1. USE O F A R TICLES W IT H COUNTABLE COM MON
NOUNS
Indefinite Article
The indefinite article is used only with singular common nouns.
The indefinite article is used with singular common nouns in the
following cases.
First, when we present the object expressed by the noun as
belonging to a certain class. It is often the case after the verbs be and
have. Cf.:
The play was a comedy (J. Eastwood).
He has got a camera (V. Evans).
Second, when a singular common noun is modified by a
prepositive or postpositive descriptive attribute, e.g.:
S h e’s a wonderful cook, really first-class (A. Christie).
I told you I shou.ldn’t like to marry a man with one fo o t in the
grave (W.S. Maugham).
Third, when a singular common noun is used in a general sense.
The indefinite article in this case has the meaning of ‘every’ or ‘any’,
e.g.:
A blind man would be glad to see (Proverb).
Fourth, when a singular common noun is used in the meaning of
‘one’, e.g.:
It took me a minute or two to realize what she meant (Longman
Essential Activator).
The indefinite article is generally left out before singular common
nouns after kind o f sort o f type o f and similar expressions, e.g.:
Ours was a lonely sort o f road and the man was a big sort o f man
(D.H. Barber).
The indefinite article is also left out in prepositional combinations
of two singular common nouns, e.g.:
The word spread from mongoose to mongoose that there was a
mongoose who didn ’t want to fig h t cobras (J. Thurber).
4
When singular common nouns are used with the indefinite article,
plural common nouns are used without any article, e.g.:
They need teachers badly (E.R. Braithwaite).
Elephants are intelligent animals (J. Eastwood).
Definite Article
The definite article can be used both with singular and plural
common nouns.
First, the definite article is used when the situation makes the
person or thing denoted by the common noun definite, e.g.:
Could you shorten the sleeves fo r m el (Longman Essential
Activator).
Second, the definite article is used when the context makes the
person or thing denoted by the common noun definite. The context
makes the person or thing denoted by the noun definite in two cases:
a) when the common noun is mentioned for a second time, e.g.:
The farm er found a gold cup in his field. He took the cup to the
police station (V. Evans):
b) when the noun is modified by a limiting attribute, e.g.:
This is the place where I grew up (Longman Essential Activator).
Third, the definite article is used before a common noun if it
denotes something unique, e.g.:
The sun climbed higher in the sky (Oxford Collocations
Dictionary for Students o f English).
The noun space in the meaning ‘space in the universe’ is used
without any article, e.g.:
There are millions o f stars in space (R. Murphy).
If names of unique things are modified by a descriptive attribute,
we use the indefinite article unless the situation makes them definite.
Cf.:
There was a stiff wind bloM’ing (Oxford Collocations Dictionary
for Students o f English).
The icy wind cut right through us (Oxford Collocations Dictionary
for Students o f English).
Fourth, the definite article is used with singular common nouns
generically, e.g.:
The tiger lives in the jungle (V. Evans).
The nouns cinema, theatre, police, fire brigade, army, radio and
Internet used in a generic sense also take the definite article. The noun
television (TV) in this case is used without any article, e.g.:
I go to the cinema a lot, but I haven’t been to the theatre fo r ages
(R. Murphy).
What’s on television tonight? (R. Murphy).
A noun used in a generic sense should not be confused with a noun
used in a general sense. A noun used in a generic sense denotes the
whole class. A noun used in a general sense denotes an object regarded
as an individual representative o f a class.
The word man in a generic sense takes no article, e.g.:
Man is mortal (V. Evans).
When the noun woman is used in a generic sense, it takes either no
article or the definite article.
Fifth, the definite article is used with substantivized adjectives and
participles, e.g.:
...he has one law fo r the titled and another law fo r the plain
(A. Christie).
Sixth, the definite article is used with the correlative comparative
degree, e.g.:
The better the joke, the louder the laugh (M. Hewings).
Seventh, the definite article is used with common nouns modified
by adjectives in the superlative degree, e.g.:
This is the nicest colour (J. Eastwood).
Alan is the most successful salesman in the company
(J. Eastwood).
When most is equivalent to ‘very’, the noun it modifies usually
takes the indefinite article, e.g.:
He really was a most wonderful baby (L.R. Banks).
6
When most precedes a plural common noun, the combination is
used without any article unless it means ‘more than any other(s)’, in
which case the combination takes the definite article. Cf.:
M ost restaurants open at 7 (Longman Language Activator).
Susan found the most blackberries (M. Swan).
Eighth, the definite article is used with common nouns preceded by
ordinal numerals, e.g.:
It was the fourth member o f the party (H. Innes).
We use the indefinite article with common nouns modified by
ordinal numerals when they do not denote order but mean ‘one more’,
‘another’, e.g.:
.. .you w o n ’t ever get a second chance (J. Finney).
Common nouns modified by cardinal numerals in postposition are
always used without any article, e.g.:
Look at picture number two. on page twelve (A. S. Hornby).
Common nouns modified by cardinal numerals in preposition are
generally used without any article unless the situation or context makes
the persons or objects denoted by them definite. Cf.:
I f you run after two hares, you will catch neither (Proverb).
He was looking at the five boats coming in (J. Aldridge).
Ninth, the definite article is used with common nouns preceded by
one o f some o f any o f many o f most of, the rest o f none o f etc., e.g.:
Many of the auxiliaries are used also as fu ll verbs (H. Sweet).
Tenth, the definite article is used with common nouns modified by
same, wrong, right, very, only, and whole, e.g.:
Mr. Ratchett was in the same hotel (A. Christie).
When whole is used to intensify an expression o f time, it is
preceded by the indefinite article, e.g.:
Once she went o ff to spend a whole day in the country
(Lingaphone English Course).
7
Ex. 1. Retell or role play the jokes paying attention to the
use/absence o f articles with countable common nouns:
A young lady entered a crowded car with a pair o f skates slung
over her arm. An elderly gentleman arose to give her his seat. ‘Thank
you very much,’ she said, ‘but I have been skating all afternoon and I’m
tired o f sitting down.’
Professor-. What is the difference between an active verb and a
passive verb ?
Student. An active verb shows action and a passive verb shows
passion.
‘Did you have any luck hunting tigers in India?’
‘Marvellous luck. Didn’t come across a single tiger.'
Betty. Black hens are more clever than white ones, aren’t they?
Letty: How do you know?
Betty: Well, black hens can lay white eggs, but white hens can’t
lay black ones.
An ultra-fashionable woman went into a hat-shop and tried on hat
after hat. She said to the salesgirl:
‘I want one that’s really different.’
The salesgirl was losing her patience and began to show her the
whole stack o f hats again and again until they were piled on the
dressing-table in a pyramid.
The woman was trying on hat after hat until she came to one
which really looked different. She put it on and exclaimed:
‘This is exactly what I want.’
The poor salesgirl, only too glad to get rid o f her, didn’t tell her
that she had picked up the shade from the dressing-table lamp.
***
Mrs. Newrich: And the portrait will be really pretty?
Artist: O f course. You won’t know yourself.
In a London train compartment a gentleman removed a cigar from
his pocket. ‘Excuse me, madam,’ he said, addressing himself to a little
old lady. ‘May I smoke a cigar?'
‘Do exactly,’ said the lady, as you would at home.’
‘All right,’ sighed the gentleman and sadly put the cigar back into
his breast pocket.
***
He: Why didn’t you answer the letter I sent you?
She: Why, I didn’t get any letter from you. And besides, I didn’t
like the things you said in it.
***
‘What’s the shape of the earthT asked the teacher o f Johnny.
Johnny said it was round. ‘How do you know it is round?’ Then Johnny
replied, ‘All right, it’s square, then, I don’t want to start an argument
about it.’
I’d like to tell you a story about a man who had false teeth. He
went away for a holiday, and his wife, knowing how easily they can be
lost if you are bathing in a rough sea, wrote to him, saying, ‘Take care
not to wear your new teeth when you are bathing in the sea.’ He wrote
back, ‘Why didn’t you telephone?’
‘It’s sure to rain this afternoon,’ said the weatherman to his
secretary.
‘What makes you think so?’ asked the secretary looking at the blue
sky. ‘It doesn’t look like rain, does it? The sky is blue.’
Never mind the sky,’ replied the weatherman. ‘I’ve got a date for
golf, I’ve lost my umbrella, my kids are going on a picnic, and my wife
is giving a garden party.’
***
Teacher: Name the only beast the lion is afraid of.
Tom (at once): The lioness.
Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is
not; a sense o f humour - to console him for what he is. So keep smiling.
***
‘What is the plural of “man”, Oscar?’ asked the teacher.
‘Men,’ answered Oscar.
‘And the plural of “child”? ’
‘Twins.’
9
The more we study, the more we know.
The more we know, the more we forget.
The more we forget, the less we know.
The less we know, the less we forget.
The less we forget, the more we know.
So why study?
‘My wife has the worst memory I ever heard of.’
‘Forgets everything, eh?’
‘No, remembers everything.’
Young Doctor: Why do you always ask your patients what they
have for dinner?
Old Doctor-. It’s a most important question, for according to their
menus I make out my bill.
***
‘Father,’ asked Tommy, ‘why do Americans always say “I guess”
instead o f “I see”, “I understand”? ’
‘Well, my boy, most Americans are such busy men that they never
have time to make certain of anything.’
A boy who had been to school for a year and a half and who had
been working hard at his arithmetic came home one midsummer for his
holidays. One evening there were two roast pigeons on the supper table,
and the boy, who thought himself very smart, said to his father, ‘I can
prove to you by arithmetic that those two pigeons are three.’ ‘Ah!’ said
the father, ‘how do you manage that?’ ‘Well, this is one, and that is two,
and, of course, one and two make three. ’
‘How very clever!’ exclaimed his father. ‘Your mother will take
the first chicken, I shall eat the second chicken and you may have the
third.’
During the Civil War in America an officer did not understand an
order. ‘I believe I’ll sit down’, said Secretary Stanton, ‘and write to him
what I think o f him.’
‘Do so,’ said Lincoln, ‘write him while you have it on your mind.
Give it to him.’ Stanton did not need a second invitation. It was a bone
crusher that he read to the president.
‘That’s right,’ said Lincoln. ‘That’s a good letter.’
10
‘Who can I send it by?’ asked the secretary.
‘Send it?’ answered Lincoln. ‘Why, don’t send it at all. Tear it up.
You have freed your mind on the subject, and that is all that is
necessary. You must never send such letters. I never do.’
***
Teacher. Where did Admiral Nelson win his last victory?
Pupil: On page 127.
A traveler hurried down to the hall of an American hotel and went
to the cash-desk. He had just 15 minutes in which to pay his bill and
reach the station. Suddenly he remembered that he had forgotten
something. ‘Look here, boy,’ he said to the bellboy. ‘Run up to Room 40
and see if I have left a parcel on the table there. Be quick about it.’
The bellboy ran upstairs. Five minutes passed and the traveler was
walking up and down the hall, looking very angry. At last the boy
appeared. ‘Yes, sir,’ he said, ‘yes, sir, you have left the parcel there. It is
on the table in your room, sir.’
‘What would you do if you had a lot of money?’
‘I’d buy a car.’
‘And if you couldn't buy a car?’
‘Then I’d most probably buy twenty bicycles'
***
Once a keen angler went fishing and took his friend with him. The
man knew nothing of fishing, but decided to try his luck. The two
friends came to the river and began to fish. Suddenly the man who went
fishing for the first time in his life said, ‘I say, how much do those little
red things cost?’
‘You mean the floats? Oh, they’re cheap. Why do you ask?’
T owe you for one. Mine has just sunk.’
A new inmate was brought in to the local asylum. And whiie most
o f the inmates were sullen, the fellow was laughing all the time.
‘Your nearest kin?’ the psychiatrist asked him.
‘Twin brother,’ he answered. ‘We were identical twins. Nobody
could tell us apart. At school he’d throw a spitball and the teacher would
blame me. Once he got caught speeding and the judge fined me. I had a
girl and she ran away with him.’
‘Then why are you laughing?’
и
‘Because last week I got even.’
‘How?’
‘I died and they buried him.’
He was the only witness to the car accident. The cop asked his
name.
‘John Smith,’ he said.
‘Give us your real name,’ ordered the cop.
‘W ell,’ said the witness, ‘put me down as William Shakespeare.’
‘That’s better,’ said the cop, ‘you can’t fool me with that Smith
stuff.’
Ex. 2. Fill in the blanks with articles i f necessary.
1. She only works ... four days ... week (J. Eastwood).
2. I’ve g o t... very nice bedroom (A. Christie).
3. Most o f ... people I spoke to w'ere very worried (Longman
Essential Activator).
4. ... place was perfectly clean (C. Ahem).
5. There are ... 25 students in my class (E. Sharman).
6. ... sun was hot (J. Cheever).
7. My brother is ... soldier. He is in ... army (R. Murphy).
8 . 1 can’t afford ... second divorce (W. Allen).
9. ... heart o f ... woman does not change (A. Christie).
10. ... faster the winds, ... louder the noise (M. Broukal,
P. Murphy).
1 1 .1 have had it for ... whole week (A. Porter).
12. Look here, son, this sort of ... thing makes me nervous
(D.H. Lawrence).
13. He’s ... only person I know who can speak Chinese (Longman
Language Activator).
14. In 1814 ... British invaded Washington (M. Broukal,
P. Murphy).
15. There’s ... good concert on ... radio this evening (R. Murphy).
16. ... man in ... seat 6 was ... noisy fellow (A. Christie).
17. ... club was reserved for ... rich and famous only
(C. Ahern).
18. I’ve got ... grandma in Edinburgh and ... granddad in
Yorkshire (E. Sharman).
12
19. ... coyote is ... relative o f ... wolf(M . Broukal, P. Murphy).
20. ... whole week went by like that (W. Allen).
21. No arrest has been made, but a man is helping ... police with
their enquiries (Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students o f English).
22. She lives in ... present (J. Fowles).
23. Turn to ... page 1 (Longman Essential Activator).
24. She spends nearly all her free time on ... Internet (Longman
Language Activator).
25. In ... man the brain is highly developed (Oxford Collocations
Dictionary for Students of English).
26. Some o f ... people a t ... party were very friendly (R. Murphy).
27. Robert catches ... same bus every morning (J. Eastwood).
28. She’s been so well in ... two months since she came home
(E. O ’Neill).
29. Dial 999 to call ... fire brigade (Oxford Collocations
Dictionary for Students of English).
30. None o f ... professions were open to them (E.R. Braithwaite).
31. Custom is ... second nature (Proverb).
32. Ask him ... intelligent questions (W. Saroyan).
33. No. it is ... step 1 have not heard before (Ph. Incledon).
34. Did Ann get ... job she applied for? (R. Murphy).
35. ... low dirty white sky was heavy with the breath o f the lakes.
(W.C.G. Jitro).
36. But I’m like ... most women (F. Booth).
37. ... dogs make ... wonderful pets (J. Eastwood).
38. There was once ... king of ... far-away country who had ...
beautiful daughter. ... king had searched ... whole country to find ...
young prince to many his daughter (G. Yule).
39. So I had time, plenty of time to find ... right employer
(E.R. Braithwaite).
40. Shakespeare’s plays were written for ... theatre; but many
people study them as literature (Longman Language Activator).
41. ... roses are my favourite flowers (R. Murphy).
42. ... infinitive is now ... purely verbal form (O. Jespersen).
43. ... barking dog does not bite (Proverb).
44. It was ... most awkward situation for her... (D. Robins).
45. He had ... four or ... five other good reasons (C. Day).
46. Sarah spends most o f her time watching ... television
(R. Murphy).
13
47. She’s ... kind of ... person you can always rely on (Longman
Essentia] Activator).
48. ... kitten is ... baby cat (J. Eastwood).
49. That’s T e r r y - he’s ... third person on ... right (M. Hewings).
50. Thank you f o r ... most interesting afternoon (M. Swan).
51. ... drowning man catches a t ... straw (Proverb).
52. It’s ... old clock (F.S. Fitzgerald).
53. ... army is policing the border (E.A.M. Wilson).
54. Rome was not built in ... day (Proverb).
55. Can you see me in ... photo? (Longman Essential Activator).
56. She’s p u t ... wrong flat number on it (M. Brand).
57. This painting’s ... most unusual in the collection
(M. Hewings).
58. ... player who scores ... most points wins (Longman Essential
Activator).
59. They were deaf and weren’t hearing any o f ... things he was
saying (W. Saroyan).
60. I think we stayed in ... worst hotel on ... island (G. Yule).
61. That kind of ... question is very difficult (Longman Dictionary
of Contemporary English).
62. We heard the news on ... radio (R. Murphy).
63. ... higher the temperature, ... greater the demand for ice-cream
(M. Hewings).
64. ... misfortunes never come alone (Proverb).
65. ... two families shared the cost of ... wedding (Longman
Essential Activator).
6 6 .1 was one o f ... witnesses (R. and A. Goetz).
67. H e’s wearing ... same shirt he had on yesterday (M. Swan).
68. You could tell that from ... way he spoke (J. Aldridge).
69. ... subject is what we think o f (H. Sweet).
70. The last time I went to ... cinema was when I saw
‘Stigmata’(Longman Language Activator).
71. ... light purse is ... heavy curse (Proverb).
72. I dislike to think o f ... man as the product o f evolution
(B. Hecht).
73. Pete’s coming to some o f ... concerts (M. Swan).
74. ... most books o f this sort become out of date in ... ten years or
so (J.B.S. Haldane).
75. I think Mrs. Clarke did ... right thing (D. Robins).
14
76. There was ... man talking to ... woman outside my house. ...
man looked English but I think ... woman was foreign (R. Murphy).
77. ... game is not worth ... candle (Proverb).
78. ... police have made ... five arrests (E.A.M. Wilson).
79. ... very word was ... loveliest in ... language (S.M. Boogher).
80. Jane Hubbard has restored my faith in ... Woman
(P.G. Wodehouse).
81. ... red sun hung on ... very edge o f ... forest (R.G. Cohen).
82. Fortune favours ... brave (Proverb).
83. He found ... cat in ... park. He took ... cat home (V. Evans).
84. ... first letter came ... fortnight ago (A. Christie).
85. Hank was driving on ... wrong side o f ... road (Longman
Essential Activator).
8 6 .1 hate ... careless people (F.S. Fitzgerald).
87. But on ... day that 1 arrived it was fine and warm, there was ...
bright sun and ... cloudless sky (C.E. Eckersley).
88. Whose is ... van parked in front of our house? (V. Evans).
89. The snow was so deep that for several days we were cut off
from the rest o f ... country (A.S. Hornby).
90. ... man over there is collecting money for ... blind
(R. Murphy).
91. That's ... gorgeous sky (E. Loring).
92. None o f ... three men was hungry... (A. Christie).
93. I do not have ... pen (S. Sheldon).
94. Quick! Call ... fire brigade! (Longman Dictionary of
Contemporary English).
95. ... most people want to work in ... place where they feel
valued (Longman Language Activator).
96. This is ... man who murdered little Daisy Armstrong
(A. Christie).
97. What kind o f ... record is it? - Jazz (English Course).
98. ... stronger the impulse grew to bring herself near him, ...
further, in fact, did she draw away from him (K. Chopin).
99. ... high wind blew from the West. Everyone hated ... wind
(H. Fergusson).
100. But he was holding onto ... wrong end (T.W. Hard).
101. Through it all she lay back in her easy-chair, not speaking ...
word, while the ache passed out of her back, and her hot, swollen head
15
ceased to throb. But she saw everything - ... piano, ... pictures, ...
curtains,... wall paper, ... little tea-stand (H. Garland).
102. Would you like to go to ... theatre this evening? (R. Murphy).
103. I’ve never seen ... look like that anywhere else (K. Nelson).
104. He joined ... army when he was seventeen (Longman
Essential Activator).
105. ... Internet makes it possible for people all over ... world to
keep in touch (Longman Language Activator).
106. JDo you go to ... cinema very often? - No, not very often. But
I watch a lot o f films on ... television (R. Murphy).
107. Cameron, for God’s sake, they’re from ... space. Why did
you send them away? (I. Asimov).
Ex. 3. Translate the sentences into English paying attention to the
use/absence o f articles with countable common nouns:
1. Она не посмотрела направо, ведь правда?
2. Она очень хотела пить. Выпив две чашки чая, она
попросила налить ей третью (еще одну).
3. Почему он месяц не ходил на занятия?
4. Она открыла окно, и холодный ветер охладил ее пылающие
щеки.
5. Чем скорее мы выберемся отсюда, тем лучше.
6. У Вас здесь прекрасный вид.
7. Большинство девочек любят фигурное катание.
8. Прошел целый месяц, прежде чем я получила от него
письмо.
9. Солнце садилось.
10. Шуба, которую я купила в Москве, очень дорогая.
11. Я люблю скрипку.
12. Эго очень трудное задание, ведь правда? (most)
13. Одна из девочек сейчас в 4 классе.
14. Он самый сильный из этих трех мужчин.
15. Ты довольна, что живешь в первой половине XXI века?
16. Вдруг зазвонил телефон.
17. Что Вам больше всего нравится в женщине?
18. Это самые прекрасные руки в мире.
19. Некоторые студенты нашей группы свободно говорят
на английском языке.
20. Сделайте упражнение 3 на странице 45.
21. Я живу в небольшом городе, в двухстах километрах от
Москвы.
22. Учитель должен любить детей.
23. У нее пять братьев, ведь правда?
24. Знал ли кто-нибудь из учеников, что случилось с Джеком?
25. Мы видели ту самую комнату, где родился У. Шекспир.
26. О вкусах не спорят.
27. С минуту она колебалась.
28. Запятая - самый распространенный пунктуационный знак.
29. Он постучал не в ту дверь.
30. Какое из этих двух упражнений Вы уже сделали?
31. Она услышала шаги, ведь правда?
32. За столом сидит девочка. Девочка пишет письмо.
33. Он смотрел на луну.
34. Это был самый великолепный момент в его жизни.
35. Музыкант должен много работать.
36. Где раненые?
37. Ему надо было ждать целую неделю.
38. Большинство детей учатся хорошо, ведь правда?
39. Я люблю розы.
40. Голубое небо казалось было невероятно далеко.
41. Чем больше мы читаем, тем больше узнаем о мире.
42. Теперь танцевали только две пары.
43. Никто из ребят не пошел на каток.
44. Я собираюсь стать певицей.
45. Он увидел конверт на подоконнике. В конверте было два
листа бумаги.
46. Поднялся сильный ветер.
47. Когда человек полетел в космос?
48. Сейчас она читает очень интересную книгу по ботанике
(most).
49. Он сидел в 12 ряду партера.
50. На каком этаже 43 квартира?
51. Остальные деги промолчали.
52. В тот день она очень устала и всю ночь не сомкнула глаз.
53. Вечер окончен.
54. Я никогда не слышала песню, которую она пела.
55. Значение существительного - предметность (tl$tJDi$iOКАФЕДРА
,7
ПЕРЕВОДОВЕДЕ-
НИЯ И М КК
56. Чем дольше я слушала миссис Грей, тем больше она мне
нравилась.
57. Он просмотрел 6 книг, но не нашел нужного примера.
Сестра дала ему седьмую (еще одну).
58. Многие из ребят уже видели этот фильм, ведь правда?
59. Она была единственным человеком, которому он доверял.
60. Поезд отправляется со второй платформы.
61. Он ненавидел холод.
62. Кто провел неделю за городом?
63. Вчера она купила Дэвиду костюм.
64. Мы ожидаем гостей.
65. К счастью, окно было открыто.
66. Учебник, который ты дала мне вчера, на письменном
столе.
67. Она очень красивая женщина (most).
68. В комнате было около 40 мальчиков и девочек.
69. Большинство студентов нашей группы уехали из Саратова
на зимние каникулы.
70. Целый год тяжелой работы!
71. Мы остановились в одном отеле.
72. Дома прочитайте вторую главу (2).
73. Он оставил записку для Вас.
74. Я могу поговорить с преподавателем английского языка?
75. Она поет песню. Песня о море.
76. Он не мог найти места, где бы спокойно почитать.
77. Поднимался ветер.
78. Он решил купить шляпу под цвет пальто.
79. Человек! Это звучит гордо!
80. У него хорошие манеры.
81. Большинство пациентов сейчас чувствуют себя лучше.
82. Он был очарован серебристой луной.
83. Он как раз тот человек, который может сделать это.
84. Не так страшен черт, как его малюют.
85. Девочки на фотографии - мои сестры.
86. Это самый интересный рассказ из всех, которые я когдалибо читала.
87. Прозвенел звонок, затем еще один.
88. На небе появилась полная луна.
89. Он не мог поверить, что это была та же самая комната.
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90. Закрой, пожалуйста, окно. У меня температура.
Ex. 4. Fill in the blanks with articles i f necessary; retell or role
play the extracts:
(1) ... man decided to rob (2) ... bank in (3) ... town where he
lived. He walked into (4) ... bank and handed (5) ... note to one o f (6)
... cashiers. ( 7 )... cashier read (8) ... note, which told her to give (9 )...'
man some money. Afraid that he might have (1 0 )... gun, she did as she
was told. (11) ... man then walked out o f (12) ... building, leaving (13)
... note behind. However, he had no time to spend the money because he
was arrested (14) ... same day. He had made (15) ... mistake. He had
written (16) ... note on (17) ... back o f (18) ... envelope. And on (19)
... other side of (20) ... envelope was his name and address. This clue
was quite enough for (2 1 )... detectives on (2 2 )... case (J. Eastwood).
***
My father owns (23) ... shop in (24) ... village where we live. His
shop is (25) ... only newsagent's in our village. It's next to (26) ... post
office and (27) ... station, and only tw'o minutes walk from (28) ...
home. (29) ... shop has been in our family for (30) ... two generations.
When my grandfather owned it, I was only very young. I used to help
him on Sunday afternoons by weighing (31) ... sweets and putting them
in (32) ... bags. Sometimes he would let me use (33) ... ice-cream
machine, which 1 loved. My mother used to get angry with him though,
because he would leave me alone to look after (34) ... shop while he
went to talk to (35) ... friends at (36) ... pub. One afternoon I was in
(37) ... shop tidying (38) ... newspapers when (39) ... man came in.
(40) ... man was very tall and looked very serious. He asked me if my
grandfather was around. I said he was in (41) ... back room and went to
get him. When my grandfather came out, he saw (42) ... man and
suddenly started to cry. (43) ... two men hugged and talked in (44) ...
quiet voices. Eventually they remembered me in (45) ... corner of (46)
i.. shop. My grandfather turned to me and introduced (47) ... man lo
me. He was my grandfather’s brother who had moved to Australia after
(48) ... war and they hadn’t seen each other for (49) ... twenty years
(V. Evans).
***
Mrs. Harley called to her, and she ran obediently to (50) ... old
woman and leaned on her knees and began to talk about some lions and
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little boys. Mrs. Harley asked if she would like to go and see Renee. T
want to go and stay with Renee,’ (51) ... little girl said. Mrs. Harley
took her hand and they climbed (52) ... steps out of (53) ... playground
and walked to (54) ... apartment house where Renee lived. Mrs. Harley
called upstairs on (55) ... house phone, and Renee answered after a little
delay. She sounded sleepy. She said she would be glad to watch (56) ...
child for (57) ... hour if Mrs. Harley would bring her upstairs. Mrs.
Harley took Deborah up to (58) ... fifteenth floor and said good-bye to
her there. Renee was wearing (59) ... negligee trimmed with (60) ...
feathers, and her apartment was dark.
R e ^ e closed (61) ... door and picked (62) ... little girl up in her
arms. Deborah’s skin and hair were soft and fragrant, and Renee kissed
her, tickled her and blew down her neck until (63) ... child nearly
suffocated with laughter. Then Renee pulled up (64) ... blinds and let
some light into (65) ... room. (66) ... place was dirty and the air was
sour. There were (67) ...whiskey glasses and spilled ashtrays, and some
dead roses in (6 8 )... tarnished silver bowl.
Renee had a lunch date, and she explained this to Deborah. ‘I ’m
going to the Plaza for lunch,’ she said. ‘I’m going to take (69) ... bath
and dress, and you’ll have to be (70) ... good girl.’ She gave Deborah
her jewel box and turned on the water in (71) ... bathtub. Deborah sat
quietly at (72) ... dressing table and loaded herself with (73) ...
necklaces and (74) ... clips. While Renee was drying herself, (75) ...
doorbell rang, and she put on (76) ... wrapper and went out to (77) ...
living room. Deborah followed her. (78) ... man was there.
‘I’m driving up to Albany,’ he told Renee. ‘Why don’t you put
some things in (7 9 )... bag and come on up with me? I’ll drive you back
on Wednesday.’
‘I’d love to, darling,’ Renee said, ‘but I can’t. I’m having lunch
with Helen Foss. She thinks she might be able to get me some work.’
‘Call off the lunch,’ (80) ... man said. ‘Come on.’
‘I can’t, darling,’ Renee said. ‘I’ll see you on Wednesday.’
‘Who’s (81) ... kid?’ (8 2 )... man asked.
‘It’s the Tennysons’ little girl. I take care of her while (83) ...
nurse goes to church.’ (84) ... man embraced Renee vigorously and
kissed her and left after they arranged to meet Wednesday night.
‘That was your rich Uncle Loathsome,’ Renee told (8 5 )... child.
‘1 have (8 6 )... friend. Her name is Martha,’ (8 7 )... little girl said.
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‘Yes, I’m sure you have (8 8 )... friend named Martha,’ Яепёе said.
S h e noticed that (89) ... child was scowling and that her eyes were full
of (90) ... tears. ‘What’s the matter, darling?’ she asked. ‘What is the
matter? Here, here, you sit on (91) ... sofa and listen to the radio. I’ve
14ii. to fix my face.’ She went into (92) ... bedroom to arrange her face
and brush her hair.
A few minutes later (93) ... doorbell rang again. This time it was
Mrs. Harley. ‘Did you enjoy (94) ... service?’ Renee asked. ‘I’ll put on
Deborah’s coat.’ She looked for (95) ... hat and coat. They were not
where she had left them, and (96) ... child was not in (97) ... living
room. She went into her bedroom. ‘It does my sou! so much good to go
lo church,’ she heard Mrs. Harley say. Renee thought in terror of (9 8 )...
open windows. (99) ... window in her bedroom was open. She looked
out, and (100) ... fifteen stories below she could see (101) ... sidewalk
and (102) ... canopy and (103) ... doorman at (104) ... comer whistling
lor (105) ... cab and (106) ... blonde walking (107) ... poodle. Ren6e
ran back to (1 0 8 )... living room.
‘Where’s Deborah?’ Mrs. Harley asked.
‘I was dressing,’ Репёе said. ‘She was in here (109) ... minute
ago. She must have slipped out. She could have opened (110) ... door
herself.’
‘You mean you’ve lost (1 1 1 )... little girl!’ Mrs. Harley shouted.
‘Please don’t get excited,’ Renee said. ‘She can't have gone very
far. (112) ... only way she could get downstairs would be (113) ...
elevators.’ She went out (114) ... kitchen door and rang for (115) ...
service elevator.
‘There was (116) ... little girl in my apartment,’ Renee said to
(117)... man who had brought (1 1 8 )... elevator up. ‘She’s disappeared.
Would you look for her?’
‘Why, yes,’ (119) ... man said. ‘I took (120) ... little girl down
about (121) ... ten minutes ago. She had on (122) ... yellow coat. I
thought it was strange, her going down by herself. 1 thought maybe she
was going to meet somebody in (123) ... lobby.’ As he spoke, Renee
smelled whiskey on his breath. ‘You’ve been drinking,’ she said. ‘If you
hadn’t been drinking, this wouldn’t have happened. You ought to know
that (124) ... child of that age can’t be left alone. You ought not to drink
while you’re working.’
When he reached (125) ... ground floor, he brought (126) ...
elevator to a sudden stop and slammed (127) ... door open. Renee ran
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into (128) ... lobby. ‘Yes,’ (129) ... doorman said. ‘It seems to me that I
saw (1 3 0 )... little girl go out. I didn’t pay much attention to it. I was out
there, trying to get (131) ... cab.’ Renee ran into (132) ... street. (133)
... child was not there. She ran down to where she could see (134) ...
river. She felt helpless and feeble, as though she had lost her place in
(1 3 5 )... city in which she had lived for (1 3 6 )... fifteen years. She stood
at (137) ... corner with her hands cupped to her mouth and screamed,
‘Deborah! Deborah!’ (J. Cheever).
Matthew: Is this (1 3 8 )... book you were telling me about?
Emma: Yes, it’s (1 3 9 )... really interesting story.
Matthew: What did you say it’s about?
Emma: I knew you weren’t listening to me. It’s about the
beginning o f (140) ... universe (J. Eastwood).
Mr. Hunt: You don’t really like (141) ... musicals, do you?
Mr. Blake: No, not really. I prefer (142) ... straight plays. Last
week we went to see Waiting fo r Godot.
Mr. Hunt: The production wasn’t very good, was it?
Mr. Blake: No, but (143) ... play was interesting.
Mr. Hunt: You were lucky. Tonight’s play was dull.
Mr. Blake: (1 4 4 )... actors and actresses weren’t very good.
Mr. Hunt: No, but (145) ... costumes and scenery were
marvellous.
Mr. Blake'A didn’t like (146) ... m en’s costumes but (147) ...
women’s dresses were lovely.
Mr. Hunt: Who was (1 4 8 )... actor who played (149) ... doctor?
Mr. Blake: That was Frederick Veal. He was in (1 5 0 )... film I saw
last week. H e’s (151) ... actor who was the doctor in another musical
last year. I didn’t like that play either.
Mrs. Hunt: Why did you buy (1 5 2 )... tickets for this play?
Mr. Hunt: To please you.
Mrs. Hunt: Oh, thanks (English Course).
Doris has three children: two sons (Ronnie and Colin) and one
daughter (Judy).
Doris: What did you find out? Is there anything different from
what we heard last night?
22
Judy. It’s just the same. (1 5 3 )... two of them were caught together
Ronnie and Arthur.
Doris'. That dreadful boy!
Judy. They’d got over (154) ... wall, and were going to break into
( I ">.*») ... shop when (156) ... police came. Arthur had (157) ... gun and
lie 11red it several times, and killed one of (158) ... policemen.
Doris: But they know that Ronnie didn’t have (159) ... gun Konnie didn’t kill anybody.
Judy: Yes, they know that. That’s what I can’t understand. How
. .in they charge Ronnie with murder if he didn’t kill anybody.
Doris: It’s (160) ... mistake. I’m sure of that. I don’t imagine for
(161) ... moment they’ll go on calling it murder in Ronnie’s case. But,
Judy, he’s sure to get some punishment, and I don’t know how I can
hear it.
Judy: Don’t cry, mum.
Doris: Oh, God! Why did I let him go out last night? Why didn’t I
stop him!
Judy: Now. mum, how could you stop him? - a big boy of
nineteen. Come on, dry your eyes. Don’t forget Gran’s coming. Did
Colin go to meet her?
Doris: Yes, he left about (162) ... hour ago. Poor Colin - this is
(163) ... terrible shock to (164) ... little boy like him. He’s hardly said
(165)... word, you know, but he’s as white as (166)... sheet,
t Judy: I know (M. Brand).
Ex. 5. Use a few countable common nouns in short stories or
dialogues o f у our own.
2. USE O F ARTICLES WITH UNCOUNTABLE COMMON
NOUNS
When abstract or material nouns are used in a general sense, they
take no article, e.g.:
There was life and motion inside (A. Petry).
There's dust under that bed (A. Wesker).
When abstract or material nouns are modified by a limiting
attribute or when the situation makes them definite, they are used with
the definite article, e.g.:
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