Welcome to 15mins.today the home of English Shadowing. I'm your host Gavin and this is InTense Episode 33.
Well guys we're working on definite articles and we're working on the definite article “the” 'cause I think that's the only one there is and so today we're going to be looking at geography. That means countries and natural features like seas, oceans, mountains, and so on. When we use “the” with these things well we do not use articles, which is “the a an” before countries, states, cities, towns, continents, single lakes and single mountains.
Of course you notice “single” that means when we talk about a mountain range it's different and of course for every one of these rules there's always an exception. So, if we look at countries, we live in Taiwan, think of it like a name when we talk about a mounain and I'm going to Yamingshan, and when we talk about a mountain range though that is different. So, the Himalayas, so Mount Everest is in the Himalayas and again with lakes Lake Michigan is part of the Great Lakes and then of course we have to talk about the exceptions. So, they mentioned countries, now everybody knows one of my problems here all the students mess up with “the USA.”
We put “the” in front of USA, if you are unsure just use the word America, it's the same country but no “the” so we have “the USA, the UK, the Netherlands, The Czech Republic.” Now there are more countries that use “the.” So, if you want to you can Google “What countries use the in front of their names,” to cheat. I would suggest you use the word America or for the UK you could say Great Britain, and even the Netherlands has another name Holland, but some “the Czech Republic “ only has that one name so there you will have to remember. So, that is what we're going to be looking at our examples, so let's get started!
Drill Sentences:
Is Jane from Canada? Yes, she is from Canada.
Is Jane from Canada? No, she is not from Canada.
Are Peter and John from the Netherlands? Yes, they are from the Netherlands.
Are Peter and John from the Netherlands? No, they are not from the Netherlands.
Do you go to the USA often? Yes, I go to the USA often.
Do you go to the USA often? No, I do not go to the USA often.
Do you go to America often? Yes, I go to America often.
Do you go to America often? No, I do not go to America often.
Is Mont Blanc in the Alps? Yes, Mont Blanc is in the Alps.
Is Mont Blanc in the Alps? No, Mont Blanc is not in the Alps.
Are Lake Ontario and Lake Huron two of the Great Lakes? Yes, Lake Ontario and Lake Huron are two of the Great Lakes.
Are Lake Ontario and Lake Huron two of the Great Lakes? No, Lake Ontario and Lake Huron are not two of the Great Lakes.
Is Mount Fuji in Japan? Yes, Mount Fuji is in Japan.
Is Mount Fuji in the Japan? No, Mount Fuji is not in Japan.
Is Yamingshan the tallest mountain in Taiwan? Yes, Yamingshan is the tallest mountain in Taiwan.
Is Yamingshan the tallest mountain in Taiwan? No, Yamingshan is not the tallest mountain in Taiwan.
Is Peter visiting Scotland? Yes, he is visiting Scotland.
Is Peter visiting Scotland? No, he is not visiting Scotland.
Is the UK one country? No, the UK is not one country.
Is the UK one country? Yes, the UK is one country.
Is Great Britain one country? Yes, Great Britain is one country.
Is Great Britain one country? No, Great Britain is not one country.
Have you been to Thailand? Yes, I have been to Thailand.
Have you ever been to Thailand? No, I have not been to Thailand.
Is Omaha in the USA? Yes, Omaha is in the USA.
Is Omaha in the USA? No, Omaha is not in the USA.
Is Beijing in Vietnam? Yes, Beijing is in Vietnam.
Is Beijing in Vietnam? No, Beijing is not in Vietnam.
Is the Philippines in Asia? Yes, the Philippines is in Asia.
Is the Philippines in Asia? No, the Philippines is not in Asia.
Is Kenting in Taiwan? Yes, Kenting is in Taiwan.
Is Kenting in Taiwan? No, Kenting is not in Taiwan.
Do you live in Sanchong? Yes, I live in Sanchong.
Do you live in Sanchong? No, I do not live in Sanchong.
Well guys there you go, keep repeating, now obviously many of the things i said were incorrect in some way, we know Mount Fuji is in Japan, but that’s nothing, we are just lying a little bit. So great, I hope you practice, practice, practice and listen for the “the, the Philippines" another one of those exceptions and they are near us. So, remember that. thanks guys and have a great day, bye!