Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 75 · B1

the 3 (children / the children)

Leave out the when you talk about things or people in general, and use the when you mean particular ones.

Start the lesson

15Steps · about 29 minutes

In this lesson

Things in general: no theA1 screen of questions
Particular things and people: theB3 screens of questions
When the line is less clearC3 screens of questions
Put it together+3 screens of mixed questions

Point A of 3

Things in general: no the

Talking generally about things or people, leave out the.

In I'm scared of spiders, the word spiders means spiders in general, every spider in the world, not a particular group of them sitting in your bath.

This applies to plural nouns (dogs, teachers, cars) and to uncountable nouns (music, life, sugar, history). Sports and school subjects work the same way.

We also say most people, most shops, most towns and so on, not 'the most ...'.

  • I'm scared of spiders.
  • Nurses deserve to be paid a lot more than they are.
  • Do you know anybody who still collects coins?
  • Life was very different before mobile phones.
  • Do you like jazz / Indian food / old films?
  • My favourite sport is rugby / swimming / darts.
  • My best subject at school was geography / chemistry / French.
  • Most supermarkets stay open late on Thursdays.

Point A · Exercise 75.1

Choose four of these things and write what you think about them. You may use: I like ..., I don't like ..., I love ..., I hate ..., I think ... is/are ..., I don't mind ..., I'm (not) interested in ....

Use these

campingcricketearly morningshorror filmsjazzkaraokemotorwaysmushroomsmuseumsrainreality TVspicy food

  1. Example

    Write about one thing from the list.

    I don't mind rain, as long as I've got a decent coat.

    Example answerI don't mind rain, as long as I've got a decent coat.

  2. Write about another thing from the list.

  3. Write about another thing from the list.

  4. Write about another thing from the list.

  5. Write about another thing from the list.

Point B of 3

Particular things and people: the

the is for particular things or people, ones you can point to.

In general (no the) Specific (the)
Children need plenty of sleep. (children in general) We took the children to Scarborough. (a particular group, probably ours)
I couldn't get through the day without music. The play was dull, but I liked the music. (the music in the play)
All dogs need walking. All the dogs at the rescue centre have been chipped.
Salt is bad for your blood pressure. Could you pass the salt, please? (the salt on the table)
Welsh people are very proud of their choirs. (Welsh people in general) The Welsh people in my office never stop singing. (only the ones I know)
  • Children need plenty of sleep.
  • We took the children to Scarborough for the day.
  • Salt is bad for your blood pressure.
  • Could you pass the salt, please?

Point B · Exercise 75.3 · part 1 of 3

Complete the sentences using the words in the box. Use the where necessary. Each word is used once.

Use these

(the) answers(the) children(the) cricket(the) excuses(the) fish(the) geology(the) instructions(the) milk(the) mud(the) patience(the) shops(the) wasps

  1. Example

    My dad's favourite sport is cricket.

    AnswerMy dad's favourite sport is cricket.

  2. Example

    The instructions that came with the bookcase were in Swedish.

    AnswerThe instructions that came with the bookcase were in Swedish.

  3. Lots of people are frightened of .

  4. A pescatarian doesn't eat meat, but does eat .

  5. The quiz was easy. I knew all .

  6. Do you know who live at number twelve?

Point B · Exercise 75.3 · part 2 of 3

Complete the sentences using the words in the box. Use the where necessary. Each word is used once.

Use these

(the) answers(the) children(the) cricket(the) excuses(the) fish(the) geology(the) instructions(the) milk(the) mud(the) patience(the) shops(the) wasps

  1. is the study of rocks and how they are formed.

  2. Making won't help. Just tell her what happened.

  3. We couldn't buy anything on Sunday evening. were all shut.

  4. Don't put from that jug in your tea. It's been out since yesterday.

Point B · Exercise 75.3 · part 3 of 3

Complete the sentences using the words in the box. Use the where necessary. Each word is used once.

Use these

(the) answers(the) children(the) cricket(the) excuses(the) fish(the) geology(the) instructions(the) milk(the) mud(the) patience(the) shops(the) wasps

  1. Take your boots off! from them is all over the kitchen floor.

  2. You need to look after toddlers all day.

Point C of 3

When the line is less clear

The difference between in general and specific is not always obvious. A noun with a description attached can still be general.

In general (no the) Specific (the)
I like working with people. (people in general) I like the people I work with. (a particular group)
I like working with people who are honest. (not all people, but still a general idea)
Do you like tea? (tea in general)
Do you like strong tea with two sugars? (not all tea, but still a general idea) The tea at the station café was dreadful. (particular tea, sadly)
  • I enjoy working with people.
  • I like working with people who are honest.
  • I get on really well with the people in my team.
  • Do you like strong tea with two sugars?
  • The tea at the station café was dreadful.

Point C · Exercise 75.4 · part 1 of 3

Which is right? Choose the correct form.

  1. Our Nathan is brilliant at telling (jokes / the jokes).

  2. I'd sing along, but I don't know (words / the words).

  3. Don't book that B&B. It's damp and (beds / the beds) are like concrete.

  4. I sold my car, and now I rely on (public transport / the public transport) to get around.

Point C · Exercise 75.4 · part 2 of 3

Which is right? Choose the correct form.

  1. (All plates / All the plates) in the top cupboard belong to my mother.

  2. (Life / The life) is full of surprises, most of them involving the boiler.

  3. We had a great week in Whitby. (Weather / The weather) was perfect.

  4. All living things need (oxygen / the oxygen).

Point C · Exercise 75.4 · part 3 of 3

Which is right? Choose the correct form.

  1. I don't enjoy (books / the books) with sad endings.

Put it together · Exercise 75.2 · part 1 of 3

Which is right? Choose the correct form.

  1. Example

    Carrots (Carrots / The carrots) are good for your eyes, or so my mum always said.

    AnswerCarrots are good for your eyes, or so my mum always said.

  2. Have you seen (carrots / the carrots) on Dad's allotment? They're enormous.

  3. Do you know (people / the people) who live upstairs?

  4. It drives me up the wall when (people / the people) talk in the cinema.

  5. I'm hopeless at remembering (birthdays / the birthdays).

Put it together · Exercise 75.2 · part 2 of 3

Which is right? Choose the correct form.

  1. What were (names / the names) of that couple we met at the wedding?

  2. (Second World War / The Second World War) ended in 1945.

  3. My great-aunt was a Quaker and was against (war / the war) of any kind.

  4. Tariq isn't keen on (hard work / the hard work). He'd rather be fishing.

Put it together · Exercise 75.2 · part 3 of 3

Which is right? Choose the correct form.

  1. Have you finished (work / the work) I gave you on Monday?

Lesson 75 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: the 4 (the giraffe / the telephone / the old etc.)Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. Things in general: no the–Not checkedB. Particular things and people: the–Not checkedC. When the line is less clear–Not checkedPut it together–Not checked