Ampersand Lab

Foundation grammar · Lesson 70 · A2

the ...

Use the when there is only one (the sun, the capital), with superlatives and first or last (the best, the second floor), and in the same. Television, breakfast and lunch usually take no the; the radio does.

Start the lesson

15Steps · about 26 minutes

In this lesson

Only one: theA1 screen of questions
the best, the first, the sameB1 screen of questions
No the: television, breakfast, next weekC2 screens of questions
Put it together+6 screens of mixed questions

Point A of 3

Only one: the

Use the when there is only one of something, or only one in the situation: the sun, the moon, the sky, the world, the capital of France, the police, the sea, the country (not a town).

  • The sun is shining.
  • Paris is the capital of France.
  • Look at the stars in the sky.
  • I'd like to live in the country.
  • Call the police!

Point A · Extra practice

Put in the. There is only one.

  1. sun is very hot today.

  2. Cardiff is capital of Wales.

  3. I'd love to live by sea.

Point B of 3

the best, the first, the same

Use the with superlatives (the best, the biggest), with first, second, last, next, top, end, middle, and with the same.

  • Which is the best hotel in town?
  • Our flat is on the second floor.
  • We're going away at the end of May.
  • My dictionary is on the top shelf on the right.
  • We live in the same street.
  • Jim and Sue are the same age.

Point B · Exercise 70.2

Complete the sentences with the same + one of these: age, colour, problem, street, time.

Use these

agecolourproblemstreettime

  1. Example

    I live on Mill Road and you live on Mill Road. We live on the same street.

    AnswerWe live on the same street.

  2. My train left at 6.10 and so did yours. They left at .

  3. Jim is twenty-five and Sue is twenty-five. Jim and Sue are .

  4. Her car is silver and so is mine. Our cars are .

  5. My laptop keeps crashing, and so does yours. They've got .

Point C of 3

No the: television, breakfast, next week

We say watch television (TV), but listen to the radio.

Meals usually take no the: have breakfast, lunch, dinner.

No the before next or last with time: next week, last month.

  • What's on television tonight?
  • She's listening to the radio.
  • What time is lunch?
  • I'm going out after dinner.
  • What are you doing next weekend?
  • My sister got married last month.

Point C · Exercise 70.3 · part 1 of 2

Read the scenes and complete the sentences. Use the if necessary.

  1. Example

    A bright, cloudless day.

    The sun is shining.

    AnswerThe sun is shining.

  2. A woman with a violin under her chin.

    She's playing .

  3. A family at the table at 7 pm.

    They're having .

  4. A man next to a radio, turning the dial.

    He's listening to .

  5. A couple on the sofa looking at a screen.

    They're watching .

Point C · Exercise 70.3 · part 2 of 2

Read the scenes and complete the sentences. Use the if necessary.

  1. Two people swimming among waves.

    They're swimming in .

Put it together · Exercise 70.1 · part 1 of 4

Put in the where necessary. Write OK if the sentence is already right.

  1. Example

    What is name of this street?

    What is the name of this street?

    AnswerWhat is the name of this street?

  2. Example

    What's on television tonight?

    OK

    AnswerWhat's on television tonight?

  3. Our flat is on second floor.

  4. Have you ever seen sun rise over the sea?

  5. What's cheapest restaurant round here?

  6. What time is lunch?

Put it together · Exercise 70.1 · part 2 of 4

Put in the where necessary. Write OK if the sentence is already right.

  1. How far is it to town centre?

  2. Our exams finish at end of June.

  3. What are you doing next weekend?

  4. I got lost first time I drove to your flat.

Put it together · Exercise 70.1 · part 3 of 4

Put in the where necessary. Write OK if the sentence is already right.

  1. I'm going out after dinner.

  2. What's biggest city in world?

  3. My sister got married last month.

  4. The mugs are in cupboard on left.

Put it together · Exercise 70.1 · part 4 of 4

Put in the where necessary. Write OK if the sentence is already right.

  1. They farm in country a long way from nearest town.

Put it together · Exercise 70.4 · part 1 of 2

Complete the sentences with a word from the box, using the if necessary: capital, dinner, police, lunch, middle, name, sky, television.

Use these

capitaldinnerpolicelunchmiddlenameskytelevision

  1. Example

    We had lunch in a pub by the river, then walked back to the car.

    AnswerWe had lunch in a pub by the river, then walked back to the car.

  2. Cardiff is of Wales.

  3. Somebody broke into our house, so we rang .

  4. What's of the woman who lives next door?

  5. What time do you usually have in the evening?

Put it together · Exercise 70.4 · part 2 of 2

Complete the sentences with a word from the box, using the if necessary: capital, dinner, police, lunch, middle, name, sky, television.

Use these

capitaldinnerpolicelunchmiddlenameskytelevision

  1. There's a small island in of the lake.

  2. The is full of stars tonight.

  3. Is there anything good on tonight?

Lesson 70 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: go to work, go home, go to the cinemaBack to the course

–Right

Each point

A. Only one: the–Not checkedB. the best, the first, the same–Not checkedC. No the: television, breakfast, next week–Not checkedPut it together–Not checked