Articles are not used in some common fixed expressions. Can you use them correctly? Take a moment to do this exercise.
Fill in the blanks.
1. He died …………………….
No article is used in this expression.
2. I met some interesting people at ……………………….
In American English, university is usually used with the article 'the'. In British English, 'the' can be omitted before university.
3. He left …………………………….. in the morning and never came back.
No article is used before home.
4. I regret leaving ………………………….. at fourteen.
No article is used in the expression leave school.
5. I will meet you at ……………………………
We use the article here because the college is just a meeting place.
6. I was surprised at the amount of ……………………………. collected.
'The' is dropped after ‘the amount of’.
7. He went to ……………………………… in Cambridge.
No article is normally used in this expression.
8. It is time the children went to …………………………..
No article is used in the expression 'go to bed'.
9. I didn’t feel like getting out of …………………………
No article is used in this expression.
10. He is collecting money for …………………………….
The blind means all blind people. The article ‘the’ is required in this expression.
11. …………………………… criminals are non-violent.
When most means the majority of, it is used without the.
12. He could play …………………………. when he was just five.
Articles are always used with the names of musical instruments.
Answers
1. He died at sea.
2. I met some interesting people at university / the university.
3. He left home in the morning and never came back.
4. I regret leaving school at fourteen.
5. I will meet you at the college.
6. I was surprised at the amount of money collected.
7. He went to college in Cambridge.
8. It is time the children went to bed.
9. I didn’t feel like getting out of bed.
10. He is collecting money for the blind.
11. Most criminals are non-violent.
12. He could play the piano when he was just five.
