Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 73 · B1

the 1

The for things there is only one of, for superlatives and the same; the world, the sea, the sky, the country, the cinema, the radio; but TV, space, breakfast, platform 4 and room 12 take no article.

Start the lesson

22Steps · about 39 minutes

In this lesson

Only one of itA1 screen of questions
the sameB1 screen of questions
the world, the sea, the sky; Earth and spaceC1 screen of questions
the cinema, the radio, the internet; TVD3 screens of questions
breakfast, lunch, dinnerE1 screen of questions
platform 4, size 9, room 12F1 screen of questions
Put it together+6 screens of mixed questions

Point A of 6

Only one of it

Use the when there is only one of something, and with superlatives (the best, the oldest).

Compare with a/an (see Units 71 and 72): the sun is a star, one of many.

  • Have you ever crossed the equator?
  • Our flat is on the ninth floor.
  • Cardiff is the capital of Wales.
  • I'm away at the end of the month.
  • What's the longest river in Britain?
  • The sun is a star.
  • The cottage we rented was over three hundred years old.
  • What's the best way to learn to play the guitar?

Point A · Extra practice

Put in the.

  1. What's longest river in Britain?

  2. Our flat is on ninth floor.

  3. I'm away at end of the month.

Point B of 6

the same

We say the same, never same on its own.

  • Your phone is the same model as mine. (not is same model)
  • "Are these two keys the same?" "No, they're different."

Point B · Extra practice

Complete each sentence with the same.

  1. Your phone is model as mine.

  2. We were born on day.

  3. Every day is in this job.

Point C of 6

the world, the sea, the sky; Earth and space

These take the: the sky, the sea, the ground, the sun, the moon, the earth, the world, the universe, the country (as opposed to a town).

Earth drops the when you treat it as a planet, like Mars. space drops the when it means what lies beyond the sky; a space you try to park in is another matter.

  • There wasn't a single cloud in the sky. (not in sky)
  • Would you rather live in a city or in the country?
  • The moon circles the earth, and the earth circles the sun.
  • Which planet is nearest to Earth?
  • Astronauts float freely in space. (not in the space)
  • I tried to park, but the space was too small.

Point C · Extra practice

Put in the where it is needed. Where it is not needed, write the noun on its own.

  1. There wasn't a cloud in . (sky)

  2. Would you rather live in a city or in ? (country)

  3. Astronauts can float in . (space)

Point D of 6

the cinema, the radio, the internet; TV

We say (go to) the cinema, the theatre, the radio, the internet. We say TV or television without the, unless we mean the set itself.

  • We go to the theatre quite often, but we rarely go to the cinema.
  • I watch TV most nights, but I hardly listen to the radio.
  • Can you switch the television off, please? (the set)
  • The internet has changed how we shop.

Point D · Exercise 73.2 · part 1 of 3

Which is right? Write the correct form.

  1. Example

    We haven't been to the theatre (theatre / the theatre) since Christmas.

    AnswerWe haven't been to the theatre since Christmas.

  2. Tom spends most of his free time watching (TV / the TV).

  3. I heard the news on (radio / the radio) in the car.

  4. (Radio / The radio) was blaring, but nobody was listening.

  5. Have you had (tea / the tea) yet? (the evening meal)

Point D · Exercise 73.2 · part 2 of 3

Which is right? Write the correct form.

  1. My brother and I were born on (same day / the same day), three years apart.

  2. What do you want for (breakfast / the breakfast)?

  3. Oily fish is a good source of (vitamin D / the vitamin D).

  4. This laptop isn't connected to (internet / the internet).

Point D · Exercise 73.2 · part 3 of 3

Which is right? Write the correct form.

  1. We sat on (sand / the sand) and watched (sea / the sea).

  2. (Next train / The next train) to Leeds leaves from (platform 6 / the platform 6).

Point E of 6

breakfast, lunch, dinner

Meals usually take no article. With an adjective, use a: a big lunch, an early breakfast.

  • What did you have for breakfast?
  • We had lunch in a pub by the river.
  • We had a lovely lunch. (not We had lovely lunch)

Point E · Extra practice

Put in a where it is needed. Where it is not needed, write the meal on its own.

  1. What did you have for ? (breakfast)

  2. We had in a pub by the river. (lunch)

  3. We had at my aunt's. (lovely dinner)

Point F of 6

platform 4, size 9, room 12

A noun followed by a number or letter takes no article: platform 4, size 9, room 12, page 30, vitamin D, section B.

  • Your flight boards at gate 12. (not the gate 12)
  • Have you got these boots in size 9? (not the size 9)

Point F · Extra practice

Write the words in brackets. Use no article before a noun followed by a number.

  1. Your train leaves from . (platform 4)

  2. Have you got these trainers in ? (size 9)

  3. Open your books at . (page 30)

Put it together · Exercise 73.1 · part 1 of 2

Put in the or a where necessary. If no word is needed, type a dash (-).

  1. Example

    A: Our flat is on the ninth floor. B: Is it? I hope there's a lift.

    AnswerOur flat is on the ninth floor. Is it? I hope there's a lift.

  2. A: Did you have good birthday? B: Yes, it was best birthday I've had for years.

  3. A: Where's nearest cash machine? B: There's one at end of this road.

  4. A: What gorgeous morning! B: Yes, sea is like glass and sky is completely blue.

  5. A: It cost a fortune because we ate at smartest restaurant in town. B: Why didn't you find cheaper one?

Put it together · Exercise 73.1 · part 2 of 2

Put in the or a where necessary. If no word is needed, type a dash (-).

  1. A: Would you ever take a trip into space? B: Only if I could walk on moon.

  2. A: What did you think of film last night? B: It was all right, but I thought ending was daft.

  3. A: What's Saturn? Is it star? B: No, it's planet. It's second largest planet in solar system.

Put it together · Exercise 73.3 · part 1 of 2

Rewrite each sentence, putting in the or a where necessary.

  1. Example

    Sun is star.

    The sun is a star.

    AnswerThe sun is a star.

  2. I'm sick of doing same thing every day.

  3. Room 14 is on second floor.

  4. It was very cold night. It was coldest night of winter.

  5. We had lunch in nice café by sea.

Put it together · Exercise 73.3 · part 2 of 2

Rewrite each sentence, putting in the or a where necessary.

  1. What's on at cinema this week?

  2. I had big breakfast this morning.

  3. Directions to venue are at bottom of email.

Put it together · Exercise 73.4 · part 1 of 2

Complete the sentences with a word from the box, adding the where necessary.

Use these

breakfastcinemagateGate 14lunchquestionquestion 5sea

  1. Example

    I'm starving. It's time for lunch.

    AnswerI'm starving. It's time for lunch.

  2. There was no wind at all, so was flat calm.

  3. Most of the test was fine, but I couldn't answer .

  4. "I'm going to tonight." "Are you? What are you seeing?"

  5. Sorry, could you repeat , please?

Put it together · Exercise 73.4 · part 2 of 2

Complete the sentences with a word from the box, adding the where necessary.

Use these

breakfastcinemagateGate 14lunchquestionquestion 5sea

  1. I didn't have this morning because I was running late.

  2. Flight EZ412 to Malaga is now boarding at .

  3. I forgot to shut . Can you go and shut it?

Lesson 73 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: the 2 (school / the school etc.)Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. Only one of it–Not checkedB. the same–Not checkedC. the world, the sea, the sky; Earth and space–Not checkedD. the cinema, the radio, the internet; TV–Not checkedE. breakfast, lunch, dinner–Not checkedF. platform 4, size 9, room 12–Not checkedPut it together–Not checked