Page 131 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

P e o p l e a n d p l a c e s
and
places
People

We usually use zero article before the names of particular people:
We usually use zero article before the names of particular people:
• ¢ President Clinton is to make a statement later today.
President Clinton is to make a statement later today.
The name of Nelson Mandela is known all over the world.
• « The name of Nelson Mandela is known all over the world.
we use the:
However, we use the:
However,
specify which one we are
when there are two people with the same name and we want to
• ¢ when there are two people with the same name and we want to specify which one we are
about:
talking about:
talking
• ¢ That's not the Stephen Fraser I went to school with.
That's not the Stephen Fraser I went to school with.
when we want to emphasise that a person is the one that everyone probably knows:
• * when we want to emphasise that a person is the one that everyone probably knows:
the Ronald Reagan,
or someone else?
• ¢ Do they mean the Ronald Reagan, or someone else?
Do they mean
When it is used this way, the is stressed and pronounced l&i'.l.
When it is used this way, the is stressed and pronounced /di:/.
adjective to
a person or their job:
with an
describe
• * with an adjective to describe a person or their job:
Buddy Holly
(= dead)
• ¢ the late (= dead) Buddy Holly the artist William Turner
the artist William Turner
the late
the Aboriginal writer Sally Morgan the wonderful actor Harrison Ford
the Aboriginal writer Sally Morgan
the wonderful actor Harrison Ford
a whole:
when we talk about a
family as
g • ¢ when we talk about a family as a whole:
(= the Robinson family)
• ¢ The Robinsons are away this weekend. (= the Robinson family)
The Robinsons are away this weekend.
or sometimes zero article, is used with a name to mean that someone else has
Notice that a/an, or sometimes zero article, is used with a name to mean that someone else has
Notice that a/an,
does not
person
qualities
have
named:
the particular
excellent
of the
or or does not have the particular excellent qualities of the person named:
• « Jane plays tennis well, but she'll never be (a) Steffi Graf.
Jane plays tennis well, but she'll never be (a) Steffi Graf.
We can also refer to a painting by a famous artist as, for example, 'a Van Gogh".
We can also refer to a painting by a famous artist as, for example, 'a Van Gogh'.
You can use a/an before a person's name if you don't know the person yourself. Compare:
You can use a/an before a person's name if you don't know the person yourself. Compare:
(=
I haven't heard of him before) Do you want to
• ¢ There's a Dr Kenneth Perch on the phone. (= I haven't heard of him before) Do you want to
There's a Dr Kenneth Perch on the phone.
him?
talk
talk to to him?
(= I know Dr Perch)
for you.
• ¢ Dr Perch is here for you. (= I know Dr Perch)
Dr Perch is here
D Study these examples:
Study these examples:

They say he'll have to stay in hospital for the hospital to
• ¢ They say he'll have to stay in hospital for • ¢ Tom's mother goes to to the hospital to
Tom's mother goes
six weeks. see him every day.
six weeks.
see him every day.

at university studying French.
Frank works as a security guard at
Sue's
• ¢ Sue's at university studying French. • ¢ Frank works as a security guard at a a
university.
university.

place where children
a
be
They're building a school at the end
School should
• ¢ School should be a place where children • ¢ They're building a school at the end of of
are taught to enjoy learning. our street.
street.
are taught to enjoy learning.
our

article when we talk about institutions
as
prison,
school,
hospital,
university,
use
zero
We
such
^ @ We use zero article when we talk about institutions such as hospital, university, prison, school,
used
studying
their intended purpose:
for
college,
or
medical treatment in hospital,
being
church
E' ' * * college, or church being used for their intended purpose: medical treatment in hospital, studying
Theatiaan:= (EE Zavarices IEEEN the: ...enjoy the opera.) refer to a building where
or
and
so on.
articles when we talk about them
university,
as particular places
We
use
in in university, and so on. We use articles when we talk about them as particular places or
Compare:
same way.
buildings. Notice that we talk about bed in the same way. Compare:
buildings. Notice that we talk about bed in the
She usually stays in bed till late at the weekend, and
• *
She usually stays in bed till late at the weekend. and
left them on the bed.'
• ¢
'Have you seen my socks?' 'You
'Have you seen my socks?' 'You left them on the bed.'
opera or
theatre in general,
or when we
cinema,
When we talk about cinema, opera or theatre in general, or when we refer to a building where
When we talk about
of entertainment takes place,
type
we
use
this
this type of entertainment takes place, we use the:
(= cinema in general)
I try to go to the cinema at least once a week.
• ¢
I try to go to the cinema at least once a week. (= cinema in general)
(= a specific cinema)
We usually go to the cinema in New Street.
We usually go to the cinema in New Street. (= a specific cinema)
• *
prefer
we
of art,
form
a
generally
if we are talking about
zero
article:
However, if we are talking about a form of art, we generally prefer zero article:
However,
(rather than
Not many children enjoy opera, (rather than ...enjoy the opera.)
Not many children enjoy opera.
• *
The and a/an =
Zero article;