Unit 54: THE CORRECT ARTICLE
Which do you use?
a/ an/ some/ any? some girls
the? the girls
nothing at all? girls
Here are some examples to help you.
1
Oranges are expensive at this time of year.
(All oranges)
I like oranges.
(In general)
I'd like some oranges, please.
(I'm not saying which.)
How much are the oranges?
(...in this shop)
Have you got any oranges?
(It does not matter which.)
She bought some cheap oranges.
(We don't know about any other oranges.)
There were two kinds of oranges in the shop. She bought the cheap ones.
(I am saying which.)
2
Information about it is difficult to get.
(In general)
He gave me some information.
(I am not saying which.)
He gave me some good information.
(I am saying what kind but I am still not saying which.)
The information which he gave me was very helpful.
(I am saying which.)
If you can give me any information at all, it will be very helpful.
(I am not saying which.)
3
John goes to school now.
(We are not interested in which.)
It is a very good school.
(I am describing a type of school.)
It's the best school in town.
(There is only one.)
4
There was a man and a woman at the door. The man was very fat and the woman was very thin.
(In the second sentence, we know which man and which woman.)
