IX. Use articles if necessary:
A. Christmas
Most people in Britain see Christmas as a major festival of the year — when parties are given and gifts are received. Almost all people are having fun on Christmas Eve, especially children. On Christmas Eve, children hang their stockings at the end of their beds or over the fireplace. They are told that Father Christmas, or Santa Claus, arrives at night from the North Pole and fills each stocking with presents. The children open their presents — put there secretly by their parents — on Christmas morning. Lunch is the most important point on Christmas Day. The traditional lunch consists of a roast turkey with vegetables, followed by Christmas pudding, which is made with dried fruit and brandy. Sometimes a coin is put in the pudding as a surprise. The day after Christmas is called Boxing Day (after the church box which was opened for the poor on that day) and this too is a public holiday.
In this text, we can see various instances where articles are used. Let's go through them step by step:
1. "Most people in... Britain see Christmas as... major festival of... year — when parties are given and gifts are received." - Here, the definite article "the" is used before "major festival" and "the" is used before "year". We use "the" here because it specifies a particular festival and a particular year.
2. "Almost all people are having fun on Christmas Eve, especially children." - Here, no articles are needed before "people" and "fun" because they are used in a general sense.
3. "On Christmas Eve, children hang their stockings at... end of their beds or over... fireplace." - Here, the indefinite article "the" is used before "end" and "the" is used before "fireplace". We use "the" here because it specifies a particular end and a particular fireplace.
4. "They are told that Father Christmas, or Santa Claus, arrives at night from... North Pole and fills each stocking with... presents." - Here, the definite article "the" is used before "North Pole" and "the" is used before "presents". We use "the" here because it specifies a particular North Pole and particular presents.
5. "The children open their presents — put there secretly by their parents — on Christmas morning." - Here, the definite article "the" is used before "presents" because it refers to specific presents.
6. "Lunch is the most important point on Christmas Day." - Here, the definite article "the" is used before "point" because it refers to a specific, important point.
7. "The traditional lunch consists of a roast turkey with vegetables, followed by Christmas pudding, which is made with dried fruit and brandy." - Here, the indefinite article "a" is used before "roast turkey" and "a" is used before "Christmas pudding". We use "a" here because it refers to any roast turkey and any Christmas pudding.
8. "Sometimes a coin is put in the pudding as a surprise." - Here, the indefinite article "a" is used before "coin" and "a" is used before "surprise". We use "a" here because it refers to any coin and any surprise.
9. "The day after Christmas is called Boxing Day (after the church box which was opened for... poor on that day) and this too is a public holiday." - Here, the definite article "the" is used before "Boxing Day" and "the" is used before "public holiday" because they refer to specific days, a specific Boxing Day and a specific public holiday.
B. New Year’s Eve in Scotland
People all over Britain celebrate the passing of the old year and the coming of the new. In Scotland, Hogmanay — as it is called there — is almost as important as Christmas. Scots take New Year’s Eve very seriously. There is a New Year Eve Fire Festival; men parade with blazing tar barrels, they throw them into a great bonfire. The “First Foots” then set out. In Scotland “first footing” is a common custom; it’s considered lucky if a dark-haired man is the first to set foot in the house after midnight on Hogmanay, bringing a coin, a piece of bread, or a lump of coal as a symbol of plenty for the coming year.
1. "People all over... Britain celebrate the passing of... old year and the coming of... new." - Here, the definite article "the" is used before "old year" and "the" is used before "new". We use "the" here because it refers to a particular, specific year.
2. "In Scotland, Hogmanay — as it is called there — is almost as important as Christmas." - Here, no articles are used before "Scotland" or "Hogmanay" because they are used in a general sense.
3. "There is a New Year Eve Fire Festival; men parade with blazing tar barrels, they throw them into a great bonfire." - Here, the indefinite article "a" is used before "New Year Eve Fire Festival" because it refers to any festival. No articles are used before "men", "tar barrels", or "bonfire" because they are used in a general sense.
4. "The “First Foots” then set out." - Here, the definite article "the" is used before "First Foots" because it refers to a specific group.
5. "In Scotland 'first footing' is a common custom; it’s considered lucky if a dark-haired man is the first to set foot in the house after midnight on Hogmanay, bringing a coin, a piece of bread, or a lump of coal as a symbol of plenty for the coming year." - Here, the indefinite article "a" is used before "dark-haired man", "coin", "piece of bread", and "lump of coal" because they refer to any man, coin, bread, or coal.
C. Robin Hood
It is generally believed that Robin Hood was a man who fought for a better life of the poor people. How old the story about Robin Hood is nobody knows. The oldest ballads about him were written down after 1400. One of the ballads that comes from those distant times says that Robin Hood was a Yorkshireman. The ballad says, “For he was a good outlaw and did poor men much good.” Did such a Robin ever live? His name is first mentioned in Government documents of the 13th century. So one can be sure that Robin Hood did live and was something like the man described in these early ballads. He became such a popular hero that in many places there was a special Robin Hood’s day, attended by thousands of people. In the 16th century, writer Anthony Munday decided to make a nobleman out of Robin. Perhaps they thought that it was too dangerous for ordinary people to think that ordinary men could be heroes who tried to do "poor men much good."
1. "It is generally believed that Robin Hood was a man who fought for a better life of the poor people." - Here, the indefinite article "a" is used before "man" because it refers to any man.
2. "How old the story about Robin Hood is nobody knows." - Here, no article is used before "story" because it is used in a general sense.
3. "The oldest ballads about him were written down after 1400." - Here, the definite article "the" is used before "oldest ballads" because it refers to specific ballads.
4. "One of the ballads that comes from those distant times says that Robin Hood was a Yorkshireman." - Here, the indefinite article "a" is used before "Yorkshireman" because it refers to any Yorkshireman.
5. "The ballad says, 'For he was a good outlaw and did poor men much good.'" - Here, the definite article "the" is used before "ballad" because it refers to a specific ballad.
6. "His name is first mentioned in Government documents of the 13th century." - Here, the definite article "the" is used before "Government documents" because it refers to specific documents.
7. "So one can be sure that Robin Hood did live and was something like the man described in these early ballads." - Here, the definite article "the" is used before "man" because it refers to a specific man.
8. "He became such a popular hero that in many places there was a special Robin Hood’s day, attended by thousands of people." - Here, the indefinite article "a" is used before "special Robin Hood’s day" because it refers to any special day. No articles are used before "places", "thousands", or "people" because they are used in a general sense.
9. "In the 16th century, writer Anthony Munday decided to make a nobleman out of Robin." - Here, the indefinite article "a" is used before "nobleman" because it refers to any nobleman.
10. "Perhaps they thought that it was too dangerous for ordinary people to think that ordinary men could be heroes who tried to do 'poor men much good.'" - Here, the indefinite article "an" is used before "ordinary people" because it refers to any ordinary people.
1) I don't mind cooking dinner tonight. (gerund) - Gerunds are used after the phrase "don't mind" to talk about something that you are willing to do or that doesn't bother you.
2) I couldn't swim until I was 10 years old. (infinitive) - Infinitives are used after the verb "couldn't" to express inability or the inability to do something.
3) I can't afford to buy a new car right now. (infinitive) - Infinitives are used after the phrase "can't afford" to talk about something that you do not have enough money to do.
4) We may expect them to arrive on time. (infinitive) - Infinitives are used after the phrase "may expect" to talk about something that is likely to happen or that can be expected to happen.
5) We hope to understand the lesson better after studying. (infinitive) - Infinitives are used after the verb "hope" to talk about something that you want or expect to happen in the future.
It's important to note that both gerunds and infinitives can be used in different sentence structures depending on the meaning and the verb that they are used with. In some cases, both forms are possible and the choice depends on the specific meaning the speaker wants to convey.
A. Christmas
Most people in Britain see Christmas as a major festival of the year — when parties are given and gifts are received. Almost all people are having fun on Christmas Eve, especially children. On Christmas Eve, children hang their stockings at the end of their beds or over the fireplace. They are told that Father Christmas, or Santa Claus, arrives at night from the North Pole and fills each stocking with presents. The children open their presents — put there secretly by their parents — on Christmas morning. Lunch is the most important point on Christmas Day. The traditional lunch consists of a roast turkey with vegetables, followed by Christmas pudding, which is made with dried fruit and brandy. Sometimes a coin is put in the pudding as a surprise. The day after Christmas is called Boxing Day (after the church box which was opened for the poor on that day) and this too is a public holiday.
In this text, we can see various instances where articles are used. Let's go through them step by step:
1. "Most people in... Britain see Christmas as... major festival of... year — when parties are given and gifts are received." - Here, the definite article "the" is used before "major festival" and "the" is used before "year". We use "the" here because it specifies a particular festival and a particular year.
2. "Almost all people are having fun on Christmas Eve, especially children." - Here, no articles are needed before "people" and "fun" because they are used in a general sense.
3. "On Christmas Eve, children hang their stockings at... end of their beds or over... fireplace." - Here, the indefinite article "the" is used before "end" and "the" is used before "fireplace". We use "the" here because it specifies a particular end and a particular fireplace.
4. "They are told that Father Christmas, or Santa Claus, arrives at night from... North Pole and fills each stocking with... presents." - Here, the definite article "the" is used before "North Pole" and "the" is used before "presents". We use "the" here because it specifies a particular North Pole and particular presents.
5. "The children open their presents — put there secretly by their parents — on Christmas morning." - Here, the definite article "the" is used before "presents" because it refers to specific presents.
6. "Lunch is the most important point on Christmas Day." - Here, the definite article "the" is used before "point" because it refers to a specific, important point.
7. "The traditional lunch consists of a roast turkey with vegetables, followed by Christmas pudding, which is made with dried fruit and brandy." - Here, the indefinite article "a" is used before "roast turkey" and "a" is used before "Christmas pudding". We use "a" here because it refers to any roast turkey and any Christmas pudding.
8. "Sometimes a coin is put in the pudding as a surprise." - Here, the indefinite article "a" is used before "coin" and "a" is used before "surprise". We use "a" here because it refers to any coin and any surprise.
9. "The day after Christmas is called Boxing Day (after the church box which was opened for... poor on that day) and this too is a public holiday." - Here, the definite article "the" is used before "Boxing Day" and "the" is used before "public holiday" because they refer to specific days, a specific Boxing Day and a specific public holiday.
B. New Year’s Eve in Scotland
People all over Britain celebrate the passing of the old year and the coming of the new. In Scotland, Hogmanay — as it is called there — is almost as important as Christmas. Scots take New Year’s Eve very seriously. There is a New Year Eve Fire Festival; men parade with blazing tar barrels, they throw them into a great bonfire. The “First Foots” then set out. In Scotland “first footing” is a common custom; it’s considered lucky if a dark-haired man is the first to set foot in the house after midnight on Hogmanay, bringing a coin, a piece of bread, or a lump of coal as a symbol of plenty for the coming year.
1. "People all over... Britain celebrate the passing of... old year and the coming of... new." - Here, the definite article "the" is used before "old year" and "the" is used before "new". We use "the" here because it refers to a particular, specific year.
2. "In Scotland, Hogmanay — as it is called there — is almost as important as Christmas." - Here, no articles are used before "Scotland" or "Hogmanay" because they are used in a general sense.
3. "There is a New Year Eve Fire Festival; men parade with blazing tar barrels, they throw them into a great bonfire." - Here, the indefinite article "a" is used before "New Year Eve Fire Festival" because it refers to any festival. No articles are used before "men", "tar barrels", or "bonfire" because they are used in a general sense.
4. "The “First Foots” then set out." - Here, the definite article "the" is used before "First Foots" because it refers to a specific group.
5. "In Scotland 'first footing' is a common custom; it’s considered lucky if a dark-haired man is the first to set foot in the house after midnight on Hogmanay, bringing a coin, a piece of bread, or a lump of coal as a symbol of plenty for the coming year." - Here, the indefinite article "a" is used before "dark-haired man", "coin", "piece of bread", and "lump of coal" because they refer to any man, coin, bread, or coal.
C. Robin Hood
It is generally believed that Robin Hood was a man who fought for a better life of the poor people. How old the story about Robin Hood is nobody knows. The oldest ballads about him were written down after 1400. One of the ballads that comes from those distant times says that Robin Hood was a Yorkshireman. The ballad says, “For he was a good outlaw and did poor men much good.” Did such a Robin ever live? His name is first mentioned in Government documents of the 13th century. So one can be sure that Robin Hood did live and was something like the man described in these early ballads. He became such a popular hero that in many places there was a special Robin Hood’s day, attended by thousands of people. In the 16th century, writer Anthony Munday decided to make a nobleman out of Robin. Perhaps they thought that it was too dangerous for ordinary people to think that ordinary men could be heroes who tried to do "poor men much good."
1. "It is generally believed that Robin Hood was a man who fought for a better life of the poor people." - Here, the indefinite article "a" is used before "man" because it refers to any man.
2. "How old the story about Robin Hood is nobody knows." - Here, no article is used before "story" because it is used in a general sense.
3. "The oldest ballads about him were written down after 1400." - Here, the definite article "the" is used before "oldest ballads" because it refers to specific ballads.
4. "One of the ballads that comes from those distant times says that Robin Hood was a Yorkshireman." - Here, the indefinite article "a" is used before "Yorkshireman" because it refers to any Yorkshireman.
5. "The ballad says, 'For he was a good outlaw and did poor men much good.'" - Here, the definite article "the" is used before "ballad" because it refers to a specific ballad.
6. "His name is first mentioned in Government documents of the 13th century." - Here, the definite article "the" is used before "Government documents" because it refers to specific documents.
7. "So one can be sure that Robin Hood did live and was something like the man described in these early ballads." - Here, the definite article "the" is used before "man" because it refers to a specific man.
8. "He became such a popular hero that in many places there was a special Robin Hood’s day, attended by thousands of people." - Here, the indefinite article "a" is used before "special Robin Hood’s day" because it refers to any special day. No articles are used before "places", "thousands", or "people" because they are used in a general sense.
9. "In the 16th century, writer Anthony Munday decided to make a nobleman out of Robin." - Here, the indefinite article "a" is used before "nobleman" because it refers to any nobleman.
10. "Perhaps they thought that it was too dangerous for ordinary people to think that ordinary men could be heroes who tried to do 'poor men much good.'" - Here, the indefinite article "an" is used before "ordinary people" because it refers to any ordinary people.
2) I couldn't swim until I was 10 years old. (infinitive) - Infinitives are used after the verb "couldn't" to express inability or the inability to do something.
3) I can't afford to buy a new car right now. (infinitive) - Infinitives are used after the phrase "can't afford" to talk about something that you do not have enough money to do.
4) We may expect them to arrive on time. (infinitive) - Infinitives are used after the phrase "may expect" to talk about something that is likely to happen or that can be expected to happen.
5) We hope to understand the lesson better after studying. (infinitive) - Infinitives are used after the verb "hope" to talk about something that you want or expect to happen in the future.
It's important to note that both gerunds and infinitives can be used in different sentence structures depending on the meaning and the verb that they are used with. In some cases, both forms are possible and the choice depends on the specific meaning the speaker wants to convey.