Tomislav Skračić, MA
Undergraduate English
Course for
MARINE ENGINEERS
3nd Semester
Essential reading:
SPINČIĆ, A., PRITCHARD, B., An English Textbook For Marine
Engineers 2., Pomorski fakultet, Rijeka 2009.
LUZER, J., SPINČIĆ, A., Gramatička vježbenica engleskog
jezika za pomorce, Pomorski fakultet, Rijeka 2003.
ARTICLES
Study the following sentences:




There is an old man in our garden.
Look, the old man is coming towards us.
They have a house. The house is by a lake.
The lake is in the central part of Finland.
 We use “a” or “an” with nouns when we talk about
something for the first time.
 We use the definite article “the” with nouns when we
refer to something that is known to us or that someone
has already mentioned.
ARTICLES
Study the following sentences:
 The sun was shining.
 The sky was blue.
 What do we know about the sun, the moon, the earth





and the stars?
The king is ill.
The president is giving a speech tonight.
The government has not yet made a decision.
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
The Captain gave orders on the navigating bridge.
 We use “the” with nouns when there is only one of
something.
ARTICLES
Study the following sentences:
 The books on the table are mine.
 Hurry up! The car is waiting.
 Where are the boys?
 Oh, they are playing in the garden.
 Where are the car keys? In the kitchen.
 When something is clear or known to us in a given
situation we use “the” with a noun although it is mentioned
for the first time.
ARTICLES
 When something is clear or known to us in a given
situation we use “the” with a noun although it is mentioned
for the first time.
More similar examples:
 He went out into the fresh air.
 What is the weather like?
 Will they arrive in the evening or in the morning?
 Is this the end? No, it is only the beginning.
 The wind is in the north.
ARTICLES
NOTE the use of “the” in the following examples:
 This is my flat. Here is the dining room. The bathroom

is through here. The kitchen needs renovating. Let´s
go out onto the balcony.
Let us make a tour of The Marco Polo. We’ll start at
the bow. Here is the forecastle; on it is the windlass.
Now we are on the main deck.
 When speaking of a certain place in a given situation we
use “the” with nouns denoting the various parts. Often
these parts are also ”one of a kind”.
ARTICLES
Study the following sentences:






Life is interesting.
She was interested in art, literature and music.
Time is money.
Health is wealth.
English history is interesting.
I could see anger, fear, and suspicion in his eyes.
 Abstract nouns in a general sense are used without any
articles.
ARTICLES
Study the following sentences:
 Abstract nouns in a general sense are used without any
articles.
BUT:
 We know little about the life of Shakespeare.
 The history of England is interesting.
 The water in this lake is quite clean.
 The butter that I bought yesterday was bad.
 “The” is used before abstract nouns or uncountable
nouns if they are followed by a prepositional phrase or a
relative clause.
ARTICLES – Special cases
NOTE: No article with the following nouns
 Do you believe in Heaven and Hell?
 No, but I believe in Fate.
 Parliament is in session.
 Congress has decided.
 Society has rejected him.
 The spaceship went out into space.
 On land and at sea.
ARTICLES – Special cases
NOTE: No article with the names of meals:




Have you had breakfast?
Let´s meet for lunch!
Dinner is at 6 pm.
What is there for supper?
BUT:
 The dinner we had yesterday at the Rivoli was
delicious.
ARTICLES WITH GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES
NO ARTICLE:
Continents:
Asia, Europe, America, Africa
Countries, Regions:
England, France, Kuwait, Croatia, Istria
BUT The United Kingdom, The USA
Islands:
Cres, Šolta, Cuba, Hawaii, Cyprus, Crete
Cities, Towns, etc:
Murter, London, New York, Helsinki
BUT The Hague
Lakes:
Lake Michigan, Lake Ontario, Loch Ness
BUT The Kategat.
ARTICLES WITH GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES
The definite article “the” is used with
Oceans/Seas:
The Pacific Ocean, The Mediterranean,
The Adriatic Sea, The Atlantic
Gulfs:
The Gulf of Finland, The Gulf of Bothnia,
The Persian Gulf
Channels/Straits:
The English Channel, The Straits of Gibraltar
Rivers/Canals:
The Thames, The Nile, The Rhine,
The Suez Canal, The Saimaa Canal
Currents:
The North Atlantic Drift, The Gulf Stream
Plural names:
The Canary Islands, The Kornati, The Alps,
The Rocky Mountains, The Netherlands
Exercise 1 – Fill in the gaps in the sentences with “the”,
“a / an” ... or leave the gaps empty:
1. We require _____ helicopter to rescue _____ injured deckhand.
2. Mr. Skračić is _____ teacher.
3. Do you like _____ tea or _____ coffee?
4. This ship is carrying _____ cargo of grain.
5. It is so hot. Can I have _____ glass of _____ cold water?
6. The gajeta is traditionally made of _____ wood.
7. Stipe is studying to be _____ marine engineer.
8. They say that _____ time is _____ money.
9. Is there _____ funnel on this ship?
10. Mr. Brooks works as _____ oiler on _____ chemical tanker.
11. There is _____ electronic chart on _____ navigating bridge.
12. Are you interested in _____ literature?
Exercise 1 – KEY
1. We require a helicopter to rescue the / an injured deckhand.
2. Mr. Skračić is a teacher.
3. Do you like tea or coffee?
4. This ship is carrying a cargo of grain.
5. It is so hot. Can I have a glass of cold water?
6. The gajeta is traditionally made of wood.
7. Stipe is studying to be a marine engineer.
8. They say that time is money.
9. Is there a funnel on this ship?
10. Mr. Brooks works as an oiler on a / the chemical tanker.
11. There is an electronic chart on the navigating bridge.
12. Are you interested in literature?
Exercise 2 – Fill in the gaps in the sentences with “the”
... or leave the gaps empty:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
_____ merchant ships sometimes take _____ passengers.
Write your name at _____ top of _____ paper.
You can ask for _____ information at _____ information desk.
_____ second letter of the alphabet is B.
I married her on _____ 4th of _____ July 2001.
_____ dredgers are used to clear _____ channels and _____
fairways.
7. I remember _____ day when we went to _____ seaside.
8. _____ Chief Engineer never entered _____ engine room.
9. _____ forecastle deck is at _____ bow.
10. Messmates eat in _____ messroom. It is on _____ port side.
11. Hunger is _____ best sauce.
Exercise 2 – KEY
1. Merchant ships sometimes take passengers.
2. Write your name at the top of the paper.
3. You can ask for Ø / the information at the information desk.
4. The second letter of the alphabet is B.
5. I married her on the 4th of July 2001.
6. Dredgers are used to clear channels and fairways.
7. I remember the day when we went to the seaside.
8. The Chief Engineer never entered the engine room.
9. The forecastle deck is at the bow.
10. Messmates eat in the messroom. It is on the port side.
11. Hunger is the best sauce.
Exercise 3 – Fill in the gaps in the sentences with “the”,
“a / an” ... or leave the gaps empty:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
He’s just _____ old and disappointed man.
After _____ war he took up his old job.
I have to take my _____ pills twice _____ day.
She goes to _____ church once _____ week.
Does your _____ ship carry _____ general cargo?
This is _____ first time we sail to _____ Japan.
_____ games took place in _____ Belgium and _____
Netherlands.
8. We passed between _____ Dugi Otok and _____ Katina and
then sailed through _____ Kornati islands.
9. The ship entered _____ Suez Canal on _____ Friday.
10. This is _____ largest LNG carrier that has ever been built.
11. I went to the bar and had _____ coke and _____ croissant.
Exercise 3 – KEY
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
He’s just an old and disappointed man.
After the war he took up his old job.
I have to take my pills twice a day.
She goes to church once a week.
Does your ship carry general cargo?
This is the first time we sail to Japan.
The games took place in Belgium and the Netherlands.
We passed between Dugi Otok and Katina and then sailed
through the Kornati islands.
9. The ship entered the Suez Canal on Friday.
10. This is the largest LNG carrier that has ever been built.
11. I went to the bar and had a coke and a croissant.
Exercise 4 – Fill in the gaps in the sentences with “the”
... or leave the gaps empty:
1. We all know that _____ Christopher Columbus was the first to
sail _____ Atlantic Ocean.
2. Magellan made _____ first sea voyage round _____ world; he
rounded _____ South America, crossed _____ Pacific Ocean, and
was finally killed in _____ Philippines.
3. Captain Hornblower crossed _____ Equator.
4. Who was the first man to round _____ Cape of Good Hope?
5. David Livingstone explored _____ whole interior of _____ Africa.
6. He went up _____ Zambesi River and reached _____ Lake
Tanganyika, where he thought that he had found _____ source
of _____ Nile.
7. Today most of _____ continents have been explored, _____
North Pole and _____ South Pole by many different expeditions.
Exercise 4 – KEY
1. We all know that Christopher Columbus was the first to sail the
Atlantic Ocean.
2. Magellan made the first sea voyage round the world; he
rounded South America, crossed the Pacific Ocean, and was
finally killed in the Philippines.
3. Captain Hornblower crossed the Equator.
4. Who was the first man to round the Cape of Good Hope?
5. David Livingstone explored the whole interior of Africa.
6. He went up the Zambesi River and reached Lake Tanganyika,
where he thought that he had found the source of the Nile.
7. Today most of the continents have been explored, the North
Pole and the South Pole by many different expeditions.
Exercise 4 – Fill in the gaps in the sentences with “the”
... or leave the gaps empty:
8. Have you ever seen _____ Alps?
9. Have you ever crossed _____ English Channel?
10. Which countries in _____ Europe have you visited?
11. Which countries in _____ European Union have you visited?
12. I have been to _____ Sweden, _____ Italy and _____ Holland.
13. _____ Artic Ocean is _____ north of Europe.
14. Finland is in _____ north of Europe.
15. Last year I went to _____ Netherlands and saw _____ Hague,
where _____ queen lives.
16. Would you like to visit _____ Canary Islands?
17. Would it make any difference if _____ Split was _____ capital of
_____ Croatia?
Exercise 4 – KEY
8. Have you ever seen the Alps?
9. Have you ever crossed the English Channel?
10. Which countries in Europe have you visited?
11. Which countries in the European Union have you visited?
12. I have been to Sweden, Italy and Holland.
13. The Artic Ocean is north of Europe.
14. Finland is in the north of Europe.
15. Last year I went to the Netherlands and saw the Hague, where
the queen lives.
16. Would you like to visit the Canary Islands?
17. Would it make any difference if Split was the capital of Croatia?
Exercise 5 – Complete the text using “the”, “a / an” ... or
leave the gaps empty:
On _____ Easter Day Peter and I decided to have _____ lunch at
_____ old inn not far from our _____ place. We went there by
_____ bus. It took us _____ hour to get there. On _____ bus we
met Peter’s cousin, who gave us _____ interesting information
about _____ inn. He is _____ student of _____ history so he knows
all about these old places.
_____ history of _____ inn is really interesting. It is said that in
_____ year 1532 the Swedish King spent _____ night at _____ inn.
They still show _____ broken chair on which _____ King had sat.
They say that when he was eating _____ dinner with some
noblemen _____ chair broke into pieces. He must have been
_____ heavy man.
Exercise 5 – KEY
On Easter Day Peter and I decided to have lunch at an old inn not
far from our place. We went there by bus. It took us an hour to get
there. On the bus we met Peter’s cousin, who gave us interesting
information about the inn. He is a student of history so he knows
all about these old places.
The history of the inn is really interesting. It is said that in the year
1532 the Swedish King spent a night at the inn. They still show the
broken chair on which the King had sat. They say that when he was
eating dinner with some noblemen the chair broke into pieces. He
must have been a heavy man.