Line英会話クラス
Lesson Plan December 13, 2024
Topic: Nouns: When not to use ‘the’
In some situations, the is not normally used before certain nouns.
Section A: Names of meals
We do not normally use the with names of meals in general; breakfast, lunch, supper etc:
What did you have for lunch?
We use have supper at 8pm.
If there is an adjective before the name of the meal, we use a:
I had a very nice breakfast at the hotel I stayed at.
But we use the when we give extra information about a particular meal:
The lunch you made yesterday was excellent.
Section B: School, hospital, church, prison, university
Fiona goes to school every day. This morning, Fiona’s mother went to the school to see her daughter’s teacher.
We do not use the before school when we are thinking of the idea or use of school (a place for learning). When we are thinking of a particular school (Fiona’s school), we use the.
My daughter is at school. (= as a pupil)
My husband is also at the school. (= as a visitor)
We talk about hospital, church, prison and university in the same way:
Michael is very ill. He’s in hospital right now. (= as a patient) His friends are going to the hospital to visit him later. (= as visitors)
Marcin goes to church every Sunday. (= for a religious service) Last week, there was a small fire at the church. (= the building)
Section C: Noun + number
We do not use the before a noun + number
Please turn to page 24 in your textbooks.
Anne is staying in Room 23.
The next train departing for Shinjuku leaves from Platform 5.
Section D: Other expressions
We do not use the in the following expressions
I feel very tired now. I’m going to bed. (= to sleep)
BUT: I found my book under the bed. (= a particular piece of furniture)
I’m going home now.
I’m sorry, Tom is not at home at the moment.
What time do you start work tomorrow? (= your job)
BUT: The work you did for me was amazing! (= a particular piece of work)
Lesson Notes
Words & Phrases
There was a long line at the post office for sending packages. (NOT it was a long line)
Did you send a Christmas gift? (NOT the Christmas gift)
My husband will stop sending New Year’s cards starting this year. (NOT end New Year’s cards)
Nouns: When not to use ‘the’ 2:
(Go) to work, (be) at work, start work, finish work
(Go) to school, (be) at school, start school, finish school
(Go) to university / college, (be) at university / college
(Go) to hospital, (be) in hospital
(Go) to prison, (be) in prison
(Go) to church, (be) in / at church
(Go) to bed, (be) in bed
(Go) home, (be) at home etc
(Go to) the (cinema / theatre / bank / post office / station / airport / city centre)
(Go to) the (doctor / dentist)
a. “Her grandmother is in home for people with dementia.”
This is wrong because we need to say “a home” or “the home” to talk about a specific place.
b. “Her grandmother is in a home for people with dementia.”
This is correct. “A home” means one of many places where people with dementia live.
c. “Her grandmother is in the home for people with dementia.”
This is not correct unless you already talked about a specific home before. We don’t use “the” unless we know which one
