CHAPTER 1

UNIT 1

Determiners

Francis: Let's begin with determiners.

Rohit: That is a good idea. Before we move on to sentence structure, we should begin with single words. What about the more basic parts of speech such as nouns, adverbs, adjectives, and prepositions?

Francis: These have already been adequately covered in our first book, Who Said English Grammar Was Boring?, so I don't think there is any need to repeat that here.

Rohit: So let's start, then, on determiners. There are essentially nine types of determiners. We shall begin with the definite article. Let's examine the use of "the" — the definite article. First of all, it is used to refer back to something already mentioned.

Francis and Rohit: We recommend that the material in bold be written on the blackboard by the teacher.

I know exactly where to get some confectionary. The shop is on the corner of this street.

It was blowing a gale last night. The wind blew a number of trees down.

That was an interesting novel. The book is on the table if you want to borrow it.

Francis: We need to think about the teaching methodology at this point, Rohit.

Rohit: Yes, keeping in mind reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

Francis: And with the addition of a "practicum" whereby the students take turns at being the teacher.

TASK 1

Ask the students to give a presentation on what they have learned so far about the definite article. They should talk for anywhere between three and five minutes.

TASK 2

Ask the students to write a paragraph using the definite article in the way it has so far been presented.

Practicum: Select a student to give a mini lesson on what has been so far taught about the use of the definite article.

HOMEWORK

Write a paragraph using the definite article in the way you have learned it in the lesson thus far. Do not copy from your paragraph in task 2.

Rohit: We also use the definite article when we accept it as given that there is only one of something in a particular place. It doesn't matter if it has not been mentioned before.

John and I went swimming in the sea yesterday. We stayed at the hotel on Baker Street. Which room is the sitting room? Billy opened the present his uncle gave him for his birthday.

TASK 1

Ask the students to give a presentation on what they have learned so far about the definite article. They should talk for anywhere between three and five minutes.

TASK 2

Ask the students to write a paragraph using the definite article in the way it has so far been presented.

Practicum: Select a student to give a mini lesson on what has been so far taught about the use of the definite article.

HOMEWORK

Write a paragraph using the definite article in the way you have learned it in the lesson thus far. Do not copy from your paragraph in task 2.

Rohit: We also use "the" when we refer to a specific person or object we have identified.

Mr. Smithers is the headmaster of that new school. I bought this hat from the milliner's in Babble Road. The book you just bought is a best-seller. The building he has entered is in a dilapidated state of repair.

TASK 1

Ask the students to give a presentation on what they have learned so far about the definite article. They should talk for anywhere between three and five minutes.

TASK 2

Ask the students to write a paragraph using the definite article in the way it has so far been presented.

Practicum: Select a student to give a mini lesson on what has been so far taught about the use of the definite article.

HOMEWORK

Write a paragraph using the definite article in the way you have learned it in the lesson thus far. Do not copy from your paragraph in task 2.

Rohit: For things that are unique, we can use the definite article.

Neil Armstrong walked on the moon.

The Empire State Building is very tall.

The Queen visited our city.

The manager came to see us.

We photographed the Great Pyramid last week.

TASK 1

Ask the students to give a presentation on what they have learned so far about the definite article. They should talk for anywhere between three and five minutes.

TASK 2

Ask the students to write a paragraph using the definite article in the way it has so far been presented.

Practicum: Select a student to give a mini lesson on what has been so far taught about the use of the definite article.

HOMEWORK

Write a paragraph using the definite article in the way you have learned it in the lesson thus far. Do not copy from your paragraph in task 2.

Rohit: The definite article should be used before ordinal numbers and superlatives.

This is the first edition of our book.

Bill is the cleverest student in our section.

Their teacher explained his lesson for the tenth time.

She is the most beautiful girl in this street.

The definite article can be used with adjectives to refer to entire categories of people.

The rich should help the poor.

The disabled should be given sheltered housing.

The Americans play baseball a lot.

The short-sighted need glasses.

TASK 1

Ask the students to give a presentation on what they have learned so far about the definite article. They should talk for anywhere between three and five minutes.

TASK 2

Ask the students to write a paragraph using the definite article in the way it has so far been presented.

Practicum: Select a student to give a mini lesson on what has been so far taught about the use of the definite article.

HOMEWORK

Write a paragraph using the definite article in the way you have learned it in the lesson thus far. Do not copy from your paragraph in task 2.

Rohit: We use the definite article for decades and centuries.

The Swinging Sixties was quite a decade.

This castle dates from the 1400s.

The artefacts here are from the tenth century BC.

TASK 1

Ask the students to give a presentation on what they have learned so far about the definite article. They should talk for anywhere between three and five minutes.

TASK 2

Ask the students to write a paragraph using the definite article in the way it has so far been presented.

Practicum: Select a student to give a mini lesson on what has been so far taught about the use of the definite article.

HOMEWORK

Write a paragraph using the definite article in the way you have learned it in the lesson thus far. Do not copy from your paragraph in task 2.

Rohit: The definite article is used in clauses beginning with "only."

Mr. Thompson is the only teacher who explains things clearly.

This is the only house for miles around.

Only the bank manager knows my financial situation.

TASK 1

Ask the students to give a presentation on what they have learned so far about the definite article. They should talk for anywhere between three and five minutes.

TASK 2

Ask the students to write a paragraph using the definite article in the way it has so far been presented.

Practicum: Select a student to give a mini lesson on what has been so far taught about the use of the definite article.

HOMEWORK

Write a paragraph using the definite article in the way you have learned it in the lesson thus far. Do not copy from your paragraph in task 2.

Rohit: We use the definite article with geographical and geological areas and features.

Roald Amundsen and his team reached the South Pole in 1911.

My family and I took a cruise down the Mississippi River.

Our ship ran aground on an island somewhere in the Pacific Ocean.

Last week, we climbed the Pyrenees.

TASK 1

Ask the students to give a presentation on what they have learned so far about the definite article. They should talk for anywhere between three and five minutes.

TASK 2

Ask the students to write a paragraph using the definite article in the way it has so far been presented.

Practicum: Select a student to give a mini lesson on what has been so far taught about the use of the definite article.

HOMEWORK

"Write a paragraph using the definite article in the way you have learned it in the lesson thus far. Do not copy from your paragraph in task 2.

Rohit: We also use the definite article for countries with plural names.

We had a holiday in The Bahamas.

My friend works in The Marshall Islands.

It should be noted that the T in these examples is uppercase.

We use the definite article for countries with "kingdom," "states," and "republic" in their names.

The Kingdom of Nepal is an amazing place to visit.

He lives in The Republic of Ireland.

Susan wants to do her postgraduate studies in The United States.

There are countries where the definite article is optional.

Emad comes from The Lebanon. (Emad comes from Lebanon.)

I used to work in Sudan. (I used to work in The Sudan.)

TASK 1

Ask the students to give a presentation on what they have learned so far about the definite article. They should talk for anywhere between three and five minutes.

TASK 2

Ask the students to write a paragraph using the definite article in the way it has so far been presented.

Practicum: Select a student to give a mini lesson on what has been so far taught about the use of the definite article.

HOMEWORK

Write a paragraph using the definite article in the way you have learned it in the lesson thus far. Do not copy from your paragraph in task 2.

Rohit: The definite article is used for the names of newspapers.

I saw his article in the Sun.

Danny Trabbot is a reporter for the Daily Telegraph.

TASK 1

Ask the students to give a presentation on what they have learned so far about the definite article. They should talk for anywhere between three and five minutes.

TASK 2

Ask the students to write a paragraph using the definite article in the way it has so far been presented.

Practicum: Select a student to give a mini lesson on what has been so far taught about the use of the definite article.

HOMEWORK

Write a paragraph using the definite article in the way you have learned it in the lesson thus far. Do not copy from your paragraph in task 2.

Rohit: Then we use the definite article with names of famous buildings such as museums and art galleries; also with works of art and monuments.

The Smithsonian Museum is a wonderful place to visit.

The Scream is a well-known painting by Edvard Munch.

The Cenotaph, a war memorial, is in London.

The Louvre is a famous art gallery.

TASK 1

Ask the students to give a presentation on what they have learned so far about the definite article. They should talk for anywhere between three and five minutes.

TASK 2

Ask the students to write a paragraph using the definite article in the way it has so far been presented.

Practicum: Select a student to give a mini lesson on what has been so far taught about the use of the definite article.

HOMEWORK

Write a paragraph using the definite article in the way you have learned it in the lesson thus far. Do not copy from your paragraph in task 2.

Rohit: We use the definite article for the names of hotels and restaurants unless they are named after people.

We stayed at the Commodore.

Last night, I ate at the Sunlight.

TASK 1

Ask the students to give a presentation on what they have learned so far about the definite article. They should talk for anywhere between three and five minutes.

TASK 2

Ask the students to write a paragraph using the definite article in the way it has so far been presented.

Practicum: Select a student to give a mini lesson on what has been so far taught about the use of the definite article.

HOMEWORK

Write a paragraph using the definite article in the way you have learned it in the lesson thus far. Do not copy from your paragraph in task 2.

Rohit: The definite article can be used when referring to the surnames of families. In this case, the plural is given to the surname.

The Thompsons have moved in next door. (This means Mr. and Mrs. Thompson and their offspring.)

We were over at the Wilsons for tea yesterday. (Mr. and Mrs. Wilson and offspring)

TASK 1

Ask the students to give a presentation on what they have learned so far about the definite article. They should talk for anywhere between three and five minutes.

TASK 2

Ask the students to write a paragraph using the definite article in the way it has so far been presented.

Practicum: Select a student to give a mini lesson on what has been so far taught about the use of the definite article.

HOMEWORK

Write a paragraph using the definite article in the way you have learned it in the lesson thus far. Do not copy from your paragraph in task 2.

Rohit: Apart from what has been already mentioned for countries, we should not use the definite article for the names of countries.

Switzerland is an expensive country.

Iceland is a cold country.

TASK 1

Ask the students to give a presentation on what they have learned so far about the definite article. They should talk for anywhere between three and five minutes.

TASK 2

Ask the students to write a paragraph using the definite article in the way it has so far been presented.

Practicum: Select a student to give a mini lesson on what has been so far taught about the use of the definite article.

HOMEWORK

Write a paragraph using the definite article in the way you have learned it in the lesson thus far. Do not copy from your paragraph in task 2.

Rohit: We should not use the definite article for the names of languages.

I learned Russian while at university.

Cantonese is widely spoken here.

TASK 1

Ask the students to give a presentation on what they have learned so far about the definite article. They should talk for anywhere between three and five minutes.

TASK 2

Ask the students to write a paragraph using the definite article in the way it has so far been presented.

Practicum: Select a student to give a mini lesson on what has been so far taught about the use of the definite article.

HOMEWORK

Write a paragraph using the definite article in the way you have learned it in the lesson thus far. Do not copy from your paragraph in task 2.

Rohit: We do not use the definite article for the names of meals and mealtimes.

We always had roast beef and Yorkshire pudding for Sunday dinner.

I eat breakfast at 7:00 p.m.

TASK 1

Ask the students to give a presentation on what they have learned so far about the definite article. They should talk for anywhere between three and five minutes.

TASK 2

Ask the students to write a paragraph using the definite article in the way it has so far been presented.

Practicum: Select a student to give a mini lesson on what has been so far taught about the use of the definite article.

HOMEWORK

Write a paragraph using the definite article in the way you have learned it in the lesson thus far. Do not copy from your paragraph in task 2.

Rohit: The definite article is not used for people's names.

I saw Billy yesterday.

Lisa is my best friend.

The definite article is not used with titles when combined with people's names.

Sir Charles Chaplain was a famous actor.

Pres. Richard Nixon was a famous American president.

However,

Prince Charles is the Prince of Wales.

And where the definite article can be kept or omitted.

Lord Johnston is giving the inaugural address.

The Lord Johnson is giving the inaugural address.

The definite article is not used after the possessive case.

My friend's cat is a tabby.

John's car ran out of petrol.

The definite article is not used with professions.

Bob will study accountancy.

Mary will most likely go into law.

The definite article is not used for the names of shops.

I bought this salad at Marks & Spencer.

They did their shopping at British Home Stores.

The definite article is not used when specific years are mentioned.

Mr. Simpson bought his house in 1998.

2010 was an amazing year for me.

The definite article is not used with noncountable nouns.

Tea is the most popular beverage in England.

Too much salt can spoil the broth.

Water is important for life.

We do not use the definite article for the names of specific mountains, lakes, and islands.

Ben Nevis is in Scotland.

Lake Windermere is located in the Lake District of England.

I really want to see Staten Island.

We do not use the definite article with the names of streets, town, stations, and airports.

The shops in Oxford Street are very expensive.

Our train arrived in Leeds at 9:00 p.m.

Grand Central Station is a railway station in New York.

The plane will arrive at Glasgow Airport.

Francis: The indefinite article is another determiner. There are two forms, "a" and "an." The former is used before nouns beginning with a consonant (a book) and the latter before nouns starting with a vowel (an igloo). But we say "a university" and "an umbrella." This is because, while the spelling is the same, there is a phonetic variant in the u between the two words. In the case of "university," the pronunciation is the y sound; whereas in "umbrella," the sound is u.

Rohit: Then we have phrases like "an hour" and "a house." In the former, the h is not pronounced, whereas it is in the latter.

Francis: We use the indefinite article to refer to something for the first time.

There is a man at the door.

I would like a cup of tea.

The customer is looking for a pair of black shoes.

TASK 1

Ask the students to give a presentation on what they have learned so far about the indefinite article. They should talk for anywhere between three and five minutes.

TASK 2

Ask the students to write a paragraph using the indefinite article in the way it has so far been presented.

Practicum: Select a student to give a mini lesson on what has been so far taught about the use of the indefinite article.