Tasks: The Definite Article (the) - English 1 - NDLA

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Tasks: The Definite Article (the)

Sketch of three people working on a computer and reading books.
Image: Siren Halvorsen / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Work together in pairs or small groups.

Below, you will find some of the sentences from the article you have just read. Translate the sentences into Norwegian, paying special attention to the grammatical form of the word in bold. What differences and similarities do you find between Norwegian and English?

  1. Teachers should listen to their students.

  2. Prices have gone down the last year.

  3. A mother's love for her child is stronger than anything.

  4. Society is more complex than ever.

  5. She has now been in hospital for over a month.

  6. You really have to hurry, or you'll be late for school.

  7. Don't skip breakfast – it's the most important meal of the day.

  8. We shall be late for supper.

  9. Spring is here.

  10. Friday came, and nothing happened.


Write and discuss:

Work together in pairs or small groups.

  1. Write two sentences with each of the words below, one with and one without the definite article 'the'. Explain the difference in meaning.

    love, life, Saturday, trees, university, time, parliament, supper, space, prison

  2. Make a list of ten things that you see around you in the classroom. Take turns, choose a word from the list, and make a sentence with the word without using the definite article 'the'. The next person uses the same word and makes a sentence with the definite article, 'the'.


Translate:

Translate the following sentences into English, paying special attention to the use of the definite article.

Click here if you want to translate from nynorsk

  1. Middagen er servert!

  2. Dette er den beste lunsjen eg nokon gong har ete.

  3. I retten nekta han å seie noko og blei send tilbake til fengselet.

  4. Fengselet ligg rett ovanfor kyrkja.

  5. Teknologien vi bruker her, er ganske sofistikert.

  6. Teknologien speler ei viktig rolle i samfunnet vårt.

  7. Det er viktig å redusere arbeidsledsløysa.

  8. Arbeidsløysa fall til 8 prosent førre månad.

  9. Tida er ikkje på vår side.

  10. Det er viktig å starte tidleg og bruke tida ein har tilgjengeleg.

  11. Lincoln trudde på demokratiet.

  12. Det gamle demokratiet i Athen og demokratia idag er veldig forskjellige.

  13. Den amerikanske Kongressen består av Senatet og Representanthuset.

  14. Kongressen forkasta dette lovforslaget

  1. Middagen er servert!

  2. Dette er den beste lunsjen jeg noen gang har spist.

  3. I retten nektet han å si noe og ble sendt tilbake til fengselet.

  4. Fengselet ligger rett ovenfor kirken.

  5. Teknologien vi bruker her, er ganske sofistikert.

  6. Teknologien spiller en viktig rolle i samfunnet vårt.

  7. Det er viktig å redusere arbeidsledigheten.

  8. Arbeidsledigheten falt til 8 prosent forrige måned.

  9. Tida er ikke på vår side.

  10. Det er viktig å starte tidlig og bruke tida man har tilgjengelig.

  11. Lincoln trodde på demokratiet.

  12. Det gamle demokratiet i Athen og dagens demokratier er veldig forskjellige.

  13. Den amerikanske Kongressen består av Senatet og Representantenes hus.

  14. Kongressen forkastet dette lovforslaget.

Key:

  1. Dinner is served!

  2. This is the best lunch I have ever had.

  3. In court he refused to say anything and was sent back to prison.

  4. The prison is just across from the church.

  5. The technology we use is quite sophisticated.

  6. Technology plays an important role in our society.

  7. It is important to reduce unemployment.

  8. The unemployment rate fell to 8% last month.

  9. Time is not on our side.

  10. It is important to start early and use the time available.

  11. Lincoln believed in democracy.

  12. The ancient democracy of Athens and the democracies of today are very different.

  13. The American Congress consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

  14. Congress threw out this bill.


Related content

Subject material
The Definite Article (the)

In English the definite article 'the' is often left out when speaking about general thing.

Written by: Karin Søvik.
Last revised date 04/15/2021