Page 5 - English Grammar and Composition-Student Textbook short

2. I'd like you to meet Cathy Parker, the novelist.
3. My name's James Bond. What, not the James Bond?
Possessives and demonstratives: We do not use the with possessives or demonstratives.
1. This is my uncle. (NOT ••• the my uncle.)
2. Is that Mary's car? (NOT ••• the Mary's car?)
Proper nouns (names): We do not usually use the with singular proper nouns (there are some exceptions).
1. Mary lives in Switzerland. (NOT ...in the Switzerland.)
Things in general: We usually use no article, not the, to talk about things in general. The does not mean 'all'.
1. Books are expensive.
2. Life is hard.

More About A/An
Countable and uncountable nouns: Countable nouns are the names of separate objects, people, ideas etc. which
we can count. We normally use a/an only with singular countable nouns. See the following examples:
1. a cat - a secretary - a plan
Uncountable nouns are the names of materials, liquids and other things which we do not usually see as
separate objects. We do not normally use an a or an with these because a/an has a similar meaning to ‘one.’
1. wool - water - weather - energy
We never use a/an with the word English or with time markings on the clock.
1. She speaks very good English.
2. We will eat at 10 o’clock.(never use the with time on the clock either)

Special Rules and Exceptions
Physical environment: The is used with a number of rather general expressions referring to our physical
environment - the world around us and its climate. ‘The’ suggests that everybody is familiar with what we are
talking about. Read the following examples:
1. the town, the country, the mountains, the sea, the seaside, the wind, the rain, the weather, the sunshine, the
night.
But note that no article is used with nature, society or space when these have a 'general' meaning.
Both and all: We often leave out the after both.
1. Both (the) children are good at math.
We often leave out the between all and a number.
1. All (the) three brothers were arrested.
We usually leave out the after all in all day, all night, all week, all year, all winter and all summer.
Some and any: Instead of no article, we can sometimes use some or any.
1. Do you have some snacks?
2. Did you bring any gloves?
Some nouns that are countable in some other languages are uncountable in English:
1. I need information and advice.
2. You've made very good progress.

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