All (plural) / The – identified: referring to all vs. a specific one

All (plural) / The – identified

Referring to all vs. a specific one

ALL (plural)
unspecific and unidentified — refers to all — uses no article (bare, unmarked noun) — uses no identifying modifiers (this one, that one, etc.)
Salami is very salty. (non-count noun)
Crackers are salty. (count noun)
Classes always fill up quickly.
People head for the beach in the summer.
People prefer to drive their own cars.

THE – IDENTIFIED
specific and identified — uses adverbs of frequency (always, often, never, etc.) — uses simple present tense — has the implied meaning "true for most"
The salami on the right is very salty.
The crackers on the right are salty.
The classes at my gym always fill up quickly.
The people in my area head for beach in the summer.
The people that I know prefer to bicycle.

All / The

Language – People

Language vs. the People

LANGUAGE
Use no article before a language.
English is spoken here. LANGUAGE: Spanish Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, Chinese, Swahili, etc.

THE PEOPLE
Use the before the national name of the people.
The English are a proud people. PEOPLE: The Japanese, The Chinese, The Portuguese, The Spaniards, etc.

See – A - Nationality Names

Common Mistakes

Errors and Solutions

ERROR	SOLUTION
*The life is difficult for me in my country.	Life is difficult for me in my country.
*After sailing for five weeks, Christopher Columbus saw a land.	After sailing for five weeks, Christopher Columbus saw land. (generic, not specific)
*The English is a hard language for me to learn.	English is a hard language for me to learn.
*The Englishes sent their navy to defeat the Spanishes.	The English sent their navy to defeat the Spanish.
*Alice in a Wonderland – Lewis Carroll	Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll book title

*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.

Practice 1

People are Funny

Generalize – choose the article forms that refer to all.

Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button.

funny. Have you ever noticed how up to chairs in but don't sit down directly? They have to move their a little before sitting down. I've never understood this. may be perfectly placed for to sit in, but for some reason have to move anyway. In fact, fixed to the ground. Perhaps, this to claim . You wouldn't think that moving a chair an inch would make a difference, but apparently it does.

funny. Have you ever noticed how up to chairs in , but don't sit down directly? They have to move their a little before sitting down. I've never understood this. may be perfectly placed for to sit in, but for some reason have to move anyway. In fact, fixed to the ground. Perhaps, this to claim . You wouldn't think that moving a chair an inch would make a difference, but apparently it does.

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PRACTICE ON POINTS OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR