The document discusses the usage of the definite article "the" in English. It provides examples of when "the" is and isn't used with various nouns like children, sugar, television, meals, work, numbers, school, prison, hospital and university. Key points covered include not using "the" for general references but using it for specific people or things, as well as certain exceptions like not using "the" before nouns followed by numbers or with television, meals, or references to school/prison/hospital as services rather than places.

1. The or Zero article Main differences in use.

2. A. When we are talking about things or people in general, we don not use THE. 1. Children are very good at learning languages. 2. Sugar isn’t very good for you. 3. I like working with people.

3. B. But when we are talking about specific people or things, we use THE. 1. The children in my school are very good at languages. 2. The sugar isn’t very good. It’s been here for ages. 3. I like the people I work with.

4. C. Remember that we don’t use THE with TELEVISION (or TV). He wathed TV the whole afternoon. I’ve seen it on TV.

5. D. Remember that we don’t use THE with BREAKFAST, LUCH, DINNER. Dinner is ready. What time did you have breakfast. What time is lunch today?

6. E. Remember we say GO TO WORK, BE AT WORK, and START/FINISH work. I can’t speak. I’m at work now I finish work at 7.

7. F. We don’t use THE before Noun+Number . The train arrives at Platform 2. He is in Room 15. Have you got these shoes in size 43. Read page 29.

8. G. We don’t use THE with SCHOOL, PRISION, HOSPITAL, UNIVERSITY if we talk bout them as a Service and not as a place or building. Compare: Anna goes to school at 8. She is at school now. (Ann is a pupil) Ann’s mother wanted to speak to her daughter’s teachers. So she went to the school to see her. And she is at the school now. (She is not a student)

9. Compare: Ken’s in prision for robbery. Rob went to the prision to see his brother. Compare: Jack had an accident and was taken to hospital. Jill has gone to the hospital to visit Jack. Compare: When I leave school I want to go to university. Excuse me, where is the university?