7. with nouns denoting sport games.
hockey, golf, tennis, darts, cards, billiards, chess, draughts, cricket.
8. with nouns denoting beliefs.
God, Buddha, Christianity.
9. with nouns denoting organizations, institutions.
Congress, Parliament, Duma.
10. with nouns denoting languages.
Chinese is one of oriental languages.
11. with nouns denoting means of transport
by car/ bus/ train/ plane/ ferry; on foot
12. with nouns denoting subjects
Mathematics is a difficult subject for many school pupils.
13. with double expressions
with knife and fork, with hat and coat, from top to bottom, on land and
sea, arm in arm, inch by inch, day after day, husband and wife, from street
to street, cheek to cheek.
14. with idioms
by hand (oт руки), at hand (под рукой), in detail, in person, on business,
on holiday, by chance, by mistake.
15. with compound conjunctions
in addition to, in contrast with, in regard to, in reply to, in connection with,
on account of (по причине), in comparison with, by way of (посредством).
Упражнения из пособия “English Grammar Practic”, составители Павлоцкий В.М., Тимофеева Т.Я. p.22 ex 19 (№№ 1,2,4,5,12,13), ex 20 (№№ 1,2,13,14),
p. 24 ex 24 (№№ 1,6,7,8,9,19,21,23,24,27,29,31,32,37)
Упражнения из пособия “Articles”. p. 10 ex 5A, p. 11 ex 5B, 5C, p. 12 ex 6B.
The use of articles with abstract nouns that can be only uncountable.
1. The zero article is always used with the nouns
money, news, luck, fun, nature, space, health, progress, advice, permission,
information, concern, work, nonsense.
2. with nouns denoting a quality (качество, свойство) or process (процесс).
Anger, beauty, curiosity, freedom, happiness, love, modesty, pride, respect,
strength, time, violence.
There was despair in her eyes.
3. the zero article is used when these nouns are used as an attribute (определение) or an adverbial modifier (обстоятельство).
a feeling of curiosity, a sense of guilt, to look at smth with interest, to
examine smth with great attention.
4. a) the zero article is used when a descriptive attribute denotes a degree of
quality (степень качества)
great respect, sufficient ability, perfect confidence, complete happiness,
profound satisfaction.
b) when a descriptive attribute gives a time characteristics (временная характеристика)
modern music, ancient sculpture, eternal beauty, contemporary literature.
c) when a descriptive attribute denotes nationality or place (национальная или
географическая принадлежность)
Greek architecture, French poetry, Moscow time, world peace.
d) when a descriptive attribute denotes authenticity (подлинность)
real fear, genuine sorrow, false sympathy
e) when a descriptive attribute denotes social or political belonging (социальная или
политическая принадлежность)
bourgeois sociology, proletarian culture.
the indefinite article is never used with the nouns
money, news, luck, fun, nature, space, health, progress, advice, permission,
information, concern, work (работа, но не произведение), nonsense.
5. the indefinite article is used if the attribute is certain and peculiar, a descriptive
clause (описательное придаточное предложение).
There was a peculiar tenderness in her letter.
He had a patience that amazed his friends.
5. The use of articles with abbreviations.
Some abbreviations are made from the initial letters of several words. This often happens with the names of organizations.
Some initial-letter abbreviations are pronounces letter by letter and used with the definite article.
The BBC, the CIA, the FBI, the USA, the IRA, the IMF.
Others are pronounced like words (they are called acronyms) and the article is dropped.
UNESCO, UNO, GATT, FAO, NATO, OPEC, SALT, SHAPE, UNICEF,
VAT, WASP, WHO.
6. The use of articles with geographical and place names.
См. И.П.Крылова, Е.В.Крылова. Практическая грамматика английского языка.
рр. 182-185, Michael Swan, Practical English Usage. p.68, Raymond Murphy. English Grammar in Use. pp.152-155, Michael Vince. Advanced Language Practice. p.96, The Heinemann English Grammar. pp.172, 173.
Упражнения из пособия “Articles” p.16 ex 6C,6D, из пособия “English Grammar Practice”, составители В.М. Павлоцкий, Т.М. Тимофеева, р.23 ех 21, р.24 ех 24 (№№ 2,11,23,24,25,26,27,29,31,32,33,34,35)
7. Stop and Check.
1. ___ chimpanzee is considered to be almost as intelligent as ___ human being.
2. ___ chimpanzee is ___ ape.
3. ___ cat is ___ domestic animal.
4. ___ chimpanzees can easily adjust to strange surroundings.
5. ___ crocodiles and snakes have been killed for their valuable skin.
6. ___ belts, footwear and handbags are made of ___ crocodiles’ and snakes’ skin.
7. ___ chimpanzee is ___ vegetarian.
8. ___ vegetarian is ___ person who doesn’t eat meat.
9. ___ jaguar is ___ wild animal known for ___ unique ability to run at ___ speed of ___ 180km ___ hour.
10. She found ___ job at ___ bank.
11. What ___ great painting! It’s ___ Rubens. I’ve seen ___ copy in ___ Hermitage.
12. If I have ___ cup of ___ coffee I won’t sleep at ___ night.
13. Pass me ___ pepper, please.
14. Mainly ___ women love ___ flowers.
15. ___ Winter Palace is in ___ Palace Square.
16. ___ survived have always remembered ___ brutal repressions and ___ anti-religious campaigns during Stalin’s rule.
17. ___ Pawnbrokers must keep ___ articles safely and can only give ___ article to someone who has got ___ pawn ticket.
18. Today Ulan-Ude is ___ average Siberian town.
1. ___ Strand is ___ busy street.
2. ___ Netherlands is ___ highly-developed country.
3. ___ Russia has recently been visited by ___ Queen of ___ Netherlands.
4. ___ Queen of the United Kingdom is ___ useless figure, though ___ symbol of ___ power.
5. She lives in ___ UK now and works for ___ travel agency.
6. ___ People from ___ Russia often speak ___ fluent English.
7. ___ legislative power in ___ US is vested in ___ Congress.
8. ___ executive power is vested in ___ government.
9. ___ situation in ___ country was beyond ___ tzar’s power.
10. ___ cannibalism is still common in some tribes on ___ African Continent.
11. In 1917 ___ power was seized by ___ Bolsheviks.
12. You have to pay ___ pawnbroker interest on ___ loan, for example one per cent per ___ day or five per cent per ___ week.
13. ___ good Catholic is ___ dead Catholic.
14. ___ Catholics are the most numerous religious group in Spain.
15. During ___ English Civil War, ___ king had to leave London and he moved his government to Oxford.
16. That was between 1642 and 1645 that ___ King Charles I ruled.
17. ___ scientist estimate that more than 1,500 life forms found nowhere else on ___ Earth live in and around ___ Lake Baikal. It’s ___ world’s largest reservour of ___ drinking water.
1. It was ___ useful experience.
2. ___ medical aid from ___ WHO often helps to cure ___ poor people in ___ Third World countries.
3. He is ___ M.P.
4. She is ___ Conservative.
5. They are ___ Liberals.
6. We are ___ Liberal.
7. ___ house was bulldozer in 1977 because it was ___ inconvenient reminder of ___ bloody methods of ___ Communist regime.
8. I didn’t want to spend twenty years in ___ jail.
9. ___ major is expecting you, sir. Make ___ left, then you’ll see the Administration Block.
10. I get to my country cottage first by ___ local train and then by ___ bus.
11. ___ French tourists often complain about ___ English food.
12. I’ve got ___ appointment to see ___ Major Hammond.
13. ___ French like to eat well.
14. ___ Sergeant, I’m ___ insurance claims investigator.
15. The monument to ___ fallen glorifies those who fought on ___ side of ___ Bolsheviks.
16. In ___ 20th century many canals were unused and some of them became filled with ___ rubbish.
17. This notion refers to ___ past.
18. ___ Laws passed by ___ Congress must be based on ___ Constitution.
19. ___ pneumonia is rather ___ frequent disease nowadays. ___ treatment is based on ___ antibiotics and ___ nourishing food.
1. ___ famous sculptor Donatello could hardly sell his works in ___ beginning.
2. In ___ British English ___ professor is ___ very important teacher at ___ university.
3. ___ policy provided by ___ NATO is often aggressive.
4. ___ major annual event for ___ Russian children used to be ___ month-long stay in ___ summer camp.
5. ___ police officers thanked ___ local girl who stopped ___ million pound robbery.
6. He’s in ___ trouble. ___ police have been looking for him.
7. ___ police have been looking for ___ stolen property.
8. She was held captive for nearly ___ day.
9. ___ body of ___ unidentified man was found floating in ___ Thames.
10. I’ve been waiting for over ___ hour.
11. She married ___ Argentinian and moved to ___ Argentina.
12. ___ monument to ___ Unknown Soldier is in ___ Alexander’s Garden.
13. ___ Love is ___ essence of his poetry.
14. She borrows ___ money only from ___ bank.
15. In 1994 ___ long controversy over what really happened to ___ royal family of Russia was brought to ___ end.
16. ___ canals in England used to carry ___ coal and ___ heavy materials. They join ___ Iriah Sea to ___ north west.
17. ___ Buryats are ___ most numerous of the indigenous population of ___ Baikal region.
18. “Excuse me, - pint of bitter and ___ orange juice.”
19. “For Motherland! For Stalin!” is ___ World War battle cry of ___ Soviet Army.
20. On every bus there are seats for ___ disabled.
1. ___ diplomat is ___ person who can tell you to go to hell in such a way that you actually look forward to ___ trip. Caskie Stinnett.
2. ___ dog is ___ only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself. Josh Billings.
3. ___ optimist is someone who thinks ___ future is uncertain. Anonymous.
4. ___ death is ___ nature’s way of telling you to slow down. Anonymous.
5. I always pass on ___ good advice. It is ___ only thing to do with it. It is never any use to oneself. Oscar Wilde.
6. I love acting. It is so much more real than ___ life. Oscar Wilde.
7. Nothing illegal if ___ hundred businessmen decide to do it, and that’s true anywhere in ___ world. Andrew Young.
8. Writing about ___ art is like dancing about ___ architecture.
9. Scientific calculations were much slower before the invention of ___ computer.
10. What did people write with before ___ ballpoint?
11. ___ people usually think that ___ babies are sweet and ___ teenagers are annoying.
12. But ___ time between ages thirteen and twenty are ___ years that I like best.
13. ___ spider has eight legs.
14. ___ fax machine is a much faster way of sending letters than ___ post.
15. They made her ___ Manager.
7. Revision.
1. Use the proper forms of the verbs in brackets.
Identify the use of articles.
The Winchester Mystery.
One night Mrs Jouce Boweles 1. (drive) her car from Winchester to Chilcomb with a friend of the family, Mr Ted Pratt. Suddenly they 2.(see) an orange light in the sky. The car 3. (start) to shake and Mrs. Bowels 4. (can, not) control it. Some unknown power 5. (lift) it, then 6. (push) to the left, then 7. (stop) the engine and 8. (switch off) the lights.
“It was then that we 9. (see) a car-shaped object about five yards long. There 10. (be) three figures inside," said Mrs. Bowels. The three figures 11. (be) the crew of the UFO. Mrs. Bowels said that she 12. (be, never) so frightened before.
At first, the alien crew 13. (look) like ordinary people. They 14. (wear) silver clothes. Then the alien 15. (come out) of the UFO. He 16. (be) quite tall and 17. (seem) to be about forty-five years old.
He 18. (have) long faire hair and a short beard. He 19. (put) his arm on the roof of the car and 20. (look) at the two frightened people inside. He 21. (have) clear, white skin and pink eyes.
Mrs. Bowels 22. (he afraid) that the alien 23. (kill) them, but he only 24. ( look) at the car's instruments. Suddenly the lights 25.(switch on) and they 26. (shine) four times brighter than normal.
Mrs. Bowels (27 want, say) "Thank you" but before she (28 open) her mouth the UFO and its crew (29 disappear, already) into the night.
Miss Evans.
One night in April 1912, a new ocean liner was crossing the Atlantic. It 1. (set out) two days before and 2. (go) to New York. It 3. (be) the largest and fastest ship in the world called_ Titanic.
The passengers 4. (have) a good time when the ship suddenly 5. (hit) an iceberg.
Everyone 6. (tell) to come out of their rooms. Unfortunately there 7. (be, not) enough lifeboats for all the passengers.
There 8. (be, not) very much time left. The iceberg 9. (be) on one side of the ship. It 10. (look) like a high, white wall.
A woman 11. (come) to the side of the ship. Her two children 12. (be) in the lifeboats, and she 13. (be) very much afraid.
"My children 14. (be) in the lifeboat. I 15. (must, go) with them!" the woman 16. (call) to the people in the lifeboat.
"There's no more room," someone 17. (call out). "If we 18. (take) one more, the lifeboat
19. (sink)."
There 20. (be) a young woman in the lifeboat called Miss Evans. When she 21. (hear) the woman calling, she 22. (stand up) in the lifeboat and 23. (touch) one of the men on the arm.
"Let me 24. (get back) to the ship," she said. "This woman 25. (must, be) with her children."
"The ship 26. (sink). Very soon it 27.(go down) under the water," said the man.
"I 28. (know) it," said Miss Evans.
People 29. (help) her to get back on the ship. Very soon after that there 30. (be) a great noise, and the Titanic 31. (go down) under the water.
A letter from London.
Dear Alice,
Hi! I'm on _holiday in London. I 1. (stay) with my friend, Jane. She 2. (live) in the centre of London, near_ Hyde Park.
I 3. (be) here since_ Saturday and I 4. (already, do) lots of things. I 5. (visit) the Tower of London, the British Museum and Madam Tussaud's.
I 6. (go) to Madam Tussaud's on __ Monday. It 7.(be) terrible. When I 8. (enter) the Chamber of Horrors, I 9. (scream).
Yesterday Jane and I 10. (go) shopping. I 11. (want) to buy some souvenirs. But while I 12. (pay) for a T-shirt, someone 13. (steal) my bag. Luckily, I 14. (spend, already) nearly all my money.
There 15. (be) a lot of things I 16. (not, do) yet. I 17. (not, be) on a boat trip down the Thames, yet, I 18. (not, see) the Millennium Dome.
If the weather 19. (be) fine tomorrow, I 20. (go) on a boat trip. I hope Jane 21. (can) keep me company. I 22. (like) London very much. I 23. (never, see) such a beautiful city. You 24. (must) visit it some day. I 25. (be) back in a week, so I 26. (call) you then.
Love, Ann.
A sleepless night.
One night I 1. (be) alone at_ home with my ten-year-old daughter. She 2. (wake) me up in the middle of the night: “Mum, mum! There 3. (be) a man outside the house. He 4. (watch) me through the window!” I 5. (look) out of the window. I 6. (can) see the shape of a man outside. Who 7. (be, he)? What 8. (he, do) there?
«I 9. (must, get) to the telephone in the hall and telephone the police,» I 10. (think).
I11. (go) downstairs hardly daring to breathe, afraid that he 12. (hear) my movements. I 13. (reach) for the telephone, 14. (lift) the receiver and 15. (dial) 999. The police 16. (answer) and I 17. (explain) what 18. (happen). They 19. (say) that they 20. (come) at once.