her, the 33 a, his 34 your 35 your 36 my
Insert a/an or one if necessary.
1 . . . of my friends advised me to take . . . taxi; another said that there was quite . . . good bus service.<>2 . . . friend of mine lent me . . . book by Meredith. I've only . . . more chapter to read. Would you like . . . loan of it afterwards?~ No, thanks. I read . . . of his books . . . few years ago and didn't like it. Besides I have . . . library book to finish. If I don't take it back tomorrow I'll have to pay . . . fine.<>3 . . . man I met on the train told me . . . rather unusual story.<>4 Most people like . . . rest after . . . hard day's work, but Tom seemed to have . . . inexhaustible supply of energy.<>5 I've told you . . . hundred times not to come into . . . room with . . . hat on.<>6 It's unlucky to light three cigarettes with . . . match. ~ That's only . . . superstition. Only . . . idiot believes in superstitions.<>7 He says . . . caravan is no good; he needs . . . cottage.<>8 . . . plate is no good; we need . . . dozen.<>9 Last time there was . . . fog here . . . plane crash-landed in . . . field near the airport. The crew had . . . lucky escape. . . . man broke his leg; the rest were unhurt.<>10 You've been . . . great help to me; . . . day I will repay you.<>11 My car broke down near . . . bus stop. There was . . . man waiting for . . . bus so I asked him for . . . advice.<>12 He took . . . quick look at my car and said, 'Buy . . . new . . . .'<>13 There was . . . woman there. The rest were men. ~ There shouldn't have been even . . . woman. It was meant to be . . . stag party.<>14 Don't tell . . . soul! Not even your wife! ~ Of course not! I'd never tell . . . secret to . . . woman.<>15 Most of the staff had been there for only . . . very short time, but . . . man had been there . . . year and . . . half, so he knew . . . little more than the rest.<>16 Could you lend me . . . dictionary, please? I'm trying to do . . . crossword puzzle. ~ I'm afraid I've only got . . . dictionary, and Tom's borrowed it.<>17 . . . chop won't be enough for Tom; he'll want two; he's . . . small man but he's got . . . big appetite.<>18 1 want . . . volunteers for . . . dangerous job,' said the captain. There was . . . long silence.<> 'Isn't there even . . . man who will take . . . risk?' he asked. . . . voice called out from the back, 'Will there be . . . reward?'<>19 I have . . . flat on the top floor. You get . . . lovely view from there.<>20 . . . day a new director arrived. He was . . . ambitious, bad-tempered man, and the staff took . . . instant dislike to him.<>21 Suddenly . . . bullet struck . . . street lamp . . . little to Bill's left. He looked up and saw . . . man with . . . gun standing at . . . open window.<>22 Bill fired back twice. . . . bullet hit the wall, the other broke . . . pane of . . . glass. He heard . . . angry shout.<>23 . . . day--it was . . . dry day with . . . good visibility--Tom was driving along . . . country road in . . . borrowed car.<>24 You're making . . . mistake after another. Have you . . . hangover, or something? ~ No, but I had . . . very bad night last night. The people next door were having . . . party. ~ . . . bad night shouldn't have such . . . effect on your work. I often have three bad nights in succession. I live in . . . very noisy street.<>
1 One, a, a 2 A, a: one; a; one, a; a: a 3 A, a 4 a, a, an 5 a, a/the, a/your 6 one; a; an 7 a, a 8 One, a 9 (a), a, a; a; One 10 a; One 11 a/the; a, a/the;- 12 a, a, one 13 one; one; a14 a; a, a 15 a, one, a, a, a 16 a, a; one 17 One, a, a 18-, a; a; one, a; A, a 19 a; a 20 One; an, an 21 a, a/the, a; a, a, an 22 One, a. -, an 23 One, a,-, a, a 24 one; a; a; a; One, an; a
1 Articles and one, a little/a few, this, that :::::::::::::::::
1 a/an (the indefinite article)
The form a is used before a word beginning with a consonant, or a vowel with a consonant sound:
a man a hat a university a European
a one-way street
The form an is used before words beginning with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) or words beginning with a mute h:
an apple an island an uncle
an egg an onion an hour
or individual letters spoken with a vowel sound:
an L-plate an MP an SOS an 'x' a/an is the same for all genders:
a man a woman an actor an actress a table
2 Use of a/an a/an is used:
A Before a singular noun which is countable (i.e. of which there is more than one) when it is mentioned for the first time and represents no particular person or thing:
/ need a visa. They live in a flat. He bought an ice-cream.
B Before a singular countable noun which is used as an example of a class of things:
A car must be insured =
All cars/Any car must be insured.
A child needs love =
All children need/Any child needs love.
C With a noun complement. This includes names of professions:
It was an earthquake. She'll be a dancer. He is an actor.
D In certain expressions of quantity: a lot of a couple
a great many a dozen (but one dozen is also possible)
a great deal of
E With certain numbers
a hundred a thousand (See 349 ) Before half when half follows a whole number
ll/2 kilos = one and a half kilos or a kilo and a half But 1/2 kg = half a kilo (no a before half), though a + half + noun is sometimes possible
a half holiday a half portion a half share With 1/3 1/4, 1/5etc a is usual a third, a quarter etc , but one is also possible (See 350 )
F In expressions of price, speed, ratio etc
5p a kilo ё1 a metre sixty kilometres an hour
lOp a dozen four times a day (Here a/an = per )
G In exclamations before singular, countable nouns
Such a long queue' What a pretty girl' But Such long queues' What pretty girls' (Plural nouns, so no article See 3 )
H a can be placed before Mr/Mrs/Miss + surname
a Mr Smith a Mrs Smith a Miss Smith
a Mr Smith means 'a man called Smith' and implies that he is a stranger to the speaker Mr Smith, without a, implies that the speaker knows Mr Smith or knows of his existence
(For the difference between a/an and one, see 4 For a few and a little, see 5 )
3 Omission of a/an a/an is omitted
A Before plural nouns
a/an has no plural form. So the plural of a dog is dogs, and of
an egg is eggs
B Before uncountable nouns (see 13)
C Before names of meals, except when these are preceded by an adjective
We have breakfast at eight
He gave us a good breakfast
The article is also used when it is a special meal given to celebrate something or in someone's honour
/ was invited to dinner (at their house, in the ordinary way) but
/ was invited to a dinner given to welcome the new ambassador