Unit 71

I like music / I hate exams

Grammar
Examples
Exercises

A. Do not use the for general ideas:

I like music.
I hate exams.
I don't like cold weather.
  • I like music, especially classical music.
    (not 'the music ... the classical music')
  • We don't eat meat very often. (not 'the meat')
  • Life is not possible without water. (not 'The life ... the water')
  • I hate exams. (not 'the exams')
  • Do you know a shop that sells foreign newspapers?
  • I'm not very good at writing letters.

Do not use the for games and sports:

  • My favourite sports are tennis and skiing. (not 'the tennis ... the skiing')

Do not use the for languages or academic subjects (history/geography/physics/biology etc.):

  • Do you think English is difficult? (not 'the English')
  • Tom's brother is studying physics and chemistry.

B. flowers or the flowers?

Flowers are beautiful.
(= flowers in general)
The flowers are beautiful.
(= the flowers in this garden)
I don't like cold weather.
(= cold weather in general)
The weather isn't very good today.
(= the weather today)
We don't eat fish very often.
(= fish in general)
We had a very nice meal last night. The fish was very good.
(= the fish we ate last night)
Are you interested in history?
(= history in general)
Are you interested in the history of your country?

General (no the)

  • I like music.
  • We don't eat meat very often.
  • Life is not possible without water.
  • I hate exams.
  • My favourite sports are tennis and skiing.
  • Do you think English is difficult?
  • Flowers are beautiful.
  • I don't like cold weather.
  • We don't eat fish very often.
  • Are you interested in history?

Specific (the)

  • The flowers are beautiful.
  • The weather isn't very good today.
  • The fish was very good.
  • Are you interested in the history of your country?
Progress: 0% (0/0)
71.1 What do you think about these things? Choose seven of these things and write sentences beginning:
dogs
big cities
motor racing
TV quiz shows
exams
parties
museums
tea
basketball
computer games
loud music
hard work
1 I hate exams.
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
71.2 Are you interested in these things? Write sentences with:
1 (history) I'm very interested in history.
2 (politics)
3 (sport)
4 (art)
5 (astronomy)
6 (economics)
71.3 Which is right?
1 My favourite sport is tennis / the tennis. tennis is right
2 I like this hotel. The rooms / Rooms are very nice. The rooms is right
3 Everybody needs friends / the friends. friends is right
4 Jane doesn't go to parties / the parties very often. parties is right
5 I went shopping this morning. The shops / Shops were very busy. The shops is right
6 'Where's milk?' 'It's in the fridge.' the fridge is right
7 I don't like milk / the milk. I never drink it. milk is right
8 'Do you do any sports?' 'Yes, I play football / the football.' football is right
9 These days a lot of people use computers / the computers. computers is right
10 We went for a swim in the river. The water / Water was very cold. The water is right
11 I don't like swimming in cold water / the cold water. cold water is right
12 Excuse me, can you pass salt / the salt, please? the salt is right
13 I like this town. I like the people / people here. the people is right
14 Vegetables / The vegetables are good for you. Vegetables is right
15 Where are the children / the children? 'They're in the garden.' the children is right
16 I can't sing this song. I don't know the words / words. the words is right
17 I enjoy taking photographs / the photographs. It's my hobby. photographs is right
18 I must show you the photographs / photographs I took when I was on holiday. the photographs is right
19 English / The English is used a lot in international business / the international business. English is right
20 Money / The money doesn't always bring happiness / the happiness. Money is right