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Speaking in General

Sentence editing

Greek amphora
 

 

Speaking specifically or in general
THE – SPECIFIC & IDENTIFIED

We can discuss a topic using the before a noun, referring to a specific, identified item.

Ancient greek chairThe chair on the right is Assyrian.
ALL (plural – IN GENERAL

Or we can discuss a topic using the plural noun form, referring to all such items in general (true for all).

Salami in generalChairs were a luxury item in ancient times.

 
 

Also see All/ The-specfic.

 

 

 

 

Practice 1

The History of Furniture

Acient Greek Furniture

 

 

 

Read for errors

The history of the furniture reflects the history of the culture. Relatively little is known about the furniture of the ancient societies, simply because the furniture is usually made of the perishable materials -- wood and sometimes fabric -- that have not survived. Our limited knowledge of the Egyptian, the Greek, and the Roman furniture is based mostly on the paintings and the sculptures. 

The only actual surviving pieces of the furniture of these cultures are from the burials. For example, King Tut's tomb in Egypt contained the display of elegantly decorated royal furniture. About the only surviving example of everyday Roman furniture are from the two cities near Naples that were buried under the tons of volcanic ash from the eruption of the Mt. Vesuvius on August 24, 79 A.D. 

ancient (adj.) – very old

bury (buried) – placed underground

decorate (v.) – make something look more attractive, beautiful

elegantly (adv.) –  in a beautiful, attractive, graceful manner

fabric (n.) – cloth

is based on – comes from, has as its foundation

perishable (adj.) – can decay, age, spoil easily

reflect (v.) – show, be a sign of a particular situation or feeling

society (n.) – a particular large group of people who share laws, organizations, customs

survive (v.) – to continue to exist after a long time

tomb (n.) – a stone structure above or below the ground where a dead person is buried

Greek Furniture (Wikipedia)

 

 

 

 

Edit for errors
  1. Edit the sentence(s) in the text box.
  2. Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check 1-6" button at the bottom, or click the "Check" button to the left  as you go.

 

1.
The history of the furniture reflects the history of the culture.


2.
Relatively little is known about the furniture of the ancient societies, simply because the furniture was usually made of the perishable materials -- wood and sometimes fabric -- that have not survived.


3.
Our limited knowledge of the Egyptian, the Greek, and the Roman furniture is based mostly on the paintings and the sculptures.


4.
The only actual surviving pieces of the furniture of these cultures are from the burials.


5.
For example, King Tut's tomb in Egypt contained the display of elegantly decorated royal furniture.


6.
About the only surviving example of everyday Roman furniture are from the two cities near Naples that were buried under the tons of volcanic ash from the eruption of the Mt. Vesuvius on August 24, 79 A.D.