2 Definite article: the

*only one of something

The sun is shining.

*somebody/something mentioned before

The magician showed us a card. Then he hid the card.

*names of cinemas, theatres, etc.

The National Theatre, The Times

*rivers, oceans, deserts, etc.

The Mediterranean, The Sahara, The Himalayas

*areas

the north/the west

*some countries and nationalities

the USA, the British

*musical instruments

I can play the guitar.

3 No article

*plural, countable nouns

I love rock bands.

*uncountable nouns in a general sense

I hate homework,

*most streets, roads, cities, etc.

Smith Street, Athens, America

*institutions, e.g. school, university, college, hospital etc.

I go to school every day. My sister's ill in hospital.

*certain expressions

My Dad's at work/home.

Paul's not in class. He's ill in bed.

Do you want to go home now?

We went by car/bus/plane/boat, etc.

We went home on foot.

What's for dinner/breakfast/lunch?

! Use the article when referring to an actual building:

I went to the hospital to see a patient.

File 2:

File 2: Countable/uncountable nouns and determiners

1 Countable nouns

*can be singular or plural one student/two students one child/four children

2 Uncountable nouns

*no plural form *common uncountable nouns accommodation, advice, equipment, furniture, health, homework, information, knowledge, luck, luggage, money, music, news, progress, rubbish, traffic, travel, trouble, weather, work

! Never use a/an with uncountable nouns: I need an some advice, please.

3 Countable or uncountable

Some nouns can be countable or uncountable, depending on the meaning.

Countable Uncountable

That was a really I'd like a holiday job

frightening experience! but I haven't got

much experience.

We sang the song We haven't got much

three times. time left.

She found a hair My granddad hasn't

in her drink. got much hair left.

I'd like two glasses The door was made

of lemonade. of glass.

I need an iron to press Iron and steel

my jeans. are metals.

They heard a noise Don't make so much

outside. noise!

I bought a paper to I need some writing

read the news. paper.

There's a space on the There isn't much

paper from where you space in my flat, can write your name.

There are six rooms There's not much

in our flat. room on the coach

For luggage.

There's a wood with The fence is made of

tall trees behind our wood. house.

4 Quantifiers

*some + countable/uncountable nouns

for positive statements

There were some people in the room.

*any + countable/uncountable nouns for

negatives/question

He didn't buy any CDs.

Have you got any cheese?

*lots/a lot of with plural countable and

uncountable nouns

They bought lots of souvenirs.

I've got lots of news to tell you.

*much + uncountable nouns for

negatives/questions

He doesn't earn much money.

How much time is there?

*many + countable nouns for negatives/questions

There aren't many posters on the walls.

Has he got many girlfriends?

*a few/few + plural, countable nouns

There were a few people on the beach. (=some)

Few tourists come to this area. (=hardly any)

*a little/little + uncountable nouns

We've got a little time to spare. (=some)

There's very little butter left. (=hardly any)

*all (of )/none (of )/no + countable/uncountable nouns

All passengers must go to the check-in desk.

No passengers can travel without tickets.

All of/None of the children went on the trip.

*each (of )/every + countable nouns

I gave each of my friends a present.

We go to school every day.

File 3: Adjectives and adverbs