Some Important Rules to Remember

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Articles

1. Descriptions

She’s got a quiet voice. √ She’s got the quiet voice. (wrong) He has a friendly face. √ He has the friendly face. (wrong)

- We don’t use a/an with plurals or uncountable nouns.

She has got blue eyes. √ She has got a blue eyes. (wrong) He has got long hair. √ He has got a long hair. (wrong)

2. The is used to talk about somebody or something in particular. So, we do not normally use the to talk about people or things in general.

People are funny. √ The people are funny. (wrong) I love jewellery. √ I love the jewellery. (wrong) Butter is fattening. √ The butter is fattening. (wrong)

3. We don’t use the with:

 Names of meals – I ate my breakfast/lunch/dinner/etc  Days/months and public holidays – on Sunday, in April, at Christmas  next/last – next month, last year  Places and activities – I am going to college/school/prison/church/work/bed She’s at home/ I’m going home  Transport – by car/bus/plane; on foot  Sports – I play tennis/badminton/soccer

4. We do not use the with most names.

- People: Mary works for Dr Andrew. General Hashim or The General. √ The General Hashim. (Wrong) Queen Elizabeth or The Queen. √ The Queen Elizabeth. (wrong)

- Languages: I speak Malay and English. Not Russian.

- Places: continents, countries, states, lakes, mountains, towns, streets, etc.

He’s from Texas. √ He’s from the Texas. (wrong)

* Africa, Malaysia, Cuba, Queensland, Dublin, Lake Toba, Lake Geneva, Mount Everest, Mount Kinabalu, Wall Street, Time Square, Bintang Walk

Names with the [Type text]

 Deserts, rivers, seas and oceans (Not lakes!) - the Sahara Desert, the Pahang River, the Mediterranean, the Atlantic

 Plural names - the Netherlands, the United States of America, the Alps

 Expressions with Republic/Kingdom/etc - the Republic of China, the United Kingdom

 Large areas of the world - the West, the Middle East, The East

 Some buildings - the Eiffel Tower, the London Bridge, the Taj Mahal, the Hilton Hotel

TEST YOURSELF Fill in the blanks below with ‘a’, ‘an’ or ‘the’. Put an ‘X’ where no article is required.

1. There is no need to buy ______milk. I have taken ______breakfast.

2. We went to Jakarta by ______plane. On ______third day, we rented ______car but it wouldn’t start. So, we took a bus to visit ______parliament.

3. ______books are expensive in my country.

4. Would you like to play ______chess or billiards?

5. ______watermelons are cheap at ______moment.

6. The actor was sent to ______jail for smuggling drugs.

7. She wants to get _____ job in _____ office where my brother works.

8. Andrew hates ______examinations.

9. ______water turns into ______ice at 0°C.

10. We went for ______dinner last night.

11. This book comes from ______England, but that one comes from ______United States of America.

12. After his performance there was ______loud applause from _____ audience.

13. I am only half Malay. My mother is from ______Germany.

14. ______Mount Everest, ______highest mountain in ______world, is in ______Himalaya.

15. It was ______fun helping my sister to look after her children, but it was ______hard work at times.