Unit

69 a/an and the

a/an the

,
Can you op
the window?
Can you open
a window?

There are three windows here, There is only one window here -
a window - window 1 or 2 or 3 the window.

O I've got a car. O I'm going to clean the car tomorrow.

(there are many cars and I've got one) (= my car)
O Can I ask a question? (there are many Can you repeat the question, please?
questions - can I ask one?) (= the question that you asked)
O Is there a hotel near here? (there are J We enjoyed our holiday. The hotel
many hotels - is there one near here?) was very nice. (= our hotei)
O Paris is an interesting city, (there are Paris is the capital of France.
many interesting cities and Paris is one) (there is only one capital of France)
O Lisa is a student. Lisa is the youngest student in her
(there are many students and Lisa class, (there is only one youngest
is one) student in her class)

Compare a and the:

O I bought a jacket and a shirt . The jacket was cheap, but the shirt was expensive.
(= the jacket and the shirt that I bought)

We say the ... when it is clear which thing or person we mean. For example:

the door / the ceiling / the floor / the carpet / the light etc. (o f a room)
the roof / the garden / the kitchen / the bathroom etc. (o f a house)
the centre / the station / the airport / the town hall etc. (o f a town)

'Where's Tom? 'In the kitchen.'

(= the kitchen of this house or flat)
Turn off the light and close the door.
( - the light and the door of the room)
Do you live far from the centre?
the centre of your town)
I'd like to speak to the manager, please.
(= the manager of this shop etc.)

148 ( a/an Unit 65 the Units 70-73

Exercises
W rite a/an or the.
1 We enjoyed our trip hotel was very nice.
2 'Can I a sk a question?' 'Sure. W hat do you want to know?'
3 You look very tired.- You n eed holiday.
4 'Where's Tom?' 'He's in ............... garden.'
5 Eve is interesting person. You should meet her.
6 a: Excuse me, can you tell me how to get t o city centre?
b: Yes, go straight on and then ta k e next turning left.
7 a: Shall we go out fo r meal this evening?
b: Yes, that's.................good idea.
8 It's nice morning. Let's go fo r walk.
9 Amanda is ..................student. W hen she finishes her studies, she wants to b e journalist. She
lives with two friends in apartment near college where she is studying....................
apartment is small, but she likes it.
10 Peter and Mary have two children, boy a n d girl......................boy is seven years old, and
girl is three. Peter works in factory. Mary doesn't have job at the moment.

Complete the sentences. Use a or the + these words:

airport cup dictionary door floor picture

These sentences are not correct. Put in a/an or the where necessary.
1 Don't forget to tujm^offlight when you go out...................... ....Turn off the.li^ht.
2 Enjoy your trip, and don't forget to send me postcard...................................................
3 W hat is name of this village?...........................................................................................................
4 Canada is very big country...............................................................................................................
5 W hat is largest city in Canada?......................................................... .............................................
6 I like this room, but I don't like colour of carpet.................................................................
7 'Are you OK?' 'No, I've got headache.'...................................................................................
8 We live in old house near station.................................................................................................
9 W hat is name of director of film we saw last night? .............................................
Unit
th e ...
We use the when it is clear which thing or person we mean:
O W hat is the name of this street? (there is only one name)
O W ho is the best player in your team? (there is only one best player)
O Can you tell me the time, please? (= the time now)
O M y office is on the first floor. (= the first floor of the building)

Don't forget the:

O Do you live near the city centre? (not near city centre)
O Excuse me, where is the nearest bank? (not where is nearest...)

the s a m e ...
O We live in the same street. (not in same street)
O Are these two books different?' 'No, they're the same.' (not they're same)

We say:
the sun / the moon / the world / the sky / the sea / the country
O The sky is blue and the sun is shining.
O Do you live in a town or in the country?

the police / the fire brigade / the army (of a city, country e tc)
O My brother is a soldier. He's in the army.
O W hat do you think of the police? Do they do a good job?

the top / the end / the middle / the left etc.

O Write your name at the top of the page. the left the right
O My house is at the end of the street.
O The table is in the middle of the room.
O Do you drive on the right or on the left in your country? the bottom

%
(play) the piano / the guitar / the trum pet etc. (musical instruments)
O Paula is learning to play the piano.

the radio
O I listen to the radio a lot.

the internet
O W hat do you use the internet for?

We do not use the with:

television / T V
O I watch T V a lot.
O What's on television tonight?
but Can you turn off the TV? (= the T V set)

breakfast / lunch / dinner

O W hat did you have for breakfast? (not the breakfast)
O Dinner is ready!

next / last + week/month/year/summer/Monday etc.

O I'm not working next week, (not the next week)
O Did you have a holiday last summer? (not the last summer)

150 ( a/an and the ■» Unit 69 the Units 71-73 the oldest / the most expensive etc. 4 Unit 90
Exercises
^ Put in the where necessary. Write 'OK' if the sentence is already correct.
1 W hat is name of this street?......................................................................The. name........................
2 What's on T V tonight? O K ........................................
3 O ur apartment is on second floor.........................................................................................................
4 Would you like to go to moon?......................................................... ....................................................
5 W hich is best hotel in this town?...................................................... ....................................................
6 W hat time is lunch?................................................................................... ....................................................
7 How far is it to city centre?
8 We're going away at end of May........................................................ ....................................................
9 W hat are you doing next weekend?................................................ ....................................................
10 I didn't like her first time I met her........................................................................................................
11 I'm going out after dinner....................................................................... ....................................................
12 It's easy to get information from internet..................................... ....................................................
13 My sister got married last month...................................................... ....................................................
14 My dictionary is on top shelf on right............................................ ....................................................
15 We live in country about ten miles from nearest town...........................................................

Complete the sentences. Use the same + these words:

age colour problem street time

1 I live in North Street and you live in North Street. We live in T h a .sa m e .stra e t.
2 I arrived at 8.30 and you arrived at 8.30. We arrived a t ...........................................................
3 James is 25 and Sue is 25. James and Sue a re .................................................................................
4 My shirt is dark blue and so is my jacket. M y shirt and jacket are ...................................
5 I have no money and you have no money. We have..............................................................

Look at the pictures and complete the sentences. Use the if necessary.

I® ®
I L is a B la ck
I Paul Roberts
C k rls Stone
Rebecca W a tso n mlm
S a r a h K e lly m
Tom H o w a r d s

1 The sun is shining. 4 He's w atching......................................

2 She's playing 5They're swimming in ....
3 They're having 6Tom'snameisa t ......................... of the list.

Complete these sentences. Choose from the list. Use the if necessary,

capital d inne r police lunch middle name sky TV

1 We h a d djnner at a restaurant last night.

2 We stayed at a very nice hotel, but I don't rem em ber.................................................................
3 ................................................................ is very clear tonight. You can see all the stars.
4 Sometimes there are some good films o n ................................................................ late at night.
5 Somebody was trying to break into the shop, so I called ................................................................
6 Tokyo is .............................................................. of Japan.
7 'W hat did you have fo r................................................................?' 'A salad.'
8 I woke up in ................................................................of the night.