QUESTIONS - GRAMMAR 2004

ARTICLES - NO ARTICLES

continents, countries, states, counties, provinces: zero article We normally use no article when referring to these larger and smaller areas: South-East Asia, North America, West Africa, Central Europe America, Great Britain, New Zealand, Japan, Russia, China Florida, Cornwall, Brittany, Bavaria, Guangdong Province However, when the name of a country indicates multiple areas or when the word republic is used as part of the name, the definite article is required: The US (The United States), The UK (The United Kingdom) The Philippines, The Netherlands, The Czech Republic, The Baltic States, The West Indies, The People's Republic of China Note that when discussing politics, we speak of the government of the UK, but when discussing nature we are more likely to say the fauna and flora of the British Isles. When discussing specific areas, the definite article is normally required: Examples: The South of France, the West Coast of Ireland the Eastern Seaboard of America The South of France attracts many visitors each year for both the Monaco Grand Prix and the Cannes Film Festival. lakes: zero article; seas and rivers: the Note also that when we are referring to seas and rivers, the definite article is required, but when we refer to inland waters or lakes, it is omitted: Examples: Lake Windermere is in the Lake District. Loch Lomond is in the Highlands of Scotland. The Danube flows into the Black Sea. individual mountains: zero article; mountain groups: the Examples: Everest and K2 are the two highest mountains in the world, both situated in the Himalayas. The highest mountain in Britain is Ben Nevis, which you can find in the Grampians in the Scottish Highlands. buildings: the or zero article When it comes to buildings, it is more difficult to see a pattern emerging. Examples: The Eiffel Tower and the Tower of London are two landmarks in the capital cities of France and Britain. If you come to London, be sure to visit Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament. - Where's Charing Cross station? - It's off Trafalgar Square, between the Post Office and Coutts Bank in the Strand. But note that the names of most hotels and pubs, many theatres and cinemas and most museums and art galleries need to be used with the definite article: Examples: - Shall we eat at the Goose? - No, I'm a vegetarian. Let's eat at the Slug and Lettuce. The Filmworks in Greenwich is a huge cinema complex next to the Holiday Inn on the Greenwich peninsula. The National Gallery is on the northern side of Trafalgar Square, opposite Nelson's Column. It's about a fifteen-minute walk from The British Museum. street names: no article Usually no article, but note the exceptions in the examples below: Examples: The Strand, Whitehall and the Mall are three of the most famous streets in the history of London. When you come to the main road, turn right and you'll find the coffee shop in the High Street

TO HAVE

have had / has had We typically use have as a main verb with an object to talk about common actions. We use the present perfect tense when we want to connect the present with the (recent) past in some way and this will appear as has had or have had in full forms or as 's had or 've had in contracted forms. Use of "have" have breakfast/lunch/dinner/supper/a bite to eat/a light meal have a hot or cold drink/a glass of wine/a cup of coffee/some mineral water have a shower/a bath/a wash and shave have a rest/a snooze/a siesta/a good sleep/a bad dream have a walk/a swim/a good time/a nice evening/a day off/a holiday/a good journey/a good trip have a word with someone/a chat/a conversation/a quarrel/an argument have a headache/a sore throat/hay fever/a bad back/a bad cold have a (good) job/some work to do/money/an opportunity/a chance had had Had had is the past perfect form of have when it is used as a main verb to describe our experiences and actions. We use the past perfect when we are talking about the past and want to refer back to an earlier past time. Note the use of before, after, already and by the time as a trigger for the past perfect. Note also that the contracted form of had had is 'd had. Note that past perfect forms are a feature of if-clauses in the third type of conditional sentence when we are explaining past actions or regretting past inaction.

IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

under the weather If you are under the weather - and this is a very common expression - then you are slightly unwell. In England, we have lots of bad weather that people are always complaining about: lots of rain, lots of wind and lots of cloudy days when don't see the sun. This can be very depressing, so it is as if you are affected by the weather. Idiomatic expressions to describe various stages of health and illness as fit as a fiddle: A fiddle is a violin, particularly one used in folk music. To be played well it has to be finely tuned so that the violinist can play well. fighting fit: If you are fighting fit, you are at the peak of your physical and mental form, almost as if you could fight a boxing match. in good shape: if you are in good shape, you are able to do a lot of physical activity without getting tired. above par / below par: Feeling above par or below par means that you are feeling a little bit better than normal or a little bit worse than normal. so so / off colour: feeling slightly unwell. in poor shape: being quite ill. in a bad way / at death's door: you are on the point of dying. (also: to pass away).

Synonyms for: I (don't) understand

cotton to / cotton on to To cotton to means to like, to admire or to become attached to. The allusion is to a thread of cotton which very easily attaches itself to clothing for example. It is an expression which is not used very much any more in contemporary British English. Much more common is the colloquial expression to cotton on to which means to catch on or to grasp a line of thought. They didn't know much English and it was surprising how quickly they cottoned on / caught on to what I was saying. He still hasn't cottoned on to the fact that I'm not in the least bit interested in him. lose the thread (perdere il filo) / pick up the threads (riannodare le fila, riprendere dopo un’interruzione) To lose the thread of something and the opposite to pick up the thread(s). To lose the thread means to lose one's train of thought because of some sort of interruption or digression. To pick up the thread(s) means to resume one's line of argument or to get back into the way of things. I haven't done this sort of work for over five years so it will take me a while to pick up the threads. I'm going back to John and we're going to try to pick up the threads of our marriage. Sorry, I've lost the thread of what you were saying. Could you go back over that last bit again? I don't understand English, and particularly British English, appears to be incredibly rich with informal expressions for I don't understand. Here are a selection of the most common. Notion is another word for idea. Non ho la più pallida / la minima idea: I've got no notion I haven't got the faintest / foggiest / slightest idea I don't know I've (got) no idea I haven't (got) a clue Mi prendi alla sprovvista: You've got me there You've stumped me there a bit stymied there The expression 'You've stumped me' or 'I'm stumped' derives from the game of cricket, where if the batsman is stumped, he is out and his innings is over. We can also use get in this question to mean 'Do you understand?': Do you get what I'm saying? I don't get it That's beyond my ken Sorry, that's beyond me Sorry, my mind's gone blank (ho un vuoto mentale) If something is beyond your ken, you do not have sufficient knowledge to be able to understand it. Ken is much used in informal Scottish English as both a verb and a noun for know and knowledge. But if your mind goes blank, this suggests that you do know the answer which might even be on the tip of your tongue, but it is not immediately available. I do understand Finally, let's finish on a more positive note with some synonyms for I do understand! I'm afraid I can't agree to you borrowing £500 from your sister. I completely understand! That's absolutely clear! You're quite right! Of course! Are you going to Jim's party on Friday? ~ Absolutely! Do you really want to wear that? ~ Yes, absolutely! Absolutely is currently one of our most favoured adverbs when expressing strong agreement with something.

COLLECTIVE NOUNS

family / team / committee / firm Collective nouns refer to groups of people usually. Our choice of singular or plural verb form often depends on whether we are thinking of the group as an impersonal unit (in which case we use the singular verb - and relative pronoun which) or as a collection of individuals (in which case we use the plural verb form - and relative pronoun who). Examples: My family, who have lived on this island all their lives, are determined to remain here. The team who are playing this weekend includes neither of the new signings. The team which lies third from the bottom of the league will also be relegated this year. The human resources committee is going to meet on Thursday. They will endorse all promotions from grade C to grade B for the coming year. My firm, which was established in 1932, has been manufacturing motor mowers since the 1950s. They look after me very well and have an excellent pension scheme. people / police / cattle These collective nouns always take a plural verb. There is no singular form of these nouns. Examples: People who have invested all their savings in shares are sure to lose out. Police in this area are currently investigating 74 allegations of date rape. All the cattle were moved to the fields lower down the valley as winter approached the rich / the poor / the homeless Note that when adjectives are used as collective nouns they always accompanied by a plural verb form: Examples: The rich tend to reside in the outer suburbs whilst the poor are confined to the inner city areas in this country. The homeless are well looked after at Christmas in Britain when they are offered shelter, food and hot showers. a / each / every / this / that team Note that when collective nouns are used with singular determiners, such as those above, singular verbs and pronouns are the norm. Examples: That team is capable of winning all the major trophies this year. A team of inspectors from Scotland Yard is visiting the island this week. Every family that receives income support will be means-tested. A government which fails to honour its promises should not be re-elected.