The Communicative Grammar of English Workbook - Edward Woods, Rudy Coppieters 2002
4.4. Other words of definite meaning
Unit four. Determiners
Sections 91-101; 521; 619; 667
Other words which signal definite meaning are:
• proper nouns - Susan, Chicago, Tuesday, etc.
• personal pronouns - I, we, he, she, it, they, you, etc.
• pointer words or demonstratives - this, that, these, those
Task one *
Complete the following sentences with an article (the, a, an) where necessary.
1 ... Tom I’m talking about is the person you met last week, not ... one who used to be at school with us.
2 ... Tokyo of today is very different from ... one I knew in the seventies.
3 ... San Juan is an old market town.
4. I’m talking about ... San Juan in Puerto Rico not ... one in Argentina.
5. He intended at one time to marry ... Jenny.
6 ... Jenny? Which one? He knew two Jennys. There was ... Jenny from Australia and then there was ... one from Scotland.
7. Oh, I think it was ... ..... Scottish Jenny.
8. Can you tell me the way to ... Brook Street?
9. Which one? There are three Brook Streets in this area.
10. Oh dear. Is there ... Brook Street by the river?
11. Yes.
12. That’s ... one I want.
Task two **
Complete the sentences below with an appropriate third person pronoun. Rewrite the sentence where necessary to avoid gender discrimination.
Example: A bank manager has a lot of responsibility. On the one hand ... has to be careful with money, but on the other hand, ... needs to be flexible enough to help people, especially those with small businesses.
Here, in order to avoid gender discrimination, i.e. a bank manager may be male or female, it is necessary to make the subject plural.
Answer: Bank managers have a lot of responsibility. On the one hand they have to be careful with money, but on the other hand, they need to be flexible enough to help people, especially those with small businesses.
1 ... adopted the cat of a dying friend and it soon settled in her home.
2. A doctor in the emergency department of a hospital sometimes has to deal with violent patients so ... needs police support.
3. His colleagues were very supportive and ... helped ... through a difficult period.
4. These days a teacher isn’t paid enough money and ... often leaves the profession after a few years.
5 ... was a beautiful yacht and ... was very fast ... was expected to win the challenge cup race.
6. Her life was essentially unfulfilled and ... crammed it with trivia.
7. Ming, the panda, used to sulk in his cage and ... refused to meet his intended wife.
8 ... were always together in a group known as the clan and ... was thought
... would never break up.
9. Patrick saw the two children trying to get into the house ... shouted at ... and they ran away.
10. Last year Britain lost a lot of tourists. So this year, ... is making a big effort to attract them back.
Task three *
In the sentences below, mark those E if the use of the first person pronoun is exclusive and I if it is inclusive.
1. We saw a very good play last night. It was a pity you couldn’t come. □
2. We’ve discussed this problem already, when you were here last week. □
3. We should all support him. He has a difficult job. □
4. We did enjoy meeting them. You would have liked them as well. □
5. He’s never been very friendly with us. So don’t worry. □
6. I suggest we take a vote on that. □
Task four *
Rewrite the following passage in an informal manner, avoiding the passive, and using they, you, people and contractions such as it’s, isn’t.
One shouldn’t take it for granted that one will be admitted to a top university simply because one has been to the right school. It is said that, on occasion, one can be rather disadvantaged if one has been to certain schools. It is said that colleges like to have a balance of scholars from different backgrounds. So if one’s background group is full, nothing can be done.
Task five **
Indicate whether the pointer words (this, that, these, those, here, now, then, there) are forward (F) or backward (B) pointing or (S) situational.
1. I want you to listen to this. It’s very important. □
2. I quite agree. That goes without saying. □
3. I tried to explain, but that was a mistake. □
4. Here is an important announcement. Will Dr Keiko Suzuki please call at the information desk immediately? □
5. John: There’ll be trouble if they don’t get home early. □
Mary: I’ve already told them that. □
6. These are the rules here. First no lights on after 11 p.m.; second everyone ready for a run round the park at 7 a.m.; third no eating anything except at meal times. □
7. He will be doing that exam now. The one that’s important for promotion. □
8. Come and have a look at my garden. Now, these tulips are my favourites. □
9. That was the bad news. Now for the good news. □
10. Those were not good annual results after the business expanded last year. □