Maria Catalina Diaz Critelli

Use Examples
The sun came out and soon we were dry.
When the person or thing referred to is
The president is giving a speech tonight.
unique.
He won a medal at the Olympic Games.
The head of my old school was called Mr
When the rest of the sentence makes it clear Jones.
what we are referring to. The woman who stopped me was wearing a
badge.
When the surrounding context makes it clear Your shoes are in the cupboard.
what we are referring to. Your dinner is in the fridge.
To talk about previously mentioned things or A man and a woman walked past. The man
people. was wearing sunglasses.
With superlatives. He’s the bravest person in the team.
 Use Examples

To talk about a generic class of things (often on The bicycle was invented about 200 years
topics related to science or technology). ago.
The panda is in danger of becoming extinct.
With some social and national groups, when The unemployed need more support.
making generalisations (followed by a plural Some of the English are descended from
verb). Danish invaders.
With areas such as North, centre, etc. Most of the population live in the North.

He’s sailed across the Atlantic.

With oceans, rivers, seas and deserts. We went by canoe up the Orinoco.
She said she’d driven across the Sahara.
Are the Andes as high as the Himalayas?
With plural mountain ranges and island
The British Isles include the Isle of Wight
groups.
and the Isle of Man.
With countries whose name includes a
He’s from the Czech Republic, but he’s living
common noun such as republic, isles, islands,
in the United States.
states.
 Use Example
With singular countable nouns (mentioned for I’d like a sandwich and a glass of water.
the first time or when it doesn’t matter which What you need is a rest.
one). A man has come to see you.
She’s a lawyer.
To talk about (singular) jobs and interests.
I’m a big football fan.
There were over a hundred people at the
With the numbers 100, 1.000, 1.000.000 wedding.
He made a million pounds in one year.
In exclamations about singular countable
What an amazing view!
nouns.

Maria Catalina Diaz Critelli

 Use Examples
For uncountable, plural and abstract nouns We had an awful weather on holiday.
(e.g.: freedom) used in their general sense. Happiness isn’t the only thing in life.
They are going to visit Africa.
For continents, countries, mountains and Have you ever been to Nepal?
lakes. He’s climbed Mount Everest.
Is Lake Titicaca in Peru?
For villages, towns and cities. Wellington is the capital of New Zeeland.
For streets and roads. There are some nice houses on School Road.
For some illnesses. (there are exceptions) I’ve got flu and Sue’s got indigestion.
Watch out! I’ve got a headache and I think I’m getting a cold.

Maria Catalina Diaz Critelli

▪ To/at/from school/university/college/work.
▪ At home.
▪ Go home.
▪ In/to class.
▪ To/in/into from church.
▪ To/in/into/out of prison/bed/hospital.
▪ To/at/for breakfast/lunch/dinner.
▪ By car/bus/bicycle/plane/train/tube/boat/on foot.
▪ By accident/chance.
Maria Catalina Diaz Critelli
• Complete the sentences with the definite article (the), indefinite article (a/an) or zero article (-).
1. ________ future often brings surprises.
2. He’s ___________ very keen cyclist.
3. You’d better get out of _________ bed- It’s late.
4. The climate is best in _________ south-east of the country.
5. The doctor said she was suffering from __________ depression.
6. Wait a minute –I’ll just get my bag out of _________ locker.
7. I think you ought to have ________ holiday.
8. There’ll be a special bus available for __________ elderly.
9. __________ nurse who I saw first said that nothing was wrong.
10. I’m hoping to study _________ business at university.
Maria Catalina Diaz Critelli
▪ Complete the sentences with the definite article (the), indefinite article (a/an) or
zero article (-).
1. THE future often brings surprises.
2. He’s A very keen cyclist.
3. You’d better get out of ------ bed- It’s late.
4. The climate is best in THE south-east of the country.
5. The doctor said she was suffering from ------ depression.
6. Wait a minute –I’ll just get my bag out of THE locker.
7. I think you ought to have A holiday.
8. There’ll be a special bus available for THE elderly.
9. THE nurse who I saw first said that nothing was wrong.
10. I’m hoping to study ------ business at university.

Maria Catalina Diaz Critelli

 Report from Antarctica
▪ In March, I’m joining (0) _______ scientists in Punta Arenas, (1) _______ southernmost town
in (2) ________ Chile. We’re depending on (3) ________ special research vessel heading for
(4) _________ South Shetland Islands situated of (5) _______ Antarctic Peninsula for a thirty-
two-day trip, and while we are at (6) _______ sea, we'll be collecting environmental data
from (7) _______waters surrounding (8)_______ islands.
▪ We are looking for any long-term trends and changes in (9) _______ Antarctic ecosystem.
Antarctica is famous for having (10) _______ most treacherous seas on (11) _______ Earth,
and during (12) ________ last trip, we got hammered with (13) _________ bad weather.
▪ Not only does this make (14) _______ life on board pretty uncomfortable, but it also causes
all sorts of sampling problems, (15) ________ last month, (16) _______ scientific team found
valuable and expensive gear. Of course, all this is normal when you are working in (17)
______ Antarctica and it's what makes (18) _______ Southern Ocean such an exciting
environment to work in. Every year is (19) ______ new adventure and one I look forward to,
even though (20) _______ danger there are very real!
 Complete the text with the definite article (the), indefinite
article (a/an) or zero article (-).
Report from Antarctica
▪ In March, I’m joining (0) ----- scientists in Punta Arenas, (1) THE southernmost town in
(2) ----- Chile. We’re depending on (3) A special research vessel heading for (4) THE
South Shetland Islands situated of (5) THE Antarctic Peninsula for a thirty-two-day trip,
and while we are at (6) ----- sea, we'll be collecting environmental data from (7) THE
waters surrounding (8) THE islands.
▪ We are looking for any long-term trends and changes in (9) THE Antarctic ecosystem.
Antarctica is famous for having (10) THE most treacherous seas on (11) ----- Earth, and
during (12) THE last trip, we got hammered with (13) ----- bad weather.
▪ Not only does this make (14) ----- life on board pretty uncomfortable, but it also causes
all sorts of sampling problems, (15) ----- last month, (16) THE scientific team found
valuable and expensive gear. Of course, all this is normal when you are working in (17)
----- Antarctica and it's what makes (18) THE Southern Ocean such an exciting
environment to work in. Every year is (19) A new adventure and one I look forward to,
even though (20) THE danger there are very real!