Revise

Oxford English Grammar Course Intermediate

revise the basics: generalisations without the I like music.

The does not mean all.
We do not use the in generalisations with plural and uncountable nouns. Compare:
I like music. (NOT the music.)
Shes very interested in nature.
People have to live in society.
Books are expensive.

Can you turn o the music?

What is the nature of his illness?
Ive joined the Poetry Society.
Put the books on the table.

1 Put the or (= no article) in each blank.

There must be something wrong with me.1
people usually think that2
babies
3
are sweet and
teenagers are annoying. Not me. I think4
babies are boring.
For me,5
children start being interesting at6
age when you can understand
7

things that they say. But8

years that I like best are 9
period
between ages thirteen and twenty. Oh, its difcult at times, but I still prefer talking about
10

life with a teenager to cleaning a babys bottom.

We do not normally use the in generalisations with plural and uncountable nouns, even if there is
an adjective before the noun.
Shes studying Chinese history. (NOT the Chinese history.)

He collects antique clocks.

But we use the when a description with of follows the noun.

Shes studying the history of China.

2 Use some adjectives from the box, or other adjectives, to write true (or false!)
sentences about yourself. Dont use the.
air casual
classical
detective
foggy
formal
loud really hot
pop
quiet
romantic
spicy
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

historical
Italian
stormy
train

I (dont) like eating

food.
I cant stand listening to
music.
I love
music.
I hate
weather.
I love
weather.
I (dont) like wearing
clothes.
I (dont) like
people.
I (dont) like
travel.
I (dont) like reading
novels.
I often/sometimes/never go for
walks.

Never lend books, for no one

ever returns them; the only
books I have in my library are
the books that other people
have lent me.
(Anatole France)

Without music, life would

be a mistake.
(Nietzsche)

I would give anything to hear

and to love music, but do the
best I can, it is just noise and
nothing more.
(Catherine the Great of Russia)

I dont know anything

about music in my line
you dont have to.
(Elvis Presley)

Classical music is the kind

we keep thinking will turn
into a tune.
(Kin Hubbard)

Give me books, fruit,

French wine and fine
weather and a little music
out of doors, played by
somebody I do not know.
(John Keats)

160 ARTICLES: A/AN AND THE

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Oxford English Grammar Course Intermediate

Level

the in generalisations Who invented the telescope?

We can use the in generalisations with singular countable nouns, to talk about a whole class of things.
This is common in scientic and technical language.
Who invented the telescope?
The tiger is in danger of dying out.
I cant play the piano.
I hate the telephone.

1 Complete the sentences with the words from the box. Use the.
ballpoint pen
violin
whale
X

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

camera
wheel

computer
dog
novel
wolf X-ray machine

ostrich

train

Some birds cant y for example, the ostrich.

Before people invented
, they couldnt transport heavy loads easily.
In its early years,
wasnt thought to be good reading for young ladies.
Scientic calculations were much slower before the invention of
.
is one of the hardest instruments to play.
What did people write with before
?
Is
descended from
?
What can we do to save
from dying out?
is a valuable tool for doctors, but it has its dangers as well.
In the 19th century,
revolutionised travel.
Has
made portrait-painting unnecessary?

2 GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY: musical instruments. Put in the correct instruments

from the box. Use a dictionary if necessary.
cello

guitar

harp

organ

piano

saxophone

trumpet

violin

1 It has four strings. You put one end under your chin and play it with a bow.
2 Children often learn this instrument. It has 36 black keys and 52 white keys.
3 It has six strings. You hold it in front of your body; it can be played with both hands.
4 A big one can have 46 or 47 strings, stands on the oor, and is played with both hands.
5 It has four strings. You put one end on the oor and play it with a bow.
6 This is a wind instrument, often played by jazz musicians. It was invented by Adolphe Sax in 1841.
7 This is a very big wind instrument often found in churches, played with the hands and feet.
8 A wind instrument made of metal, widely used in traditional jazz.

Some other common general expressions with the: the sea, the mountains, the town, the country, the cinema,
the theatre.
I love the sea.

Do you like living in the country?

I never go to the cinema or the theatre.

3 Give your answers to these questions.

1 Which do you prefer for a holiday: the sea or the mountains?
2 Which do you go to more often: the cinema or the theatre?
3 Where would you prefer to live: the town or the country?

In some answers, both contracted forms (for example Im, dont) and full
forms (for example I am, do not) are possible. Normally both are correct.
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