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This player scored the first Premier League hat-trick. Who is he?

Understanding Grammar: How to use articles

Understanding Grammar: How to use articles

In this week's Premier Skills English Podcast, Jack and Rich have a quiz for you that tests your knowledge of grammar and football. The language focus is on articles (a, an, the) and when to use them and when not to use them in English. They give ten rules about how to use articles correctly. As always, we also have a new football phrase for you to guess. Enjoy!

Transcript

If you find the podcast difficult to understand, you can read the transcript and listen at the same time.
Read the transcript and listen at the same time.

Understanding Grammar - Ten important rules for using ‘articles’ 

Jack: Hey Rich, I’m going to a Premier League match in London this weekend. I’m very excited.

Rich: Are you going to an Arsenal match? They’re not playing at the weekend. They’re playing on Monday.  

Jack: Yes, I know. Actually, I’m not going to see an Arsenal match. I’m going to watch a London derby. I’ve been given some free tickets.

Rich: You’re going to watch Spurs?

Jack: Yep. I’m going to the match between West Ham and Tottenham. It’ll be my first time at the London Stadium.

Rich: The West Ham - Spurs match. Nice. I suppose you’re hoping that West Ham win!

Jack: Of course!

Welcome - Articles

Rich: Hello my name’s Rich

Jack: and I’m Jack

Rich: and welcome to this week’s Premier Skills English podcast

Jack: Where we talk about football and help you with your English.

Jack: What’s happening this week, Rich?

Rich: In this week’s podcast, we have a football and language quiz for you and we’re going to talk about articles.

Jack: Articles?

Rich: You know a, an and the. These words are called articles and they can be very difficult for learners to use correctly. When do we use a or an,  when do we use the and when do we use no article at all.

Jack: You’re right. Using articles incorrectly is a common mistake, so in this week’s podcast, we’re going to look at ten rules or guidelines that you should think about if you want to use articles correctly.

Rich: We know that it can be a bit boring to learn grammar sometimes, especially when there are lots of rules, so we’re going to put all of these rules into a quiz to make it a bit more fun.

Jack: Don’t forget, there is more information about the language we use on the page below and activities to help you understand. 

Rich: Make sure you listen to the end of the podcast because we’ve got another football phrase for you as well.

Topic Focus

Jack: At the beginning of the podcast, we were speaking about a match that I’m going to this weekend. Did you notice that we used different articles when we described the match?

Rich: At first, Jack said that he was going to a Premier League match. He said he was going to a match in London. He said he was going to a London derby. He used the indefinite article ‘a’ because there are lots of Premier League matches, lots of matches in London and more than one London derby. 

Jack: Rich asked me which match I was going to. I told him I was going to the West Ham-Tottenham match. I’m now talking about one specific match so I used the definite article ‘the’.

Rich: There are lots of reasons to use different articles. The easiest one to remember is when to use ‘an’ rather than ‘a’. Jack said he wasn’t going to an Arsenal match.

Jack: Arsenal begins with ‘A’. When nouns begin with vowels, a, e, i , o and u, we use ‘an’ and not ‘a’.

Rich: You probably learnt this rule many years ago, but we have to remember that rules aren’t always 100% exact. What about ‘an hour’? A football match lasts an hour and a half. 

Jack: With ‘hour’ we use an because the ‘h’ is silent but with ‘half’ we use a because the ‘h’ is not silent. Half, hour, half an hour. So the ‘rule’ is; we use ‘an’ with nouns that begin with vowel sounds!

Rich: We’re not going to talk about the difference between ‘a’ and ‘an’ anymore, but it’s important to remember that there are often exceptions to rules.

Jack: But rules can be useful in your learning and for learning how to use articles and that’s what we’re going to look at in this week’s podcast. In the next section, we have ten sentences with gaps and ten explanations of some of the most common ways we use articles.

Quiz

Rich: Right, we’re going to read you ten sentences. When you hear the sound of a bell, you have to decide if there should be an article. We want you to think about which article it should be; a, an, the, or no article.

Jack: We will then give you the answer and an explanation of the rule. Are you ready with the first sentence, Rich?

Rich: Sentence number one: Arsenal have signed a defender from Bosnia. The defender used to play in Germany. Do you know who he is?

Jack: Two bells!!

Rich: Yes, two bells because there were two articles. In the first sentence, I said Arsenal have signed a defender because it’s the first time the defender has been mentioned. Then, I say the defender used to play in Germany. I change the article because it’s the second time I mention the defender and Jack now knows who I am talking about.

Jack: So, when we talk about a noun for the first time we use the indefinite article, a or an. When we talk about it the second time and more times we use the definite article, the. We move from something unknown to something we both know.

Rich: So, the answer was Arsenal have signed a defender from Bosnia. The defender used to play in Germany. Who is he? Tell us the answer at the bottom of the page!  

Rich: Sentence number two: Have a great time at the match on Saturday! 

Jack: The answer here is the. We use the definite article ‘the’ when we are talking about shared knowledge - something that both the speaker and listener knows already.

Rich: I know which match Jack is going to so I use the definite article.

Jack: I might say to Rich ‘I’m going to get the train this afternoon’. In this situation, Rich knows what train I’m talking about. I don’t need to say ‘I’m going to get a train from Birmingham to London this afternoon’. Let’s move on to the next sentence.

Rich: Sentence number three: Hey Jack! Can you fetch a ball from the dressing room?

Jack: In this sentence, Rich is asking for one ball from the dressing room and there are lots of balls in the dressing room. Rich doesn’t want a special ball - any ball will do. We use the indefinite article ‘a’ when we mean any one - not a specific one. On the football pitch there is only one ball so we would say ‘pass me the ball’.

Rich: Can you fetch a ball from the dressing room?

Jack: Sentence number four: Which team is the most successful in Premier League history?

Rich: Here we are using a superlative. With superlatives we use the definite article. The best, the most, the biggest, the smallest and so on …

Jack: Which team is the most successful in Premier League history? 

Rich: Sentence number five, this one is similar: Who scored the first Premier League hat-trick?

Jack: That’s a good question. The answer again is the. When we say ordinal numbers like first, second, third we use the definite article. Who did score the first Premier League hat-trick?

Rich: I don’t know. I’ll have to look in the comments to see if any of our listeners know the answer.

Jack: Sentence number six: Which football ground is on the banks of the River Thames?

Rich: Geographical features like rivers, lakes, mountains can be tricky for articles. In general, with rivers, seas, oceans, and mountain ranges we use the definite article; with countries, cities, continents and lakes we don’t use an article.

Jack: We say France not the France, America not the america, but what about the United States?

Rich: Well, it’s not really one specific country it’s a collection of states. The same with the United Kingdom or the Netherlands and the Philippines. They are a collection of regions, countries or islands.

Jack: What about the Czech Republic?

Rich: Not sure. Maybe a listener can tell us. Let’s move on.

Jack: Sentence number seven: Do you like reading (ding) books about football?

Rich: This is a tricky one. It’s really common and lots of my students make mistakes with this rule. When we talk about nouns in a general way and plural nouns we don’t use articles. We would never say ‘I like the apples’ when talking generally but we could say ‘I liked the apples that you bought the other day’ because we are talking about specific apples.

Jack: Sentence number eight: Matches are traditionally played at three ‘o’clock in the afternoon on Saturdays in the UK. When do matches usually kick off in your country?

Rich: The answer here is the. Time can be complicated. Generally, when we talk about years, months and time of the day we don’t use articles. 

Jack: But with dates we do. We say the 22nd of September or the 5th of December and also with parts of the day: in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening.

Rich: Matches are traditionally played at three ‘o’clock in the afternoon on Saturdays in the UK. 

Jack: Sentence number nine: Which Manchester City player is studying for an MBA at (ding) university?

Rich: When we are going to a place because we participate there we don’t use an article. If you are a student you say I’m going to school or college, if I’m a prisoner I go to prison, if I'm sick I go to hospital. 

Jack: But if you work at these places or are visiting you use the definite article. I’m going to the hospital to collect my mother. I’m going to the school to meet my child’s teacher.

Rich: We’ll give you the answer to this one. Vincent Kompany is studying for an MBA at university.

Jack: Sentence number ten: Only a few players have scored more than three goals in a Premier League match. Can you name a couple of them?

Rich: The answer here is a. There are lots of other fixed phrases that use articles. Articles are often used to talk about quantity. For example, we say a lot of or a couple of. There are lots more fixed phrases too. These rules that we have looked at are just some of the most common ones.

Jack: I hope this quiz has helped you understand articles a bit better and if you can answer any of the football questions from the quiz, put your answers in the comments section below.

Task

Rich: This week’s task is to write a football quiz question that uses articles in some of the ways that we’ve just looked at.

Jack: Write your question in the comments section below and leave a space where the article should be.

Rich: Other listeners have to answer the football question and more importantly say what article is needed in the space or spaces; ‘a’, ‘an’, ‘the’ or ‘no article’.

Can you work out this week’s football phrase?

Rich: Have you got a football phrase for us this week? 

Jack: Yes, I have, but first, last week’s football phrase. The phrase was goalless draw. This is the phrase that is used to describe a match that finishes nil-nil, there aren’t any goals scored and the two teams get one point each because neither side wins. Last week there was a goalless draw between Chelsea and Arsenal.

Rich: Well done to Kwesimanifest from Ghana, Liubomyr from Ukraine, Haruyuki from Japan, Elghoul from Algeria, Ahmed Adam Mamado from Sudan. You all got the right answer. What’s this week’s football phrase? 

Jack: This week’s football phrase is ‘** ** ** ****’. The phrase means that a team or player is performing well. Manchester Utd and City are ** **** at the moment because they are winning and playing well.

Rich: A difficult one this week.  Right, that’s all we have time for this week! Don’t forget to write your answers to our questions and make a guess at our football phrase in the comments below.

Jack: And don’t forget to listen to our round-up show called ‘This Week’. All the action from Matchweek 6 will be on the Premier Skills homepage on Monday.

Rich: Bye for now and enjoy your football!

Vocabulary

How much did you understand?

In the podcast, Rich and Jack used some words and phrases that might be new for you. Do you know the words in bold?

I'm going to watch a London derby. I've been given some free tickets.

Can you fetch a ball from the dressing room?

There were a few more tricky words in the podcast. Do you know what they all mean? Try the activity below, then, listen to the podcast again to hear how we used the words.

Activity 1

Activity 1: In this activity, try to match the words and phrases to their definitions. All of the words were in this week's podcast.
Can you match the words to their definitions?

Can you answer all our quiz questions? Do you know who this player is?

Language

Articles - A or An

In this week's podcast, Jack and Rich spoke about articles. Do you know when to use 'a' and when to use 'an'? Take a look at these sentences from the podcast. Can you spot a mistake?

I'm not going to an Arsenal match.

A football match lasts for an hour and an half.

Jack's going to the London Stadium to watch a match!

Articles - Moving from the general to the specific

When we are talking about things in general, we don't normally use an article before the noun. Take a look at this example from the podcast:

Do you like reading books about football? 

When we are talking about one thing out of many, we usually use the non-definite article (a/an):

I read a really good book about football last week.

When we are talking about a specific thing, we often use the definite article (the) before the noun:

Was it the book about Alex Ferguson? I read it a few months ago. Yes, it was very good.

Articles - Moving from the unknown to the known

When we are talking about something to someone for the first time, we usually use the indefinite article. We use 'a' or 'an' to introduce a topic or something that is unfamiliar or unknown such as a piece of news. In the podcast, Jack said:

Arsenal have signed a defender from Bosnia.

The information or object is now known so when we talk about it a second time we use the definite article (the) before the noun. Look at the rest of Jack's sentence from the podcast:

Arsenal have signed a defender from Bosnia. The defender used to play in Germany. 

Activity 2

Activity 2: Read each sentence and decide if you need to use the definite article (the) or the indefinite article (a/an).
Can you choose the right article?
In this activity, take a look at some sentences that move from the unknown to the known and from the general to the specific and decide which article to use.

Manchester City's captain, Vincent Kompany, is studying at university.

Ten important rules to help with articles

  1. Use the indefinite article when you mention something for the first time
  2. Use the definite article when you talk about something for the second time
  3. Use the definite article when the listener knows what you are talking about; when you have shared knowledge
  4. Use the definite article with superlatives e.g. the best, the most successful etc.
  5. Use the definite article with ordinal numbers e.g. the first time, the second time
  6. Use the indefinite article when you are speaking of one of many e.g. bring me a ball
  7. Use the definite article when there is only one of something e.g. pass me the ball (on the pitch)
  8. Don't use articles when speaking about plural nouns in general
  9. Don't use articles when speaking about a participant in an institution e.g. a student goes to school, a criminal goes to prison 
  10. Use the definite article if you are talking about visiting or working in an institution e.g. I'm going to the hospital to visit my mum

Activity 3

Activity 3: In this activity, check your knowledge of articles in some different sentences. Choose 'the' 'a/an' or no article.
How good are you with articles?
In this activity, take a look at some of the examples that were discussed in the podcast. Decide if you should use the definite article, the indefinite article or no article.

Task

Write a quiz question

In the podcast, Rich and Jack gave you ten quiz questions. The questions were written to test your football knowledge and your knowledge of articles. Your task is to write a question that will test other listener's football and language knowledge. We want you to write one question about the Premier League or a Premier League club. Write your question and blank out any articles that your question uses. For example:

Who was ____ first player to score a hat-trick in the Premier League? 

Your task is to write a question and to answer other listeners questions by telling learners what the missing articles are and the answer to the football question.

Write your answers in the comments section below.

Quiz

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Comment

What do you think?

In this week’s podcast, Jack and Rich spoke about articles and asked ten football questions.

Do you know the answers to all our quiz questions? Which questions were the most difficult?

Are there articles in your language? Is this an area of English that you have problems with? Why?

Look at the task above and write your football quiz questions. Also, answer other learner's questions in the comments section below.

Remember to write your guess at this week's football phrase, too!

If you want us to correct your English, just write 'correct me' at the beginning of your comment.

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Comments

hsn's picture
hsn
06/04/2021
TR
5552
points

I always confuse the sentences in which no article. At first articles were so hard to use them. After getting its rules a bit easy now.

Are there articles in your language? In Turkish there is no “The” article but “a or an” article.

3-Sead Kolašinac-Now on loan- Schalke F.C.-Germany

PHRASES;
• I don't mind to fetch some paper from fifth floor even there is no lift.
• Turkey------- THE Republic of Turkey.


hsn's picture
hsn
06/04/2021 17:40
Turkey
Tottenham Hotspur
5552

I always confuse the sentences in which no article. At first articles were so hard to use them. After getting its rules a bit easy now.

Are there articles in your language? In Turkish there is no “The” article but “a or an” article.

3-Sead Kolašinac-Now on loan- Schalke F.C.-Germany

PHRASES;
• I don't mind to fetch some paper from fifth floor even there is no lift.
• Turkey------- THE Republic of Turkey.

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
20/05/2020
TR
6536
points

This week's football phrase is ( to be on fire )


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
20/05/2020 06:25
Turkey
Manchester United
6536

This week's football phrase is ( to be on fire )

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
20/05/2020
TR
6536
points

There are articles in Turkish but it's not very detailed like those in English
It was difficult in the beginning but later I find it easy by common sense


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
20/05/2020 06:22
Turkey
Manchester United
6536

There are articles in Turkish but it's not very detailed like those in English
It was difficult in the beginning but later I find it easy by common sense

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
20/05/2020
TR
6536
points

Who is ____ top scorer of the Premier League history ?
Who scored _______ goal of the last decade in the Premier League ?
Can you describe _______ wonderful goal you have watched ?
_______ Watching Premier League matches is my best hobby.
Mohamed Salah scored ________ equaliser against Manchester City


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
20/05/2020 06:21
Turkey
Manchester United
6536

Who is ____ top scorer of the Premier League history ?
Who scored _______ goal of the last decade in the Premier League ?
Can you describe _______ wonderful goal you have watched ?
_______ Watching Premier League matches is my best hobby.
Mohamed Salah scored ________ equaliser against Manchester City

kabithos's picture
kabithos
28/03/2020
CO
50
points

It´s very difficult to me understand the rules to use articles. I hope to understand this, the articles are basic in knowledge of English and I'll study hard to learn correctly its uses, spelling and grammar. Thank you for your lessons.


kabithos's picture
kabithos
28/03/2020 11:53
Colombia
Manchester United
50

It´s very difficult to me understand the rules to use articles. I hope to understand this, the articles are basic in knowledge of English and I'll study hard to learn correctly its uses, spelling and grammar. Thank you for your lessons.

ldzingirai's picture
ldzingirai
27/03/2019
ZW
1749
points

Task

Fill in the blank. Select a,an,the or no article)

James Milner scored _ deciding goal between Fulham and Liverpool.

What do you think section

Our language Shona does not have articles. At first I had difficulties with articles,but now I think I am doing well.


ldzingirai's picture
ldzingirai
27/03/2019 03:45
Zimbabwe
Chelsea
1749

Task

Fill in the blank. Select a,an,the or no article)

James Milner scored _ deciding goal between Fulham and Liverpool.

What do you think section

Our language Shona does not have articles. At first I had difficulties with articles,but now I think I am doing well.

Rich's picture
Rich
27/03/2019
ES
594
points

Hi Idzingirai

When we are talking about something specific we generally use the definite article.

The correct answer is:

James Milner scored the deciding goal between Fulham and Liverpool.

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team


Rich's picture
Rich
27/03/2019 08:25
Spain
Liverpool
594

Hi Idzingirai

When we are talking about something specific we generally use the definite article.

The correct answer is:

James Milner scored the deciding goal between Fulham and Liverpool.

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team

ldzingirai's picture
ldzingirai
28/03/2019
ZW
1749
points

Thank you Rich.


ldzingirai's picture
ldzingirai
28/03/2019 03:49
Zimbabwe
Chelsea
1749

Thank you Rich.

englishman
05/10/2017
DZ
1734
points

Correct me
Is there any other courses?


englishman
05/10/2017 11:39
Algeria
Manchester City
1734

Correct me
Is there any other courses?

Rich's picture
Rich
09/10/2017
ES
594
points

Hi Englishman

We will hopefully have some new courses soon. While you are waiting the best thing to do is to take a look at our podcasts - there is a new one every week. Each podcast has some new grammar or vocabulary for you to learn.

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team


Rich's picture
Rich
09/10/2017 08:51
Spain
Liverpool
594

Hi Englishman

We will hopefully have some new courses soon. While you are waiting the best thing to do is to take a look at our podcasts - there is a new one every week. Each podcast has some new grammar or vocabulary for you to learn.

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team

M.s. Aboelsafa's picture
M.s. Aboelsafa
04/10/2017
EG
738
points

This week’s football phrase is "To be at the top"


M.s. Aboelsafa's picture
M.s. Aboelsafa
04/10/2017 12:07
Egypt
Arsenal
738

This week’s football phrase is "To be at the top"

englishman
03/10/2017
DZ
1734
points

I am very happy to come back for Premier skills english


englishman
03/10/2017 15:40
Algeria
Manchester City
1734

I am very happy to come back for Premier skills english

Rich's picture
Rich
03/10/2017
ES
594
points

We're very happy to have you back!

Rich - The Premier SkillsEnglish Team


Rich's picture
Rich
03/10/2017 19:15
Spain
Liverpool
594

We're very happy to have you back!

Rich - The Premier SkillsEnglish Team

elghoul's picture
elghoul
30/09/2017
DZ
3988
points

I don't know the name of the Bosnien defender but I know that Man United is the most successful in UK.

The first hat-trick scorer is Alguero as well as I remember.

In French there are articles that are quite the same in English.

football phrase, ** ****.

Quizz : I listened to .... radio all .... day until 4 p.m in ... afternoon.


elghoul's picture
elghoul
30/09/2017 12:53
Algeria
Manchester City
3988

I don't know the name of the Bosnien defender but I know that Man United is the most successful in UK.

The first hat-trick scorer is Alguero as well as I remember.

In French there are articles that are quite the same in English.

football phrase, ** ****.

Quizz : I listened to .... radio all .... day until 4 p.m in ... afternoon.

RafaelRC's picture
RafaelRC
10/11/2017
BR
663
points

Hi elghoul
The/-/the
Is that right?


RafaelRC's picture
RafaelRC
10/11/2017 00:22
Brazil
Arsenal
663

Hi elghoul
The/-/the
Is that right?

Ahmed Adam Mamado's picture
Ahmed Adam Mamado
28/09/2017
SD
2903
points

Football phrase is "to be ** ****"


Ahmed Adam Mamado's picture
Ahmed Adam Mamado
28/09/2017 08:14
Sudan
Liverpool
2903

Football phrase is "to be ** ****"

Javi_from_Spain
27/09/2017
ES
58
points

Correct me
Hi guys! I think this is an easy theme, but it's very useful and important. The use of the articles is very similar in spanish.
My phrase for another learners: Football in Spain is __ most important sport. For me is really __ amazing sport.
This week's football phrase : to be on fire
See you,


Javi_from_Spain
27/09/2017 22:18
Spain
Liverpool
58

Correct me
Hi guys! I think this is an easy theme, but it's very useful and important. The use of the articles is very similar in spanish.
My phrase for another learners: Football in Spain is __ most important sport. For me is really __ amazing sport.
This week's football phrase : to be on fire
See you,

Minh Hoang's picture
Minh Hoang
08/10/2017
VN
276
points

My answer is the-an
Is it correct?


Minh Hoang's picture
Minh Hoang
08/10/2017 05:39
Vietnam
Liverpool
276

My answer is the-an
Is it correct?

Rich's picture
Rich
09/10/2017
ES
594
points

Yes, you are spot on!


Rich's picture
Rich
09/10/2017 08:42
Spain
Liverpool
594

Yes, you are spot on!

Ahmed Adam Mamado's picture
Ahmed Adam Mamado
06/10/2017
SD
2903
points

Hi Javi.
Answers: the, an. Am I spot on?


Ahmed Adam Mamado's picture
Ahmed Adam Mamado
06/10/2017 14:51
Sudan
Liverpool
2903

Hi Javi.
Answers: the, an. Am I spot on?

Rich's picture
Rich
09/10/2017
ES
594
points

Yes, you are bang on!


Rich's picture
Rich
09/10/2017 08:41
Spain
Liverpool
594

Yes, you are bang on!

Rich's picture
Rich
02/10/2017
ES
594
points

Can anyone answer Javi's question?


Rich's picture
Rich
02/10/2017 08:27
Spain
Liverpool
594

Can anyone answer Javi's question?

Khaldoun83's picture
Khaldoun83
27/09/2017
DZ
325
points

Arsenal definder is Kolacinac, he was playing for Schalck 04.

I do not know answers of  the other questions.


Khaldoun83's picture
Khaldoun83
27/09/2017 16:11
Algeria
Liverpool
325

Arsenal definder is Kolacinac, he was playing for Schalck 04.

I do not know answers of  the other questions.

numrut's picture
numrut
26/09/2017
UA
140
points

I guess this week's phrase is "to be ** ****" and the most successful team in Premier League history is Manchester United.


numrut's picture
numrut
26/09/2017 19:42
Ukraine
Liverpool
140

I guess this week's phrase is "to be ** ****" and the most successful team in Premier League history is Manchester United.

Liubomyr's picture
Liubomyr
26/09/2017
UA
4417
points

My second suggestion as to the phrase is ‘to be ** ****’.


Liubomyr's picture
Liubomyr
26/09/2017 16:09
Ukraine
Watford
4417

My second suggestion as to the phrase is ‘to be ** ****’.

Rich's picture
Rich
26/09/2017
ES
594
points

Well done! Second time lucky! That's not a real expression that people use. You would have had to have got it wrong again and then I would have said third time lucky - which is a common expression :) Are you going to watch Manchester City against Shaktar tonight?

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team


Rich's picture
Rich
26/09/2017 17:09
Spain
Liverpool
594

Well done! Second time lucky! That's not a real expression that people use. You would have had to have got it wrong again and then I would have said third time lucky - which is a common expression :) Are you going to watch Manchester City against Shaktar tonight?

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team

Liubomyr's picture
Liubomyr
26/09/2017
UA
4417
points

Hi Rich,
I watch the game right now, it's 60' minute at the moment when I write this. Shakhtar held on in the first time but in the begining of the second De Bruyne scored. Taking into consideration recent MC form I'm not sure that Shakhtar would have any chance to come back and turn the game around.


Liubomyr's picture
Liubomyr
26/09/2017 21:07
Ukraine
Watford
4417

Hi Rich,
I watch the game right now, it's 60' minute at the moment when I write this. Shakhtar held on in the first time but in the begining of the second De Bruyne scored. Taking into consideration recent MC form I'm not sure that Shakhtar would have any chance to come back and turn the game around.

Rich's picture
Rich
26/09/2017
ES
594
points

Not a bad performance. Shakhtar could have got a draw. It looks like it's between Shakhtar and Napoli for second spot in the group. What do you think?


Rich's picture
Rich
26/09/2017 22:05
Spain
Liverpool
594

Not a bad performance. Shakhtar could have got a draw. It looks like it's between Shakhtar and Napoli for second spot in the group. What do you think?

Liubomyr's picture
Liubomyr
27/09/2017
UA
4417
points

I’m sure ManCity will win the group. As to the second spot it seems that Feyenoord are the contender for second spot as well. They are title holders in Netherlands, so keeping in mind the strength of Dutch football I think that they haven’t said their last world.


Liubomyr's picture
Liubomyr
27/09/2017 10:59
Ukraine
Watford
4417

I’m sure ManCity will win the group. As to the second spot it seems that Feyenoord are the contender for second spot as well. They are title holders in Netherlands, so keeping in mind the strength of Dutch football I think that they haven’t said their last world.

Liubomyr's picture
Liubomyr
26/09/2017
UA
4417
points

Interesting issue with the Czech Republic. It seems that we use ‘the’ article because it’s the full name of the country which reflects the form of government. In such case it shall be used with definite article because we talk about one specific republic - Czech Republic. It’s the same as we say ‘the French Republic’, ‘the Irish Republic’ and so on. Anyway, the country has the short name which is ‘Czechia’ and Czech government prefer the country to be called in English just Czechia, not the Czech Republic.


Liubomyr's picture
Liubomyr
26/09/2017 14:33
Ukraine
Watford
4417

Interesting issue with the Czech Republic. It seems that we use ‘the’ article because it’s the full name of the country which reflects the form of government. In such case it shall be used with definite article because we talk about one specific republic - Czech Republic. It’s the same as we say ‘the French Republic’, ‘the Irish Republic’ and so on. Anyway, the country has the short name which is ‘Czechia’ and Czech government prefer the country to be called in English just Czechia, not the Czech Republic.

Rich's picture
Rich
26/09/2017
ES
594
points

I think you are spot on with that explanation, Liubomyr. I'm not sure that Czechia is going to catch on - we'll have to wait and see. I suppose it depends how much THE Czech government push the issue :)


Rich's picture
Rich
26/09/2017 17:11
Spain
Liverpool
594

I think you are spot on with that explanation, Liubomyr. I'm not sure that Czechia is going to catch on - we'll have to wait and see. I suppose it depends how much THE Czech government push the issue :)

haruyuki's picture
haruyuki
26/09/2017
JP
38
points

Our language, Japanese doesn't have any articles.
So it's kind of difficult to understand these rules, especially sentence number six and nine.

My football quiz is
How many clubs are there in _ London in _ Premier League this season?

This week's foot ball phrase is 'to be top performance'.
It might not be football phrase.


haruyuki's picture
haruyuki
26/09/2017 09:59
Japan
Liverpool
38

Our language, Japanese doesn't have any articles.
So it's kind of difficult to understand these rules, especially sentence number six and nine.

My football quiz is
How many clubs are there in _ London in _ Premier League this season?

This week's foot ball phrase is 'to be top performance'.
It might not be football phrase.

Liubomyr's picture
Liubomyr
27/09/2017
UA
4417
points

Hi haruyuki,

Your question is not a simple one as it may seems at first glance. My answer is 5, namely Crystal Palace, Arsenal, West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea. But some confusion may be made by Watford which is located inside of the M25 motorway and there is a London Underground station. By many people Greater London is considered as everything that located inside M25 motorway, but technically Watford is situated in Hertfordshire County and it’s not a part of Greater London. So, Watford F.C. is not a London club.

Ukrainian language like Japanese doesn't have any articles so for me it’s very difficult to understand them as well.


Liubomyr's picture
Liubomyr
27/09/2017 10:49
Ukraine
Watford
4417

Hi haruyuki,

Your question is not a simple one as it may seems at first glance. My answer is 5, namely Crystal Palace, Arsenal, West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea. But some confusion may be made by Watford which is located inside of the M25 motorway and there is a London Underground station. By many people Greater London is considered as everything that located inside M25 motorway, but technically Watford is situated in Hertfordshire County and it’s not a part of Greater London. So, Watford F.C. is not a London club.

Ukrainian language like Japanese doesn't have any articles so for me it’s very difficult to understand them as well.

Rich's picture
Rich
27/09/2017
ES
594
points

Can anybody answer Haruyuki's question?

The football phrase is not correct. Do you want to have another guess?

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team


Rich's picture
Rich
27/09/2017 08:28
Spain
Liverpool
594

Can anybody answer Haruyuki's question?

The football phrase is not correct. Do you want to have another guess?

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team

sabanoleg
25/09/2017
UA
2337
points

Correct me.The first player who score a hat-trick in the Premier League was Eric Cantona.


sabanoleg
25/09/2017 19:18
Ukraine
Arsenal
2337

Correct me.The first player who score a hat-trick in the Premier League was Eric Cantona.

Rich's picture
Rich
25/09/2017
ES
594
points

Hi Sabanoleg

Thanks for your message. You are right to use the definite article 'the' in the answer and you are right that it was Eric Cantona. Well done!

Did you recognise him in the photo?

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team


Rich's picture
Rich
25/09/2017 21:19
Spain
Liverpool
594

Hi Sabanoleg

Thanks for your message. You are right to use the definite article 'the' in the answer and you are right that it was Eric Cantona. Well done!

Did you recognise him in the photo?

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team

sabanoleg
26/09/2017
UA
2337
points

Honestly,no.I found the answer in Internet.


sabanoleg
26/09/2017 08:26
Ukraine
Arsenal
2337

Honestly,no.I found the answer in Internet.

Violinka
25/09/2017
UA
1859
points

I think the football phrase in"on top"


Violinka
25/09/2017 15:19
Ukraine
Chelsea
1859

I think the football phrase in"on top"

milos
25/09/2017
RS
2663
points

Arsenal defender from Bosnia is Sead Kolasinac.He is a really good player.I think he will be one of the best defender this season.


milos
25/09/2017 08:14
Serbia
Manchester United
2663

Arsenal defender from Bosnia is Sead Kolasinac.He is a really good player.I think he will be one of the best defender this season.

kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
25/09/2017
GH
4779
points

This week's phrase is to be ** ****


kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
25/09/2017 04:15
Ghana
Manchester United
4779

This week's phrase is to be ** ****

English learner
24/09/2017
IN
10
points

Correct me. I have read the rules given on the site. I think there are exceptions also. For example, we sometimes use indefinite article with superlatives: she is a most beautiful Lady. Besides, we use zero article with ordinals: He has won first prize. I think 'the first prize' means something else; ' the first prize' refers to the order of receiving the prize (not order of merit).


English learner
24/09/2017 14:25
India
Manchester City
10

Correct me. I have read the rules given on the site. I think there are exceptions also. For example, we sometimes use indefinite article with superlatives: she is a most beautiful Lady. Besides, we use zero article with ordinals: He has won first prize. I think 'the first prize' means something else; ' the first prize' refers to the order of receiving the prize (not order of merit).

Rich's picture
Rich
25/09/2017
ES
594
points

Hi English Learner

I believe that 'the first prize' would highlight the order that prizes were given to the winners. How would you interpret the following two sentences:

The first prize was given to the runner-up.

First prize was given to the runner-up.

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team


Rich's picture
Rich
25/09/2017 12:27
Spain
Liverpool
594

Hi English Learner

I believe that 'the first prize' would highlight the order that prizes were given to the winners. How would you interpret the following two sentences:

The first prize was given to the runner-up.

First prize was given to the runner-up.

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team

English learner
24/09/2017
IN
10
points

What would a teacher say about her workplace: I am going to school/the school?


English learner
24/09/2017 14:24
India
Manchester City
10

What would a teacher say about her workplace: I am going to school/the school?

English learner
24/09/2017
IN
10
points

Query : what about priests, teachers, and jailers? Shall they use 'the' when they refer to their work place? For example: A teacher says: I am going to college (or the college).


English learner
24/09/2017 14:05
India
Manchester City
10

Query : what about priests, teachers, and jailers? Shall they use 'the' when they refer to their work place? For example: A teacher says: I am going to college (or the college).

Rich's picture
Rich
25/09/2017
ES
594
points

Hi English Learner

There are quite a few 'rules' connected to articles that are open to interpretation and there are also quite a few exceptions. As we mention at the beginning of the podcast, the rules we speak about are general rules of thumb or pedagogical rules to help with language learning as they can be used in the majority, but not all, contexts. In answer to your query, we believe that jailors, priests and teachers would tend to use the definite article when speaking about their workplace apart from in informal contexts while students, churchgoers and lawmakers would not tend to use an article.

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team


Rich's picture
Rich
25/09/2017 12:16
Spain
Liverpool
594

Hi English Learner

There are quite a few 'rules' connected to articles that are open to interpretation and there are also quite a few exceptions. As we mention at the beginning of the podcast, the rules we speak about are general rules of thumb or pedagogical rules to help with language learning as they can be used in the majority, but not all, contexts. In answer to your query, we believe that jailors, priests and teachers would tend to use the definite article when speaking about their workplace apart from in informal contexts while students, churchgoers and lawmakers would not tend to use an article.

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team

English learner
24/09/2017
IN
10
points

He was given a yellow card for arguing with........ Referee. (a/the)? (Correct me) Both of these are correct in different contexts. It depends upon their usage-whether the reference to 'referee' is given for the first time (a) or the second time (the). Example: "He is a doctor. However, the doctor doesn't believe in altruism". Besides, in this context, 'a' seems to be more suitable because it is not important who this referee was. He could be any Jack, who is not individualized. Apart from it, 'shared knowledge' is also an important factor to decide whether to use 'the' or 'a' /'an'. If the speaker as well as the listener know that reference is being made to one 'specific' referee whom they know, 'the' referee will be used. I believe English articles can be clearly understood when these are explained in light of socio- cultural settings/contexts.


English learner
24/09/2017 08:57
India
Manchester City
10

He was given a yellow card for arguing with........ Referee. (a/the)? (Correct me) Both of these are correct in different contexts. It depends upon their usage-whether the reference to 'referee' is given for the first time (a) or the second time (the). Example: "He is a doctor. However, the doctor doesn't believe in altruism". Besides, in this context, 'a' seems to be more suitable because it is not important who this referee was. He could be any Jack, who is not individualized. Apart from it, 'shared knowledge' is also an important factor to decide whether to use 'the' or 'a' /'an'. If the speaker as well as the listener know that reference is being made to one 'specific' referee whom they know, 'the' referee will be used. I believe English articles can be clearly understood when these are explained in light of socio- cultural settings/contexts.

Rich's picture
Rich
25/09/2017
ES
594
points

Hi English Learner

Thanks for your comment. You're right that both 'the' and 'a' could be grammatically correct depending on the context. However, given that the context of this sentence is a football match and there is only one referee on the field 'the' would be appropriate.

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team


Rich's picture
Rich
25/09/2017 12:10
Spain
Liverpool
594

Hi English Learner

Thanks for your comment. You're right that both 'the' and 'a' could be grammatically correct depending on the context. However, given that the context of this sentence is a football match and there is only one referee on the field 'the' would be appropriate.

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team

Liubomyr's picture
Liubomyr
23/09/2017
UA
4417
points

I think that the phrase is 'to be on fire'


Liubomyr's picture
Liubomyr
23/09/2017 09:41
Ukraine
Watford
4417

I think that the phrase is 'to be on fire'

admin's picture
admin
23/09/2017
GB
560
points

Hi Liubomyr

That's a great suggestion. That's not quite the phrase we are looking for, but it fits perfectly and is a great expression. 

Jack - The Premier Skills English Team


admin's picture
admin
23/09/2017 13:10
United Kingdom
Arsenal
560

Hi Liubomyr

That's a great suggestion. That's not quite the phrase we are looking for, but it fits perfectly and is a great expression. 

Jack - The Premier Skills English Team

Leaderboard

Top Scorers
RankNameScore
1Alex_from_Ukraine6562
2mobeckham6536
3hsn5552
4wsanta5086
5kwesimanifest4779
6Liubomyr4417
7elghoul3988
8assemjuve3705
9aragorn19863557
10Gergő Nagy3396
Country ranking
RankNameScore
1Colombia74670
2Ukraine33800
3Spain29306
4Serbia27426
5Brazil23326
6Albania20578
7Vietnam20405
8Turkey20047
9Macedonia19074
10Bosnia and Herzegovina16333
Club ranking
RankNameScore
1Manchester United146517
2Liverpool111048
3Chelsea90031
4Arsenal86213
5Manchester City58633
6Tottenham Hotspur19335
7Newcastle United10545
8West Ham United7637
9AFC Bournemouth4887
10Everton4533

Level

3
Average: 3 (1 vote)

Goals

Skills: Listening

Language: definite and non-definite articles

Task: Write a quiz question using articles