Two means ‘два’. The two means ‘оба, те два’.
Two students entered the room. The two friends travelled together.
The second, a second,
The second is an ordinal numeral meaning ‘второй’. The second attempt proved more successful than the first.
A second means ‘another, one more’. Having eaten the gruel, Oliver asked for a second portion.
In the third, a third, the fourth, a fourth, etc. we see the same difference in meaning. He made an experiment which proved his theory. He made a second, a third, a fourth experiment with the same results,
A second time means ‘once more’. I rang the bell, but nobody answered it, so I had to ring a second time.
Last, the last.
Nouns modified by the adjective last are always used with the definite article except in the expressions last month, last year, last week, last summer (winter, autumn, spring).
The last word remained with George. Last summer, in Switzerland, he was quite well.
Next, the next.
Next means ‘будущий’ when referring to time: next month, next week.
The next means ‘следующий’: the next room, at the next lesson. Next time means ‘в следующий раз’. We shall discuss this matter next time.
A number, the number.
A number of means ‘many’. It is rendered in Russian by много, ряд. The number means ‘число, количество’.
His father and a number of his cronies were in the dining-room. The number of mistakes he makes is startling.
OMISSION OF THE ARTICLE
Sometimes the article is not used where we naturally expect to find it in accordance with the rules. No change of meaning is observed in these cases. The article is often omitted in newspaper headings, telesrams in stage directions.
Gas Blast Kills Woman. Girl Gymnast Keeps Title.
The article is often omitted with homogeneous members closely connected and joined by the conjunction and. In most cases they go in pairs.
The breakfast was taken away, and that meal over, it was the general custom of uncle and niece to separate.
Theme I.4. Exercises.
Ex. 1 Supply “the” or “-“
1. She served__ cold meat and cheese.
2. __ meat we had for lunch last Sunday was very tough.
3. Where did__ life come from?
4. don’t know much about_ life of Salvador Dali.
5. I can’t call it running. It’s____ jogging.
6. I ought to be fit with all__ running I do, but I don’t feel fit.
7. I think_ red dress will suit you best.___ red is more your colour.
8. __ watches have become very cheap and very attractive.
9. Most of__ watches you see today work on____ quartz.
10. What has been the longest period of___________ peace in history?
11. If you study history, you’ve got to read a lot.
12. _ journeys to unknown places require a lot of preparation.
13. _ lives of____ poets and_____ musicians have often been unbearably difficult.
14. I’m not interested in buying ___ silver or____ gold.
15. ____time is____money.
16. I can never forget time I’ve spent in Paris.
Ex. 2. Supply “a/an”, “the” or “-“
1. We have________ nice apartment in_______ centre of St. Petersburg. It is on _____ third floor of___________ new building. It is________ three room flat with ______ kitchen. 2._____ individual has every right to expect personal freedom _____ freedom of ______ individual is something worth fighting for. 3. I’ve got _____ appointment this afternoon. I’ve got to go to________ doctor’s. 4. We have seen what Earth looks like from________________________ Moon. 5. This is the front room. _____ceiling and________ walls need decorating, but _____f loor is in good order. We’ll probably cover it with _______carpet. 6. Look at this wonderful small computer. ____top lifts up to form______ screen _____front lifts off to form _____keyboard and_____ whole thing weighs only 5 kilos. 7._____ history of _____world is history of_____ war. 8. Is there _____moon round _____ planet Venus? 9.___exercise is good for _____ body. 10. Could you pass me _____ salt, please?
Ex. 3. Supply "the” or “-“
1. Because of “the greenhouse effect”____ climate of the world is changing.
2. We can’t be sure about the history of___ human race, but____ man developed earlier than we think, though we certainly weren’t around at the time of dinosaurs.
3. The Ancient Greeks believed in___ gods. The idea of____ God was not known to them.
4. ______Mr Stocks has shown that__ Egyptians used____ saws and drills.___
saws and drills were made of___ copper.
5. My eldest son joined____ Navy and now my youngest wants to join ____Army.
6. In many countries the head of state is called___ President.
7. Do you know who killed___ President Lincoln?
Ex. 4. Put in “a/an” or “the”.
A Bad Customer
(1) man went into (2) shop and asked for (3) pound of apples which cost one shilling.
(4) shopkeeper gave them to him. Then (5) man asked, “Can I exchange (6) apples for (7) pound of plums? (8). price is (Щ. same.” (10Y shopkeeper agreed, took back apples and gave him plums. (11) man took them and was going to leave (12) shop. (13) shopkeeper asked him for (14) money.
“ (15) money for what?” asked (16) man.
“ (17) money for (18) plums,” said (19) shopkeeper.
“But I gave you (20) apples for (21) plums,” answered (22) man.
“Well, then, (23) money for (24) apples.”
“But you still have your apples,” said (25) man and walked out of (26) shop.
Thank You, I Feel Much Better
(1) doctor whose medical skill was much better than his handwriting, sent (2) invitation to (3) p atient who was his friend to spend (4) evening with him. He said that there would be music and other things.
(5) friend did not come, and did not sent any explanation. When they met _(6)_ following day. (7) doctor asked whether he had received (8) note.
“Yes, thank you,” replied _ (9) _ other. “I took it to (10) chemist, he made up medicine and feel much better already.”
