English

Бурова, З. И. Учебник английского языка для гуманитарных специальностей вузов / З. И. Бурова. — 8-е изд. — М.: Айрис-пресс, 2011. — 576 с. — (Высшее образование).

Английский для филологов Учебно-методическое пособие / А.С. Калачян, С.С. Тадевосян. – Ер. Изд-во РАУ, 213 с.

Articles in English: Rules, Examples, and Practice

1. Definite Article: “the”

2. Indefinite Articles: “a / an”

3. Zero Article (no article)

Instructions:

This is a learning (practice) text designed to help you improve your use of English articles. Read the text carefully and fill in each blank with the correct article: a, an, the, or leave it blank if no article is needed (zero article).

Tips:
• Use “a” before singular nouns starting with a consonant sound.
• Use “an” before singular nouns starting with a vowel sound.
• Use “the” for something specific or already mentioned.
• Use zero article for plural or uncountable nouns when speaking generally.

Goal:
Complete all blanks correctly to practice using definite, indefinite, and zero articles in context.

LEVEL A TASKS (Basic Pronunciation Skills)

LEVEL B TASKS (Fluent Communication Skills)

SELF-ASSESSMENT CHECKLIST

After completing the tasks, honestly evaluate yourself:

Listening Skills:

• ☐ I can distinguish between similar sounds (ship/sheep)

• ☐ I understand when people speak at normal speed

• ☐ I can identify word stress in new words

Speaking Skills:

• ☐ People understand me when I speak

• ☐ I can use correct intonation for questions

• ☐ I link words naturally in sentences

Reading Skills:

• ☐ I can guess pronunciation of new words

• ☐ I know where to put stress in longer words

• ☐ I can read aloud with natural rhythm

Работа с текстом песни по алгоритму:

Алгоритм см. на странице

ANSWER KEYS
Text 1 (A1) - Answers:
Today is Halloween. I am very excited! I have a witch costume. My costume has a black hat and a long dress. My little brother wears a skeleton costume.
We go to our neighbours' houses. We say: "Trick or treat!" They give us — candy. I like — chocolate candy. My brother likes — fruit candy.
At home, we have a big pumpkin. My dad makes a lantern. The lantern looks scary! We put it near the door.
Halloween is fun!

Text 2 (A2) - Sample Answers:
My friends and I are preparing for a Halloween party. The party is on 31st October. Sarah is decorating the living room with spiders and bats. She bought the decorations last week. Tom and Lisa are making the food. They are preparing sandwiches and a pumpkin pie right now.
I have decided to wear a ghost costume. My sister wants to be a witch, so she is wearing a black dress and a pointed hat. Our parents aren't coming to the party because they think they are too old for Halloween!
We have invited twenty people. Everyone must wear a costume. If they don't wear a costume, they can't come in!
The party starts at seven o'clock. I think it will be the best Halloween party ever!

Text 3 (B1) - Sample Answers:
Halloween, which we celebrate on the 31st October, has a long and fascinating history. The festival originated from an ancient Celtic celebration called Samhain. The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland and northern France, believed that the dead returned to — earth on this night.
When the Romans conquered the Celtic territories, they combined Samhain with their own festivals. Later, the Christian church made 1st November "All Saints' Day," and the evening before became "All Hallows' Eve," which eventually shortened to "Halloween."
Today, people in many countries celebrate Halloween, though traditions vary significantly. In the United States and Canada, children go trick-or-treating, while in Britain, the celebration is less commercial, though it is growing in popularity.
Modern Halloween includes activities such as wearing costumes, carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns, and telling scary stories. Many people attend parties where they play games and watch horror films. Some believe that Halloween has lost its original meaning, but others argue that it simply has evolved into a new form of cultural expression.
Whether you see it as a commercial holiday or a meaningful tradition, Halloween certainly provides an opportunity for people to express their creativity and have fun together.

Dialogue Answers:
Dialogue 1:

a costume / you / a witch costume / It / a / you / it / does / It / it

Dialogue 2:

a / you / am / it / it / I / Are / the

Dialogue 3:

you / am thinking / a / you / sounds / I / you / am making / a / am preparing / are / wearing / haven't decided / a / you / have already bought / a / looks

Dialogue 4:

do / carve / is / believed / kept / did / start / originated / used / did / change / went / found / were / understand

Dialogue 5:

was / an / have never seen / agree / was / did / spend making / it / wanted / did / think of / the / were / the / was / set / spent / arranging / it / hid / the / worked / said/was saying / was / the / had ever attended / you enjoyed / it / will definitely do

Dialogue 6:

have noticed / are planning / does / finish / said / supervise / appreciate / still worry / walking / a / have already arranged / a / offered / us / is / him / decided / will wear / was thinking / being / a / am considering / sounds / me / you arrive

We use Simple Tenses (Present, Past, Future) to describe facts, habits, or completed actions.
We use Continuous Tenses to describe actions in progress at a specific moment (now, in the past, or in the future).

We use Continuous Tenses to show that an action is in progress — not finished — at a particular moment in time.
It often answers the question “What is / was / will be happening?”Signal words: now, at the moment, while, when, tomorrow at this time, all day, these days, etc.

To make negatives, use do/does/did (Simple) or be (Continuous) + not.
To make questions, put do/does/did or be before the subject.