ARTCICLES AND NOUNS Flashcards

Question

Did you have nice weather/a nice weather when youre were away?

Answer 1

Did you have nice weather when youre were away?

_{(weather is uncountable)}

Answer 2

We were very unfortunate. We had bad luck.

_{(luck is uncountable)}

Answer 3

Our trip from Paris to Istanbul by train was very tiring.

_{(travel, uncountable, means traveling in general)}

Answer 4

When the fire alarm rang, there was total chaos.

_{(chaos is usually uncountable)}

Answer 5

Bad news doesn't make people happy.

^{(News in uncountable, not plural)}

Answer 6

The dammage caused by the storm will cost a lot to repair.

^{(Dammage is usually uncountable)}

Answer 7

They'll give plenty of information.

^{(Information is usually uncountable)}

Answer 8

We have no furniture, not even a chair or a table.

^{(Furniture is usually uncountable)}

Answer 9

Before sigular countables nouns you can use a/an. But, in the plural, we use the noun alone.

A do is an animal vs Dogs are animals.

I'm an optimist vs we are optimists

Are you a good student? vs Are they good students.

What a pretty dress! vs What awful shoes!

Answer 10

You can use some with plural countable nouns. We use it in two ways:

1) Some= a number of/ a few of/ a pair of:

I've seen some good movies recently.

Somme friends of mine are coming this weekend.

I need some new sunglasses.

2) Some = some but no all:

Some children learn very quickly.

Answer 11

Put in/an/some/(nothing). What's wrong with you? Do you have a headache?

Answer 12

Put in/an/some/(nothing). I know a lot of people. Most of the are __ students.

Answer 13

Put in/an/some/(nothing). When I was a child, I used to be very shy.

Answer 14

Put in/an/some/(nothing). Would you like to be an actor?

Answer 15

Put in/an/some/(nothing). Do you collect __ stamps?

Answer 16

Put in/an/some/(nothing). What a beautiful garden!

Answer 17

Put in/an/some/(nothing). Some birds, for example, the penguin, cannot fly.

Answer 18

Put in/an/some/(nothing). Do you enjoy going to __ concerts?

Answer 19

Put in/an/some/(nothing). I've been walking for three hours. I've got sore __ feet.

Answer 20

Put in/an/some/(nothing). I don't feel very well this morning. I've got a sore throat.

Answer 21

Put in/an/some/(nothing). Maria speaks __ English, but not very much.

^{(some= a few of, English=singular)}

Answer 22

Put in/an/some/(nothing). It's too bad we don't have a camera. I'd like to take a picture of that house.

Answer 23

Put in/an/some/(nothing). Those are __ nice shoes. Where did you get them?

Answer 24

Put in/an/some/(nothing). I'm going shopping. I want to buy some new shoes.

^{(some= a pair of)}

Answer 25

Put in/an/some/(nothing). You need a visa to visit some countries, but not all of them.

^{(Some= some but not all, "certains")}

Answer 26

Put in/an/some/(nothing). Jane is a teacher. Her parents were __ teachers too.

Answer 27

Put in/an/some/(nothing). I don't believe him. He's a liar. He's always telling __ lies.

Answer 28

False or true? We do not use the before noun + number.

Our plane leaves from Gate 10.

Do you have these shoes in size 9?

In the same way, we say:

Room 126 (in a hotel), Page 29 (of a book), Question 3 (on a test), Platform 6 ? (at the train station)

Answer 29

We use the when it is clear in the situation wich thing or person we mean.

Can you turn off the light, please? (= the light in this room)

I took a taxi tho the station. (= the station in that town)

Answer 30

This house is very nice. Does it have a yard?

Answer 31

It's a beautiful day. Let's sit in the yard.

Answer 32

I like living in this house, but it's too bad the yard is so small.

Answer 33

Would you like an apple?

Answer 34

How often do you go to the dentist?

Answer 35

Could you close the door, please?

Answer 36

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that. It was a mistake.

Answer 37

Excuse me, where is the bus station, please?

Answer 38

I have a problem. Can you help me?

Answer 39

I'm just going to the post office. It won't be long.

Answer 40

There was no chairs, so we sat on the floor.

Answer 41

My sister has just gotten a job at a bank in Atlanta.

Answer 42

We use the when there is only one of something.

What is the longest river in the world.

The Earth goes around the sun.

Paris is the capital of France.

Have you ever crossed the Equator.

But we use a/an to say what kind of thing something is:

The sun is a star.

The hotel we stayed was a very nice hotel.

Answer 43

We say the sky / the sea / the ocean / the country / the environnement, but we say space without the.

We looked up at all the stars in the sky.

Would you like to live in the country?

We must do more to protect the environnement.

There a billions of stars in space.

I tried to park my car, but the space is too small.

Answer 44

False or true? We use the before same.

Your sweater is the same color as mine.

Are these keys the same? No, they're different.

Answer 45

Does we say "go to movies (or theater)" or "go to the movies (or theater)"?

We usually say the radio but telivision. _{(but "Can you turn off the television, please?)}

Answer 46

Does we use the with the names of meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)?

What did you have for breakfast?

We had lunch in a very nice restaurant.

What time is dinner?

But we use "a" if there is an adjective before:

We had a very nice lunch. (not We ha very nice lunch)

Answer 47

False or true? We do not use the before noun + number.

Our plane leaves from Gate 10.

Do you have these shoes in size 9?

In the same way, we say:

Room 126 (in a hotel), Page 29 (of a book), Question 3 (on a test), Platform 6 ? (at the train station)

Answer 48

Put in the or a/an where necessary. Where did you have ___ lunch? _{(no the: name of meals)}

Answer 49

Put in the or a/an where necessary. Did you have a nice vacation? _{(a: kind of something)}

Answer 50

Put in the or a/an where necessary. Do you often listen to the radio? _{(we usually say the radio but TV)}

Answer 51

Put in the or a/an where necessary. No, in fact, I don't have a radio. _{(the radio set here, not radio)}

Answer 52

Put in the or a/an where necessary. Would you like to travel in ____ outer space? _{(way space not the space)}

Answer 53

Put in the or a/an where necessary. I'd love go to the moon. ^{(the: only one of something)}

Answer 54

Put in the or a/an where necessary. We went for a walk by the ocean. _{(we say the ocean)}

Answer 55

Put in the or a/an where necessary. Do you go to the movies very often? _{(we say the movies/theater)}

Answer 56

Put in the or a/an where necessary. What did you have for ___ breakfast this morning? _{(no the with name of meals)}

Answer 57

Put in the or a/an where necessary. Excuse me, where is ___ room 125, please?_{(zero before noun + number)}

Answer 58

Put in the or a/an where necessary. Sarah spends most of her free time watching ___ television. _{(zero, except fot the TV set)}

Answer 59

Put in the or a/an where necessary. Lisa an I arrived at the same time. _{(we always use the before same)}

Answer 60

Put in the or a/an where necessary. You'll find the information a the top of ____ page 15.

^{(no the before noun + number)}

Answer 61

Put in the or a/an where necessary. Paul lives in a small town in the country.

Answer 62

Put in the or a/an where necessary. We missed the train because we were waiting on the wrong platform.

^{(that specific one)}

Answer 63

Put in the or a/an where necessary. Flight AB123 to Tokyo is now boardin at ___ Gate 21.

^{(zero with noun + number)}

Answer 64

When we are thinking of school as a general idea of these place and what it is used for, we don't use the.

Every day Sarah goes to school.

School begins at 8:00.

She's at school now.

We use prison/jail, college, class and church in a same way.

Ken's brother is in jail for robbery vs. Kent went to the prison to visit his brother.

Answer 65

When we are thinking of one specific school (particular place or destination), we use the.

She has gone to the school.

Ken's brother is in jail vs Ken went to the jail to visit him.

When I finish high school, I want to go to college vs Dan is a student at the college where I used to work.

I was in class for five hours today vs Who is the youngest student in the class?

Note: Whit most other places _{(bank, hospital, etc.)}, you need the.

Answer 66

We say go to bed & be in bed.

It's time to go to bed now.

Do you have ever breafast in bed?

But I sat down on the bed. _{(a specific piece of fourniture)}

Answer 67

We say go to work / be at work / start work / finish work.

Ann didn't go to work yesterday.

What time do you usually finish work.

Answer 68

We say go home / come home / arrive home / get home / be (at) home, etc.

It's late. Let's go home.

Will you be (at) home tomorrow afternoon.

Answer 69

To, at or in? When Julie finishes high school, she wants to study economics in college.

Answer 70

To, at or in? In Mexico, children from the age of six have to go to school.

Answer 71

To, at or in? Mark didn't go out last night. He stayed at home.

Answer 72

To, at or in? There is a lot of traffic in the morning when every body is going to work.

Answer 73

To, at or in? Jeff hasn't graduated yet. He is still in high school.

Answer 74

To, at or in? Bill never gets up before 9:00. It's 8:30, so he is still in bed.

Answer 75

With or without "the"? Every semester parents are invited to the school to meet the teachers.

^{(not thinking of the place is used for)}

Answer 76

With or without "the"? Why aren't your children in ___ school today?

^{(general idea, also we thinking of the place is used for)}

Answer 77

With or without "the"? How do your children get home from ___ school? By bus?

^{(not a specific shcool, general idea of)}

Answer 78

With or without "the"? The school istn't far away?

^{(a specific school)}

Answer 79

With or without "the"? John's mother is a regular churchgoer. She goes to ___ church every sunday.

^{(general idea, place used for)}

Answer 80

With or without "the"? The professor isn't in his office at this time. He's in ___ class.

^{(place used for)}

Answer 81

With or without "the"? The teacher asked the class to turn off their cell phones.

^{(a specific class, not general idea of)}

Answer 82

With or without "the"? In some places people are in ___ prison because oft their political beliefs.

^{(place used for)}

Answer 83

With or without "the"? The fire department was called to the prison to put out the fire.

^{(specific one, not place used for)}

Answer 84

With or without "the"? The judge decided to fine the man $500 instead of sending him to ___ prison.

^{(place used for)}

Answer 85

With or without "the"? I like to read in ___ bed.

^{(not a piece of furniture)}

Answer 86

With or without "the"? It's nice to travel around, but there's no place like ___ home.

Answer 87

With or without "the"? What time do you usually start ___ work in the morning?

Answer 88

When we are talking about things or people in general, we do not use the.

I'm afraid of dogs. _{(not the dogs/dogs in general, not a specific group of)}

Also, we say most people / most books / most cars, etc.:

Most hotels accept credit cars. (not the most hotels)

Answer 89

We use the when we mean specific things or people.

Children learn from playing vs we took the children to the zoo.

I couldn't live without music vs The movie wasn't very good, but I liked the music.

But, the differenc between "something in general" and "something specific" isn't alway's clear:

Do you like strong black coffee _{(general idea)}? vs Did you like the coffee we had after dinner last night?_{(specific coffee)}

Answer 90

With or without the? My favorite sport is ___ basketball.

Answer 91

With or without the? My favorite subject at school was ___ history.

Answer 92

With or without the? Do you like ___ classical music / Chineese food/ fasts cars?

Answer 93

With or without the? Some people are afraid of ___ spiders.

Answer 94

With or without the? The test wasn't very difficult. I answered the questions without any trouble.

^{(the questions of the test)}

Answer 95

With or without the? Do you know the people who live next door?

^{(specific ones)}

Answer 96

With or without the? We couldn't find anywhere to stay downtown. All the hotels were full.

^{(specific ones: downtown's hotels)}

Answer 97

With or without the? Can you pass the salt, please?

^{(specific one)}

Answer 98

With or without the? I like ___ skiing, but I'm not very good at it.

^{(skiing in general)}

Answer 99

With or without the? What makes people violent? What causes ___ agression.

(agression here = "agressivité")

Answer 100

With or without the? Don't stay in that hotel. It's very noisy and the beds are very uncomfortable.

^{(specific ones, beds of that hotel)}

Answer 101

With or without the? I'd like to go to Egypt and see the Pyramids.

^{(specific ones, Egypt's Pyramids)}

Answer 102

With or without the? Someone gave me a book about the history of ___ modern art.

^{(éviter surdétermination)}

Answer 103

With or without the? ___ Most people believe that ___ marriage and ___ family lifer are the basis of ___ society.

^{(we say "most people")}

Answer 104

We can use the (+ singular countable noun) to talk about a specific type of something, not about one specific thing.

We saw a giraffe a the zoo; the giraffe is ma favorite animal.

The bicycle is an excellent means of transportation.

I'd like to have a piano but I can't play the piano.

Note that we use man (= human beings in general, human race) without the:

What do you know about the origins of man? (not the man)

Answer 105

We use the + adjective (without a noun) to talk about groups of people. ^{(singular, not plural)}

^{(the young / the rich / the old / the bling / the unemployed / the injured, etc.)}

Don't you think the rich should pay higher taxes?

The government has promised to provide more money to help the homeless.

These expressions are always plural in meaning. For example, your cannot say "a young"/. You must say "a young person/ the injured woman"

But we can say "the poor"/"the young" (not the poors/youngs), etc.

Answer 106

False or true? You can use the + nationality ajectives that ends in -ch or -sh (the French / English / Spanish, etc.).

The French are famous for their food. (= the people of France)

The French / The English are plural in meaning. You do not say "a French / an English". You have to say "a Frenchman / an Englishwoman".

Answer 107

False or true? You can use the + nationalities ending in -ese.

The Chinese / the Sudanese / the Japanese, etc.

Note that these words can also be singular: "a Japanese / a Sudanese / a Japanese". Also a Swiss an the Swiss.

Answer 108

False or true? With other nationalities, the plural noun ends in -s.

An Italian vs Italians.

A Mexican vs Mexicans.

A Thai vs Thais.

With these words, we do not normally use the to talk about the people in general.

Answer 109

The or a? When was the telephone invented?

^{(specific type of thing, not a specific set)}

Answer 110

The or a? Jill plays the violin in orchestra.

^{(a specific type of instrument, not a specific violin)}

Answer 111

The or a? Can you play a musical instrument?

Answer 112

The or a? There was a piano in the corner of the room.

^{(a specific piano, not a type of instrument)}

Answer 113

The or a? Our society is based on the family.

^{(the + singular countable noun = type of something)}

Answer 114

The or a? The computer has changed the way we live.

^{(the + singular countable noun = type of something)}

Answer 115

The young have the future in their hands.

^{(the + adjective = group of people, pluran in meaning)}

Answer 116

She has spent her life caring for the sick.

^{(the + adjective = group of people, pluran in meaning)}

Answer 117

Robin Hood took the money from the rich and gave it to the poor.

^{(the + adjective = group of people, pluran in meaning)}

Answer 118