Did you say … eccentric?

1. Did you say … eccentric? Grammar File • Aims: • dominate the use of definite and indefinite articles • the/a/an/ and no article • - help you with your homework. Grammar files: 18 and 19 Unit 3

2. Introduction: English has two articles: theand a/an. The is used to refer to specific or particular nouns (a/an is used with non-specific or non-particular nouns); We call thethedefinite article and a/an the indefinite article. the = definite article a/an = indefinite article For example, if I say, "Let's read the book," I mean a specificbook. Here's another way to explain it: The is used to refer to a specific or particular member of a group. For example, "I just saw the most popular movie of the year." There are many movies, but only one particular movie is the most popular. Therefore, we use the.

3. "A/an" is used to refer to a non-specific or non-particular member of the group. For example, "I would like to see a movie." Here, we're not talking about a specific movie. We're talking about any movie. (=qualsevol) There are many movies, and I want to see any movie. I don't have a specific one in mind. Let's look at each kind of article a little more closely.

4. Indefinite Articles: a and an Page 209 Student’sbook “a" and "an" signal that the noun modified is indefinite, referring to any member of a group. For example: My daughter wants a dog for Christmas." This refers to any dog. We don't know which dog because we haven't found the dog yet.

5. The definite Article: THE Page 209 Student’sbook The signals that the noun is definite, that it refers to a particular member of a group. For example: "The dog that bit me ran away." Here, we're talking about a specific dog, the dog that bit me.

6. The definite Article: THE There are some specific rules for using the with geographical nouns. Do not use the before: - names of most countries/territories: Italy, Mexico, Bolivia; Exceptions: the Netherlands, the UK, the Philippines, the USA … - names of cities, towns, or states: Seoul, Canillo, Miami - names of streets: Washington Blvd., Jerez St., Main St. - names of lakes and bays: Lake Titicaca, Lake Erieexcept with a group of lakes like the Great Lakes - names of mountains: Mount Everest, Mount Fujiexcept with ranges of mountains like the Andes or the Rockies or unusual names like the Matterhorn - names of continents (Asia, Europe) - names of islands (Easter Island, Menorca) except with island chains like the Aleutians, the Hebrides, or the Canary Islands

7. The definite Article: THE • use the before: • names of rivers, oceans and seas: the Nile, the Segre, the Pacific ocean • points on the globe: the Equator, the North Pole • geographical areas: the Middle East, the West • - deserts, forests, gulfs, and peninsulas: the Sahara, the Persian Gulf, the Black Forest, the Iberian Peninsula

8. The use of We usually use no article to talk about things in general:- We do not use an article when talking about sports

9. Activities: On WORKBOOK: page 25 Activity 2 the or ?? Activity 3 the imperial an metric systems

10. Why don’t ___________ British people use _________ euro like almost everyone else in ________ Europe? the 2. Basically, it’s because ______British are very attached to certain aspects of _________ British life. the 3. However, _______ life of many people in _______ Britain would be easier if ________ metric system were really used. the the 4. _______ choice will no doubt be made, not by ______ British public, but by ______ British government. the the the 5. Wouldn’t it be great if ________ European countries used ________ same systems to measure ______ distances and ________ weights? the

11. Activity: On WORKBOOK: page 25 Activity 3 the imperial an metric systems

12. Their cottage was in a beautiful valley about 12 miles from the sea. La casa de camp es trobava en una bonica vall a una vintena de kilòmetres del mar. 2. For the past few years he has lived in a tiny room measuring just 9 feet by six. Fa uns anys que viu en una habitació minúscula de només tres metres per dos. 3. The double-decker came to a halt no more than 6 inches from the shop window. L’autobús de dos pisos s’aturà a poc més de 15 centímetres de l’aparador de la botiga.

13. 4. The thieves stole everything except the 2 pounds of butter and the pint of milk in the fridge. Els lladres ho van robar tot excepte el quilogram de mantega i el mig litre de llet de la nevera. 5. Twelve stones seems rather heavy for someone only 5 feet tall. Un pes de 65 quilos sembla bastant un pes excessiu per a algú que no fa més de metre cinquanta.

14. Grammar files: 18 and 19 Practise for the exam … Student’s book: Pages 208, 209 Activities “Entraînement”