Articles and Nouns

Some of these sentences need a/an. Correct the sentences where necessary.

Insurance: (noun) seguro

1. A nurse is a person who looks after patient in __hospital. Hospital is a countable noun
but we can’t write ‘a hospital’ because this tense talks about hospital in general
2. Dave works in a hospital. He operates on person. Hospital is specific
3. My brother Works for an insurance company in Frankfurt.
4. I use a toothbrush to brush my teeth. Toothbrush is an uncountable noun.
5. I wonder if you can help me. I have a problem. We can count the amount of problems we
have.
6. I like your suggestion. It is a very interesting idea. We can count the number of ideas
7. John has an interview for a job tomorrow. Interview and job are countable nouns
8. I like volleyball. It is a good game. ‘Volleyball’ as a sport cannot be counted but ‘good
game’ is a countable noun.
9. Jane was wearing a beautiful necklace. Necklace belongs to jewellery and that’s why
necklace is a countable noun.
10. We need __ petrol. I hope we come to a petrol station soon. Petrol is an uncountable
noun but ‘petrol station’ is a countable noun
11. Helen was listening to __ music when I arrived (ok) Music is an uncountable noun.
12. I brush my teeth with __ toothpaste (ok). Toothpaste is an uncountable noun.
13. I don’t like __ violence (ok) Violence is an uncountable noun.
14. Can you smell __ paint? (ok) We cannot count ‘paint’.
15. Lisa does not usually wear __ jewellery. (ok) Jewellery in general.

Rule

 We use a/a with countable singular nouns and no-specific things. (from ex 1 to 10)
 Uncountable nouns can be alone. (from ex 10 to 15)
 When talking about general things, nouns are alone. (ex 1 and 15)
Complete the sentences using the following words. Sometimes the words need to be plurals
and sometimes you need to use a/an.

Air day friend joke language meat

Patience people picture queue space umbrella

Queue: cola

1. I had my camera, but I did not take any pictures.

2. There are seven days in a week.
3. A vegetarian is a person who does not eat meat.
4. Can someone tell me why there is a queue of people waiting to see the film outside?
5. I am not very good at telling jokes. Jokes in general
6. Last night I went out with some friends of mine.
7. There were very few people in town today.
8. I am going out for a walk. I need some fresh air.
9. Gary always wants things quickly. He does not have much patience. Much is used with
uncountable nouns
10. I think it is going to rain. Do you have an umbrella I could borrow?
11. Do you speak any foreign languages? Languages is in plural because of ‘any’.
12. Our flat is very small. We do not have much space.

Rule:
Read about what these people do, and say what their jobs are.

Chef interpreter journalist nurse

Plumber surgeon tour guide waiter

Surgeon (sərjən): cirujano

Waiter (wātər): camarero

Water pipe: tubería de agua

1. Sara looks after patients in hospital. She is a nurse.

2. Gary works in a restaurant. He brings the food to the tables. He is a waiter.
3. Jane writes articles for a newspaper. He is a journalist.
4. Kevin works in a hospital. He operates on people. He is a surgeon
5. Jonathan cooks in a restaurant. He is a chef.
6. Dave installs and repairs water pipes. He is a plumber.
7. Martina takes visitors round her city and tells them about it. She is a tour guide.
8. Lisa translates what people are saying from one language into another so that they can
understand each other. She is an interpreter.

Rule:

 We use a/an when saying what somebody’s job is.

Put in a/an/some where necessary. If no word is necessary, leave the space empty.

Shame (SHām): (noun) embarrassment, disgrace – (verb) embarrass, shame

1. I’ve seen some good movies recently.

2. Peter could get the highest grade in Math. He is a smart guy.
3. I know a lot of people. Most of them are __ students.
4. Questions, questions and questions! You´re always asking __questions!
5. Those is __ nice chairs. (not some nice chairs)
6. I were in love because she had __ wonderful blue eyes
7. He has __ short legs.
8. Some birds, for example the penguin, cannot fly.
9. Do you like staying __ hotels?
10. I’ve been walking for three hours. I’ve got __ sore feet. Feet is a plural noun
11. I don’t feel very well this morning. I’ve got a sore throat.
12. Maria speaks some English, but not very much.
13. It is a shame we don’t have a camera. I’d like to take a picture of that house.
14. Those are __ nice shoes. Where did you get them?
15. I’m going shopping. I want to buy some new shoes
16. You need a visa to visit some countries but not all of them
17. Jane is a teacher. His parents were __ teachers too.
18. I don’t believe him. He’s a liar. He’s always telling __ lies

Rule:

 We say that someone has a long nose, a nice face, blue eyes, short hands etc. (exercises:
6, 7)
 We have not to use some when talking about things in general (exercises: 4, 9, 18),
saying what kind of person someone is (ex: 2, 3) or what kind of thing something is (ex:
5, 14, 17), but sometimes we must use it in two ways only:
To express a number of/ a few of/ a pair of. (Exercises 1, 15)
Some = some but not all. (Exercises 8, 12, 16)
 A/An/The

Put in a/an or the

To crush into: estrellarse contra

1. I saw an accident this morning. A car crashed into a tree. The driver of the car wasn’t
hurt but the car was badly damaged.
2. There were two cars parked outside. A blue one and a red one. The blue one belongs to
my neighbor; I don’t know who the owner of the red car is.
3. My friends live in an old house in a small village. There is a beautiful garden behind the
house. I’d like to have a garden like that.
4. Can you recommend a very nice restaurant?
5. Yesterday we had dinner in the best restaurant in our town.
6. I promise you, we will be leaving Rome the six day in September (specific day in
September = Saturday). But before leaving Rome I want to visit a museum a Saturday in
September (not specific Saturday in September = the second Saturday, the third Saturday
etc.)
7. I go to the cinema three times a month.
8. I need to sleep twice a day.
9. What’s the usual speed limit in towns in your country? 50 kilometers an hour
10. How much does it cost to rent a small car in your country? About $20 a day

Rule:

 We use the when talking about specific things. (ex: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

 It is correct to say once a week, three times a day, $15 a ton etc… (ex:7, 8, 9, 10)
Put in the/a where necessary. If no word is necessary, leave the space empty.
1. A: Our apartment is on the tenth floor. (there is only a ‘tenth floor’ in a tower)

B: Is it? I hope there's a lift.

2. A: Did you have a nice holiday?

B: Yes, it was the best holiday I've ever had.

3. A: Where's the nearest shop?

B: There's one at the end of this street. (There is only one end not two or three)

4. A: It’s a lovely day, isn't it?

B: Yes, there’s not a cloud in the sky. (a cloud?) I suppose cloud is a countable noun

5. A: I've got a problem with my computer. It isn't connecting to the internet.

B: That's interesting. I've got the same problem with mine.

6. A: We spent all our money because we stayed at the most expensive hotel in town.

B: Why didn't you stay at a cheaper hotel?

7. A: Would you like to travel in __ space?

B: Yes, I'd love to go to the moon.

8. A: What’s Jupiter? Is it a star?

B: No, it's a planet. It's the largest planet in the solar system.

9. Which planet is nearest __ Earth? Mars

10. We live in the Earth.
11. There are millions of stars in __ space. (Not in ‘the space’)
12. I tried to park my car, but the space was too small.
13. The world we live is a very nice world
14. The moon goes around the earth and the earth goes around the sun

Rule:

 We use a/an to describe something or somebody (ex: 2, 4, 6, 8, 13)

 We use the when there is only one thing of something (ex: 1, 3, 8, 13)
 We use the with superlatives (ex: 2, 3, 6, 8)
 We always put in ‘the’ with ‘same’ (ex: 5)
 We always write the sun, the moon, the earth, the world, the universe, the sky, the sea,
the ground, the environment, the internet (ex: 4, 5, 14)
 We also use 'Earth' (without the) when we think of it as a planet in space (like Mars,
Jupiter etc.) (compare ex 9 to ex 10)
 We say space (without the) when we mean 'space in the universe' (compare ex 11 to ex
12)
Put in the/a where necessary. If you don't need the, leave the space empty.
To lie down: (verb) to sit down - to throw oneself - to establish, to set up, to settle down
To be fed up: (verb) to get angry
Gate: (noun) door, doorway, gateway – entry, entrance, input
1. I haven't been to the cinema for ages.
2. Do you ever listen to the radio?
3. Sarah spends most of her free time watching __ TV.
4. The television was on, but nobody was watching it.
5. What time did you have __ lunch yesterday?
6. We go out after __ dinner.
7. What do you want for __ breakfast?
8. We had a delicious lunch yesterday.
9. I lay down on the ground and looked up at the sky.
10. I’m fed up with doing the same thing every day.
11. I was reading a book in __ room 21 on the second floor.
12. The next train to London leaves __ gate 21.
13. Let’s start reading on __ page 21 please! We’ll find all the information we need.
Rule

 We normally say listen to the radio (ex: 2) and watch TV (not watch the TV) however
when we want to refer television as a set so we have to use the television or the TV
(compare ex 3 and 4)
 We do not normally use the with breakfast/ Lunch/dinner (ex 5, 6, 7), but we use a/an if
we say 'a big lunch', 'a wonderful dinner', 'an early breakfast' etc. (ex 8)
 We do not use the before noun +number. (ex 11, 12, 13)
Complete each sentence using a preposition (to/at/in etc.) +one of these words:
Bed home hospital hospital
Prison school university work
1. In Britain, children from the age of five have to go to school
2. Mark did not go last night. He stayed at home
3. There is a lot of traffic every morning when everyone goes to work
4. Kate’s mother has just had an operation. She is still in hospital
5. When Sophie leaves the school, she wants to study economics at university
6. Ben never gives up before 9 o’clock. It’s 8 am and he is still in bed
7. If people commit crimes, they may be sent to prison

Complete the sentences with school or the school.

1. When he was younger, Tim hated school
2. There were some parents waiting outside the school to meet their children.
3. School usually starts at 8.30 in the morning.
4. A: How do your children get to and from school? By bus?
B: No, they walk. The school isn't very far.
5. What sort of job does Emily want to do when she leaves school?

Some of these sentences need the. Write the where necessary.

Churchgoer: fiel
Firefighter: bombero
To be + a + something + at + the + someplace: a person who practices a profession in an
enterprise, a company etc.
1. a) How old is the university? About 1OO years.'
b) In your country do many people go to __university?
c) If you want to get a degree, you normally have to study at __university.
d) This is a small town, but the university is the biggest in the country.
2. a) My brother has always been healthy. He's never been in __hospital.
b) When Ann was ill, I went to the hospital to visit her. When I was there, I met Lisa who
is a nurse at the hospital.
c) A woman was injured in the accident and was taken to __ hospital
3. a) John's mother is a regular churchgoer. She goes to __church every Sunday.
b) John himself doesn't go to __church.
c) John went to the church to take some pictures of the building.
4. a) Why is she in__ prison? What did she do?
b) A few days ago firefighters were called to the prison to put out a fire.
c) Do you think too many people are sent to __prison?

Rule
 To be + a + something + at + the + someplace (ex 2.b)
Which is correct?
1. How did you get home / get to home after the party?
2. I like to read in bed / in the bed before I go to sleep.
3. Sam likes to go to bed / go to the bed early, and get up early.
4. I didn't sleep well in the hotel. Bed / The bed was uncomfortable.
5. Shall we meet after work / after the work tomorrow evening?
6. It’s nice to travel around the world, but there's no place like home / like the home!
7. I love swimming in sea / in the sea.
8. How long did it take to cross the ocean? How long were you at sea / at the sea?
9. What time do you usually start work / the work in the morning?

Rule
 We say go to bed, be in bed (ex 2, 3) but when it is a specific thing in a room we say the
bed (ex 4)
 We say go to sea or be at sea (without the) when the meaning is 'go/be on a voyage' (ex
8). In any other case we say the sea (ex 7)
Choose the correct form, with or without the
1. Apples / the apples are good for you.
2. Look at apples / the apples on that tree! They're very big.
3. Women / the women live longer than men I the men.
4. I don't drink tea / the tea. I don't like it.
5. We had a very good meal. Vegetables / the vegetables were especially good.
6. Life / the life is strange sometimes. Some very strange things happen.
7. I enjoy holidays / the holidays by the sea.
8. How much money does the government spend on education / the education?
9. Who are people / the people in this picture?
10. What makes people / the people violent? What causes aggression / the aggression?
11. All books / All the books on the top shelf belong to me.
12. Don't stay in that hotel. It’s very noisy and rooms / the rooms are very small.
13. A pacifist is somebody who is against war / the war.
14. First World War / the First World War lasted from 1914 until 1918.
15. I don't like films / the films that don't have happy endings.
16. Someone gave me a book about history / the history of modern art / the modern art.
17. Rob and Louise got married, but marriage / the marriage didn't last very long.
18. Most people / the most people believe that marriage / the marriage and family life /
the family life are the basis of society / the society.
Put in a or the.
Kangaroo (kaNGgəˈroo): ͞ canguro
Swan (swän): cisne
Owl (oul): búho
Pigeon (pijən): paloma
Parrot: loro
Currency: the basic monetary (mänəˌterē) unit of a country
͞
Rupee (rooˌpē): the basic monetary unit of India
͞
Rouble (roobəl): the basic monetary unit of Russia
Orchestra (ôrkistrə)
1. Can you play a musical instrument?
2. Jessica plays the violin in an orchestra
3. There was a piano in the corner of the room
4. Can you play the piano?
5. Our society is based on the family
6. Martin comes from a large family
7. The computer has changed the way we live (or computers have changed the …..)

Complete these tenses with the following words

Injured poor rich sick unemployed
1. Ambulances arrived at the scene of the accident and took the injured to hospital.
2. Life is all right if you have a job, but things are not easy for the unemployed.
3. Helen has been a nurse all her life. She is spent her life caring for the sick.
4. In England there is an old story about a man called Robin Hood. It is said he robbed the
rich and gave the money to the poor.
Rule
 We use the + adjective (without a noun) to talk about groups of people (plural), (the poor
= poor people)
What do we call the people of these countries?

Country One person The people in general

Canada A Canadian Canadians
Germany A German Germans
France French man The French
Russia A Russian Russians
China A Chinese The Chinese
Brazil A Brazilian Brazilians
England An English man The English
Ecuador An Ecuadorian Ecuadorians

Rule
Put in ‘the’ where necessary. Leave the space empty if the sentence is already complete.
Middle East: oriente medio
Harbor: port

1. Who is __ Doctor Johnson?

2. I was ill, so I went to see the doctor.
3. The most powerful person in the United States is the president.
4.
5.
6. __ President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963.
7. Do you know the Wilsons? They're a very nice couple.
8. I'm looking for __ Professor Brown. Do you know where she is?
9. __ Africa is much larger than __ Europe.
10. Last year I visited Mexico and the United States.
11. The South of England is warmer than the north.
12. Portugal is in __ Western Europe.
13. France and Britain are separated by the Channel.
14. James has travelled a lot in the Middle East.
15. Chicago is on __ Lake Michigan.
16. Next year we're going skiing in the Swiss Alps.
17. The UK consists of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
18. The Seychelles are a group of islands in the Indian Ocean.
19. The highest mountain in Africa is __ Kilimanjaro.
20. The River Volga flows into the Caspian Sea.
21. Argentina is in __ North America.
22. The Nile is the longest river in Africa
23. Of which country is Stockholm the capital? Of __ Sweden.
24. Of which country is Washington the capital? Of the United States.
25. What is the name of the sea between Africa and Europe? The Mediterranean.
26. The smallest continent in the world is __ Australia.
27. What joins the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans? The Panama Canal.
28. Which is the longest river in South America? The Amazon
Rule
We don´t use ‘the’:
 With the name of continents, countries, states, cities, towns, islands, mountains, lakes.
Also before the name of avenues, streets, roads, squares, parks. And with the name of
companies, airlines etc.
 With the name of important public buildings and institutions (airports, stations,
universities etc.) that have two words, the first one must be the name of a place or
person (not an adjective)
 When we say Mr/Mrs/Captain/Doctor etc. + a name
 With Many shops, restaurants, hotels, banks etc. that are named after people. These
names end in -'s or –s. And churches that are often named after saint (St =Saint)

We use ‘the’:
 With the names of oceans, seas, rivers, canals, group of islands, group of mountains
(cordillera), deserts. Also before the name of hotels, theaters, cinemas, museums, and
other buildings. And with the name of newspaper and many organizations
 With of usually have the
 We use the with plural names of people and places ended in s (the Netherlands, the
Warrens)
 Before name of countries that has on its names the followings words: Republic, Kingdom,
States etc.
 FINAL TEST.

Put in a, an or the where necessary. Leave the space empty if the sentence is already complete.

1. If you go to live in a foreign country, you should try and learn the language.
2. Helen is an economist. She lives in the United States and works for an investment
company.
3. I love the sport, especially tennis. I played two or three times a week if I can, but I’m not
a very good player.
4. I won't be home for __ dinner this evening I am meeting some friends after __ work and
we are going to the cinema
5. When __ unemployment is high, it’s difficult for __ people to find __ work. It is a big
problem.
6. There was an accident as I was going to __ home last night. Two people were taken to
__ hospital. I think the most accidents are caused by __ people driving too fast
7. A: What’s the name of the hotel where you are staying?
8. B: The Ambassador. It is in __ Queen Street in the city center. It’s near the station.
9. I have two brothers. The older one is training to be a pilot with __ British Airways. The
younger one is still at the School. When he leaves the school he wants to go to the
university to study __ law

30 items were answered correctly over 34, it means I got 88.24 over 100.

Complete the following paragraph with ‘the’ if necessary. Put in x if not necessary

I arrived in the USA last Monday. We left x Rome, flew over the Alps and made a quick stop
in x London. There we went shopping at x Harrods, visited the Tower and enjoyed a sunny
afternoon in x Hyde Park. On the following day we left for x New York. The time on board wasn't
boring as there were two films to watch on the monitor. The people on the plane were
all x Italian. Before we landed at x JFK airport, we saw the Statue of Liberty, x Ellis Island and the
Empire State Building. The hotel I stayed in was on the corner of x 42nd Street and x 5th Avenue.
I don't like x hotels very much, but I didn't have x time to rent an apartment.

Chose the correct answer.

1. The Danube is Austria's longest river.

2. Our uncle lives on the Philippines.
3. Jamaica belongs to the Carribean islands.
4. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated in 1886.
5. The Taj Mahal is one of India's most popular attractions.
6. The Dead Sea lies below sea level.
7. Everglades National Park is in Florida.
8. Aconcagua is the highest mountain outside Asia.
9. Mount Fuji is one of Japan's Three Holy Mountains.
10. Lake Superior is the largest of the Great La
Mum, where is the dog? I want to take it to the park.

We use the when it’s clear which person or thing we are talking about.

I like – cake, but I don’t like the cake you make.

We don’t use the or a(n) when we are talking about people or things in general (I
like cake).

We use the when we are talking about specific things or people (the cake you made).

It’s obvious that the students should listen to their teacher, but the students
in my class never listen.

Correct answer: –/the

We don’t use the or a(n) when we are talking about people or things in general
(students).

We use the when we are talking about specific things or people (the students in my
class).

Can you pick up the kids today? I’m going to be at – work until late.

We use the when it’s clear which person or thing we are talking about (the kids= our
kids).

We say be at work, go to work, start or finish work (without the). Similarly, we

say go to bed or be in bed, and be at home, go/come/get/walk, etc. home.

A: “Shall we go on a picnic today? The sun is very warm.” B: “I don’t

like – picnics.”

We say the when there is only one of something: the earth, the moon, the planet,
the internet, the universe, the sky, the city (=not the country), the country (=not
the city), etc.

We don’t use the or a(n) when we are talking about people or things in general (I
don’t like picnics).

A: “Have you tried the tea Tim brought?” B: “No, I never drink – tea.

We use the when we are talking about specific things or people (the tea Tim
brought).

We don’t use the or a(n) when we are talking about people or things in general (tea).
A: “He’s a fan of Manchester United.” B: “I don’t understand how he can
like – football so much.”

We use a(n) before jobs and when we say what kind of person somebody is or what
kind of thing something is (he is a fan).

We don’t use the or a(n) when we are talking about people or things in general
(football)

My favourite day is the Friday, and the 2010 was my favourite year.

Correct answer: –/–

We do not use the before names of days, months, and years.

I don’t like the French. Well, I don’t like – languages in general.

Correct answer: –/–

We don’t use the before names of languages.

We don’t use the or a(n) when we are talking about people or things in general.

We are going to fly from the USA to – Cairo.

We don’t use the with most names of places, such as continents (Europe, Africa,
etc.), countries (Spain, China, etc.), cities or towns (Rome, Bangkok, etc.), mountains
(mount Everest, Annapurna, etc.). However, names of countries that are plural or
that include words such as State or Republic, or Kingdom are used with the: the
US (the United States), the UK (the United Kingdom), the Philippines, the
Netherlands, the Czech Republic.