The 4 — the giraffe / the telephone / the old etc.
Types, Adjective Groups & Nationalities — Complete Guide
Master three special uses of the: referring to a type of thing (the giraffe), talking about groups with the + adjective (the old, the rich), and using the + nationality (the French, the Chinese)
Unit 76 covers three special uses of the that go beyond the basic specific/general distinction. We use the + singular noun to refer to a whole type or class of thing (The giraffe is the tallest animal). We use the + adjective to talk about groups of people (the poor, the elderly). And we use the + nationality adjective to refer to the people of a country (the French, the Chinese).
The Giraffe / The Telephone — Referring to a Type
We use the + singular noun to talk about a type of animal, machine, invention, or currency — not one specific example. This is also used for musical instruments.
Invention: When was the camera invented?
Currency: The dollar is the currency of the United States.
Instruments: Can you play the guitar? · The piano is my favourite instrument.
The Old, The Rich — The + Adjective (Groups of People)
We use the + adjective (without a noun) to talk about a group of people. These expressions are always plural. For one person, we need a noun.
Plural: Do you think the rich should pay higher taxes?
One person: a rich man (not a rich) · a homeless person (not a homeless)
The French, The Chinese — Nationalities with the
We use the + nationality adjective to refer to the people of a country. This applies to adjectives ending in -ch, -sh, -ese, -ss. For other nationalities, the plural ends in -s (usually without the).
the French · the Dutch · the British · the English · the Spanish
-ese / -ss endings (plural, or singular with a/an):
the Chinese · the Portuguese · the Swiss → a Chinese, a Swiss (singular OK)
Other nationalities → plural with -s (no the):
an Italian → Italians · a Mexican → Mexicans · a Thai → Thais
Italians / Mexicans / Thais are very friendly.
With the (no singular possible)
Without the (plural -s)
Answer the questions — choose from the box. Don't forget the.
Use the + noun (type/class). Write the full answer including the.
Put in the or a
Type only the article needed (the / a / an).
Complete using the + adjective
Choose from the box below. Use the + adjective group.
What do you call the people of these countries?
Fill in both columns: one person (a/an …) and the people in general.
| Country | One person (a/an …) | The people in general |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | a Canadian | Canadians |
| Germany | ||
| France | ||
| Russia | ||
| Japan | ||
| Brazil | ||
| England |
Frequently Asked Questions — The 4
A piano refers to one specific piano (any piano). The piano refers to the instrument as a type or category. I'd like to have a piano in my flat. (= one piano, the object). She plays the piano beautifully. (= the piano as an instrument type).
No. When using the + adjective for groups, the adjective never takes a plural -s. Say the old, the poor, the young. Also remember these expressions are already plural — never say a old or a poor alone. For one person: an old man, a poor woman.
No. For nationalities ending in -ch, -sh (French, English, Spanish, Dutch, British), you cannot use the word alone as a singular noun. Say a French person, a French woman, or a Frenchman. The form the French is always plural (= all French people).
Nationalities ending in -ese (Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese) can be used as both singular and plural. The Chinese = the Chinese people (plural). A Chinese = one Chinese person (singular) — this is acceptable, though a Chinese person is more natural. The same applies to a Swiss, a Portuguese.
No. When man means the human race in general, we use it without the: What do you know about the origins of man? However, in modern usage human beings or humans is often preferred.
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