Which one?

- Articles
a) When to use the when we both know which one
When both the person speaking and the person listening know which one because: 1. We have already talked about it. Eg: I bought a book. I went home. I read the book. 2. The sentence explains which one. Eg: Do you remember the movie that we saw on Tuesday? 3. We understand which one from the context. Eg: Close the door. (the door in this room) 4. There is only one. a) Eg: The sun was hot. b) Superlatives: Eg: The tallest student in this class.

b) When to use a / an / some one of us doesnt know which one

1. 1b. With a single, countable noun, when the person speaking or the person listening doesnt know which one. Eg: I saw a movie. (I know which movie, but the person listening doesnt know) We use some instead of a for: a) plural countable nouns Eg: Some people came to see the house. b) uncountable nouns Eg: They drank some beer. When we are describing something as one of many. Eg: Peter is a doctor (there are many doctors. Peter is one of them) But: Elizabeth is the queen of England. (There is only one queen of England.) Eg: Alice is a smart girl. (There are many smart girls.) But: Alice is the smartest girl that I know. (There is only one smartest.)

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c) When to use nothing ()

1. 2. With proper names. Eg: Lucy was surprised.; Australia is big. When we are talking about something in general we usually use: + plural countable noun. Eg: I like action movies.; Cats have tails. or: + uncountable noun. Eg: I like apple juice.; Milk is white.

d) Exceptions
1. We use the for : Oceans, seas, rivers, mountain ranges, hotels, pubs and newspapers. Eg: Japan is in the Pacific ocean.; The Himalyas are in Asia. The Age is a newspaper. 2. We use nothing for: Meals breakfast, lunch dinner Eg: I had lunch. I made dinner. Some places home, in bed. Eg: I went home. I stayed at home. I was in bed work, school, university, hospital, prison Eg: I went to work.; I was at school.; I was at university.; I was in hospital.; I was in prison. Some times night, holiday Eg: I like to go walking at night.; I met him when I was on holiday. Some ways of travelling by bus, by tram, by train, by car, by plane, on foot. Eg: I come to school by tram; I went there on foot.
Note: Countries have proper names, so we use . Eg. Vietnam is in Asia. But sometimes countries are described with other words (not just proper names). Eg: The Republic of Vietnam Q Which republic? (There are many republics) A of Vietnam. (Vietnam is a proper name)