UNNECESSARY WORDS - UNNECESSARY ARTICLES 02 and THE INFINITIVE WITHOUT "TO"

Dialog

Right, you. Let's get this over with. No dawdling today.

Okay, you. I've got my notebook ready. I'll try my best, honestly.

You always say that. Just try to actually listen for once. We're doing those 'don't say' and 'say' things.

First one. I went to the church on Sunday. Correct or incorrect?

Hmm. I think… it sounds okay. So, correct?

Wrong! See? Already messing up. That's a don't say sentence. You should say: I went to church on Sunday.

Oh. Why?

Because when you say 'go to church,' it means you're going there to pray, for a service, you know? But if you say 'go to the church,' it means you're just visiting the building, maybe looking at the architecture or something. You usually go to church to pray, don't you?

Oh, I see. So, no 'the' if you're praying. Got it. Sorry.

Good. Next. The nature is beautiful in spring. Is that right?

Uh, that sounds pretty good to me. I'd say that. So, correct?

Ugh, you really aren't thinking, are you? It's another don't say! You just say: Nature is beautiful in spring.

But... why? "The nature" sounds more complete.

Because 'nature' by itself is a general idea, like the whole world outdoors. When you use 'the,' it usually means you're talking about something specific. If you mean nature in general, you don't need 'the.' It's like saying 'the life is hard.' You wouldn't, would you? You'd say 'life is hard.'

Oh, okay. General, no 'the.' Specific, yes 'the.' Like, 'the nature of a dog is loyal.'

Exactly! See? You can get it when you try. Don't look so surprised.

Okay, don't get cocky now. Try this one. A thief is a danger to the society. Correct or incorrect?

Hmm, this is like the last one, isn't it? 'Society' is general here. So, it should be 'a danger to society.' So, the sentence is incorrect.

Well done! You finally got one without me practically telling you. That's right. When you're talking about 'society' in general, like all people living together, you don't use 'the.'

So, 'the society' would be for a specific group?

Yeah, like 'the society of ancient Rome.' Or if you mean spending time with people, like 'I enjoy the society of my friends.'

That makes sense. I won't forget that now.

Right. Let's try to mix it up a bit. You must be careful in future. Is that correct?

In future... not 'in the future'? I usually say 'in the future.' So, I think this is incorrect?

You're almost there, but you got it the wrong way around! That sentence is correct. You must be careful in future means 'from now on.'

Oh! So what's 'in the future' then?

'In the future' means in the time to come, like 'Nobody knows what will happen in the future.' It's a bit different. So 'in future' is for something you do from now on. Don't mess that up, it's quite simple.

I think I understand. 'In future' means starting now. 'In the future' means the time that hasn't happened yet.

Okay. This one's tricky. The boy whose the father is ill has left. Correct or incorrect?

Whose the father... that sounds a bit off. Like 'the' is extra. So, incorrect?

Finally, you're actually listening to how things sound! It is incorrect. You should say: The boy whose father is ill has left.

Why is it wrong?

Because 'whose' already means 'of whom' or 'of which.' It already includes the idea of possession, so you don't need 'the' after it. It's like saying 'whose his father' – it's just clunky and wrong. 'Whose' does the job of the article already.

Oh, I get it! So 'whose' replaces 'the.' No need for two words doing the same thing.

Exactly. Right, next. What kind of a book do you want? Correct or incorrect?

What kind of a book? I often hear people say that. So, I'll say correct.

See, that's your problem. Just because people say it doesn't mean it's right. It's a don't say! You should say: What kind of book do you want?

Really? Why?

Because when you use 'kind of' or 'sort of,' you don't put 'a' or 'an' after it. It's just not how it works. It's like it already implies 'a type of.' So 'kind of book' is enough.

So, 'what kind of pizza' not 'what kind of a pizza.'

Precisely. You got that one pretty quickly. Maybe you do pay attention sometimes.

Let's see if you remember the rule from the last one. He now found a work at the bank. Correct or incorrect?

'A work'... Like 'a fun' or 'a health'? No. Those don't sound right either. So this is incorrect. It should just be 'He now found work at the bank.'

Amazing! You actually remembered. That's a don't say sentence. You're right, you don't use 'a' or 'an' before words like 'work,' 'fun,' 'health,' or 'permission' when you mean them generally.

I'm glad I got that right. I was a bit worried.

Don't be such a wimp. You're doing fine.

Right, moving on. My brother can to swim very well. Is that correct?

Oh, that definitely sounds wrong. 'Can to swim'? No. It should just be 'can swim.' So, incorrect.

Good. That's an easy one, isn't it? 'Can' is what we call a modal verb, and you don't put 'to' after it before the next verb. Just 'can swim.'

So, no 'to' after 'can.'

What about this? I must to see him at his office. Correct or incorrect?

Ah, it's the same rule, isn't it? 'Must' is like 'can.' So, it should be 'I must see him,' not 'must to see.' So, incorrect.

Excellent! You're really picking this up. Yes, 'must' is another one of those verbs that doesn't need 'to' afterwards. Just the bare infinitive. You're not completely hopeless after all.

Okay, keep that brain working. His father would not let him to go. Correct or incorrect?

Let him to go... sounds a bit like 'make him to understand' from that list. So, it's incorrect. It should be 'let him go.'

You're on fire today! That's perfectly correct. The verb 'let' also takes the infinitive without 'to.' You're actually making some progress, I suppose.

Don't let it go to your head. Try this. They saw him to leave the house. Correct or incorrect?

Saw him to leave... I feel like it should be 'saw him leave.' So, incorrect.

You're right again! You're quite good at this when you concentrate. 'See' is another verb where you don't use 'to' with the infinitive that follows. You just say 'They saw him leave the house.' Or you could say 'They saw him leaving the house' – that's also fine.

So, 'see,' 'watch,' 'hear,' 'feel' are like that too? No 'to.'

Precisely. Someone's actually paying attention for once. Let's finish up.

Last one. I could feel his heart to beat. Correct or incorrect?

Given what you just said, it must be incorrect. It should be 'I could feel his heart beat.'

Absolutely right! You got it. Just 'feel his heart beat.' Or 'feel his heart beating,' both are correct. You've actually done quite well today. For you, anyway.

Thank you! I really tried. I think I understand these better now.

Good. Now stop looking so pathetic. You did well. Now, about that homework...

Summary

• 322. Wrong use of "the'' with "church." Don't say: On Sunday I go to the church. Say: On Sunday I go to church.. "To go to church means to go and pray; while to go to the church' means to go and visit the church. ket and "go to the market," "go to sea' and"go to the sea, "sit at the table."
• 323. Wrong use of "the'' with "nature." Don't say: The nature is beautiful in spring Say: Nature is beautiful in spring. NOTE. But the definite article is required if "nature"' is used in other meanings: as, "It is in the nature of a dog to be faith- ful."
• 324. Wrong use of "the' with "society." Don't say: A thief is a danger to the society. Say: A thief is a danger to society. NOTE. But the definite article is required if "society" is used (1) in a particular sense: as, "The society of the Greeks was based on freedom"'; (2) in the sense of companionship: as, *I enjoy the society of my friends.
• 325. Wrong use of "the' in the phrase "in future" (=- from now on). Don't say: You must be careful in the future. Say: You must be careful in future. NOTE. "In the future" means in the time to come: as, "No- body knows what will happen in the future."
• 326. Wrong use of "the"' after "whose." Don't say: The boy whose the father is ill has left. Say: The boy whose father is ill has left. The article must not be used after the relative "whose' because. the relative takes the place of the article.
• 327. Wrong use of the indefinite article after "kind. .JO yOS,, IO JO Don't say. What kind of a book do you want?. Say: What kind of book do you want? The phrase "kind of"' or "sort of" should not be followed by the indefinite article"a"or"an."
• 328. Wrong use of the indefinite article before "work," etc. Don't say: He now found a work at the bank. Say: He now found work at the bank. The indefinite article should not be used before such words as "work,""fun,"health,"permission." (See Exercise 18 on page 155.)
• 329. Can + infinitive without "to." Don't say: My brother can to swim very well.. Say: My brother can swim very well. NOTE. The negative form "cannot"' is always written as one. word.
• 333. Must + infinitive without"to." Don't say: I must to see him at his office. Say: I must see him at his office
• 334. Let + infinitive without "to." Don't say: His father would not let him to go. Say: His father would not let him go.
• 336. See + infinitive without "to." Don't say: They saw him to leave the house. Say: They saw him leave the house. NOTE. "They saw him leaving the house" is also correct
• 339. Feel + infinitive without "to.". Don't say: I could feel his heart to beat.. Say: I could feel his heart beat. Or: I could feel his heart beating.

Reference: T. J. FITIKIDES, "COMMON MISTAKES IN ENGLISH" p71 - p75