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

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All v. One Identified
Language v. The People
Common Mistakes
Practice 1
Practice 2

All (plural) / The – identified

Referring to all vs. a specific one

ALL (plural)	THE – IDENTIFIED
unspecific and unidentified — refers to all — uses no article (0 marker) — uses no identifying modifiers (this one, that one, the one on the right, there)	specific and identified — uses adverbs of frequency (always, often, occasionally, never, etc.) — uses simple present tense — has the implied meaning "true for most"
Salami is very salty. (non-count noun)	The salami on the right is very salty.
Crackers are salty. (count noun)	The crackers on the right are salty.
Classes always fill up quickly.	The classes at my gym always fill up quickly.
People head for the beach in the summer.	The people in my area head for beach in the summer.
Most people prefer to drive their own cars.	Most of the people that I know prefer to bicycle.

Language vs. the People

LANGUAGE	THE PEOPLE
Use no article before a language.	Use the before the national name of the people.
English is spoken here. LANGUAGE: Spanish Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, Chinese, Swahili, etc.	The English are a proud people. PEOPLE: The Japanese, The Chinese, The Portuguese, The Spaniards, etc.

LANGUAGE

THE PEOPLE

Use no article before a language.

Use the before the national name of the people.

English spoken here
English is spoken here.
LANGUAGE: Spanish Japanese, Chinese,
Portuguese, Chinese, Swahili, etc.

The English are a proud people.
PEOPLE: The Japanese, The Chinese,
The Portuguese, The Spaniards, etc.

See – A - Nationality Names

Common Mistakes

ERROR	FIX
*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

Making a Generalization

Select the response from the menu that makes a generalization.
Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.

YOUR RESPONSE	ANSWERS
People Are Funny 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.	People Are Funny 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.

YOUR RESPONSE

ANSWERS

People Are Funny

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.

People Are Funny

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 (adj.) – peculiar, curious or amusing.

Practice 2

Graffiti Art

All in general or a specific one?

Select the answer that best completes the sentence.
An asterisk * indicates an incorrect answer.

#	FEEDBACK	YOUR RESPONSE
1.	graffiti is a form of art. The - (no marker)	FEEDBACK 1:
2.	Unlike other art, graffiti is "illegal art". the - (no marker)	FEEDBACK 2:
3.	graffiti artists usually work under the cover of darkness. The - (no marker)	FEEDBACK 3:
4.	Most of graffiti artists are under twenty-five. the - (no marker)	FEEDBACK 4:
5.	Most artists use spray-paint. the - (no marker)	FEEDBACK 5:
6.	Graffiti is often found by freeways. the - (no marker)	FEEDBACK 6?
7.	freeway walls of Los Angeles have several amazing works. The - (no marker)	FEEDBACK 7:
8.	highway cleaning crews paint over the works of art regularly. The - (no marker)	FEEDBACK 8:
9.	works of art can be destroyed in only a few roller strokes of gray paint. The - (no marker)	FEEDBACK 9?
10.	photographs are kept in portfolios to preserve the image. The - (no marker)	FEEDBACK 10?
11.	photographs can be used to copyright the artists "work of art". The - (no marker)	FEEDBACK 11

Text View

Practice 1

People Are Funny

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

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