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Articles
Some Important Rules to Remember
1. Descriptions Shes got a quiet voice. He has a friendly face. Shes got the quiet voice. (wrong) He has the friendly face. (wrong)

- We dont use a/an with plurals or uncountable nouns. She has got blue eyes. He has got long hair. She has got a blue eyes. He has got a long hair. (wrong) (wrong)

2. The is used to talk about somebody or something in particular. So, we do not normally use the to talk about people or things in general. People are funny. I love jewellery. Butter is fattening. The people are funny. I love the jewellery. The butter is fattening. (wrong) (wrong) (wrong)

3. We dont use the with: Names of meals I ate my breakfast/lunch/dinner/etc Days/months and public holidays on Sunday, in April, at Christmas next/last next month, last year Places and activities I am going to college/school/prison/church/work/bed Shes at home/ Im going home Transport by car/bus/plane; on foot Sports I play tennis/badminton/soccer 4. We do not use the with most names. - People: Mary works for Dr Andrew. General Hashim or The General. Queen Elizabeth or The Queen. The General Hashim. (Wrong) The Queen Elizabeth. (wrong)

- Languages: I speak Malay and English. Not Russian. - Places: continents, countries, states, lakes, mountains, towns, streets, etc. Hes from Texas. Hes from the Texas. (wrong)

* Africa, Malaysia, Cuba, Queensland, Dublin, Lake Toba, Lake Geneva, Mount Everest, Mount Kinabalu, Wall Street, Time Square, Bintang Walk

Names with the

Deserts, rivers, seas and oceans (Not lakes!) - the Sahara Desert, the Pahang River, the Mediterranean, the Atlantic Plural names - the Netherlands, the United States of America, the Alps

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Expressions with Republic/Kingdom/etc - the Republic of China, the United Kingdom Large areas of the world - the West, the Middle East, The East Some buildings - the Eiffel Tower, the London Bridge, the Taj Mahal, the Hilton Hotel

TEST YOURSELF
Fill in the blanks below with a, an or the. Put an X where no article is required.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

There is no need to buy ______milk. I have taken ______ breakfast. We went to Jakarta by _______ plane. On ________ third day, we rented ________ car but it wouldnt start. So, we took a bus to visit _________ parliament. ________ books are expensive in my country. Would you like to play ________ chess or billiards? ________ watermelons are cheap at _________ moment. The actor was sent to ________ jail for smuggling drugs. She wants to get _____ job in _____ office where my brother works. Andrew hates _______ examinations. ________ water turns into ________ ice at 0C.

10. We went for _______ dinner last night. 11. This book comes from _______ England, but that one comes from ______ United States of America. 12. After his performance there was ______ loud applause from _____ audience. 13. I am only half Malay. My mother is from _______ Germany. 14. _______ Mount Everest, _______ highest mountain in ______ world, is in ______ Himalaya. 15. It was _______ fun helping my sister to look after her children, but it was ______ hard work at times.