Тема 1.1.: Биографические данные.

Грамматическая тема: Порядок слов в предложении, типы вопросов.

 

Study the words and the word-combinations.

 

Biographical Facts

at the age of… be born	в возрасте… родиться
be born into the family of (doctors, workers)	родиться в семье (врачей, рабочих)
be looked after	быть под присмотром
Christian name syn. First name	имя
finish (leave) school	окончить школу
go to school (start school)	пойти в школу
go to the kindergarten	ходить в детский сад
live in a town (village, city)	жить в (городе, деревне)
move to	переезжать в
study at (school, a lyceum, gymnasium)	учиться в (школе, лицее, гимназии)
surname syn. (last name)	фамилия

 

 

Looks and Appearance

 

beautiful ['bju:tiful]	красивый
blond/fair, dark hair	светлые, тёмные волосы
blue (grey, green, hazel, dark)-eyed	голубо (серо, зелено, каре, черно) – глазый
build [bild]	конституция, телосложение
curly (straight [streit])	кудрявые (прямые)
hair	волосы
figure	фигура
handsome	красивый (о мужчинах)
height [hait]	рост
look like (smb.)	быть похожим на (кого-либо)
of medium height	среднего роста
well built	крепкого телосложения
ordinary	обычный, простой
overweight	весящий больше нормы
plain	некрасивый
plump	полноватый
pretty	симпатичный
short	низкий
slender	стройный
stout	полный, тучный
slim	худой
straight [streit] (snubbed) nose	прямой (курносый) нос
take after (mother, father)	быть похожим на (мать, отца)
tall	высокий

 

Features of Character

 

devoted	преданный
faithful	верный
friendly [‘frendli]	дружелюбный
gentle	нежный
gloomy ['glu:mi]	мрачный
hard-working	трудолюбивый
helpful ['helpful]	помогающий
honest	честный
kind-hearted	добрый, добросердечный
lazy ['leizi]	ленивый
lively [laivli]	живой, веселый
mood[mu:d]	настроение
open-minded	открытый, искренний
polite	вежливый
reserved	сдержанный
rude [ru:d]	грубый
shy	робкий
sociable	общительный
stubborn	упрямый

 

Interests and Ambitions

 

ambition	стремление
be fond of smth	любить что-либо
be interested in smth	интересоваться чем-либо
be keen [ki:n] on smth	увлекаться чем-либо
choose a profession	выбирать профессию
desire	желание, желать
dislike [dis'laik] smth	не нравится что-либо
(to do smth)	(делать что-либо)
do sports	заниматься спортом
dream	мечта
dream of smth	мечтать о чем-либо
enter a university (college)	поступить в университет (колледж)
occupation	занятие
outlook	кругозор

 

Exercises

I. Group the words according to their morphological structure:

tall, eyelashes, wide-shouldered, good-looking, fashionable, forehead, well-built, blond, furcoat, long-legged, charming, plain, wrinkled, slim, waterproof, irregular

 

II. Give all the derivatives you know to the following words:

Wonder, love, comfort, appear, build, charm, face, attract, beauty

 

III. Define the semantic groups these words can belong to (e.g.: size, colour, etc).

brown black blue grey

big small medium tall

round oval square hooked

handsome smart pretty ugly

IV. Fill in the gaps with the suitable derivative of the word given on the right:

 

1. I have an … sister, who is a university graduate.	old
2. She is rather a … girl with short-straight hair.	beauty
3. He is sociable, honest … and cheerful.	help
4. About a month ago I... my final exams at school.	pass
5. My favourite … is playing the guitar, reading and going to the theatre.	occupy

 

V. Choose a proper word in each sentence:

1. She wears her hair in a (ponytail, hairstyle).

2. A young woman doesn’t like her skin because she has got (wrinkles, freckles).

3. She’s on a special diet because she is (overweight, slim).

4. Unlike his brother, who’s rather thin, he’s tall and (stout, well built).

5. The best models always seem to be (beautiful, ordinary).

 

VI. Read the text:

Let me introduce myself. My name is Katya. I have turned 18 this year. When I look at myself in the mirror I see a blond girl with short straight hair, dark eyes and a slender figure. I have to wear high-heeled shoes all the time as I am small, slightly over 160 centimeters in height. I always envy tall girls, to say nothing of top models.

I am not an only child in the family. I have an elder sister, Lena by name, who is a university graduate. I was born in a family of a military man and a doctor. My family had to move from one place to another several times and I was sent to a kindergarten at the age of three as both the parents were working. I have changed three schools in different places. Here I should say that it was my lucky chance to study for six years at an English specialized school in Grodno. It turned out to be the best school I had attended.

I have said goodbye to my classmates and teachers and now I’m a first-year student of the Technical Academy. In five years I’ll be an engineer. The academy for me is not only classes and learning. I have a lot of friends there. We organize extra-class activities such as, for example, debate clubs. We also organize parties and other social activities. I actively participate in most of them.

I am a sociable person, so I've got a lot of friends among my groupmates. I appreciate people's honesty, kindness, sense of justice and intelligence. I don't like it when people are rude and aggressive.

I'm stubborn at times. But to my mind being persistent and stubborn is not always a bad thing. It also means that I do everything possible to achieve my aim, I never leave things half-done.

At times I feel dissatisfied with myself, especially when I fail to do something or can't do things the way they should be done. At the same time I think I am hard-working and diligent.

I haven't got any special hobby, like collecting something, but I'm fond of reading books. They give me more knowledge of other people's lives and feelings and broaden my outlook.

And of course, I like music! I am fond of the music of the 60-s, like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Elvis Presley. The songs of the Beatles give me much delight and pleasure. Besides I'm a great theatre-goer. Whenever I have some time to spare, I go to the theatre. I am not keen on television, I don't watch it much. That's all I can say about myself.

 

VII. Agree or disagree with these sentences (true / false):

1. Katya is at the age of 17.

2. She was born in a family of a worker and a teacher.

3. Katya is a shy person.

4. Her hobby is reading books.

5. Katya is keen on TV.

VIII. Fill in the necessary words: to move, to appreciate, hobby, sociable, entrance.

1. She …people’s honesty, kindness, sense of justice and intelligence.

2. Katya is … person; she’s got a lot of friends.

3. Her … is reading books.

4. At the age of 17 she passed her …exams.

5. Her family had to … from one place to another several times.

 

IX. Translate the sentences into English:

1. Я не единственный ребёнок в семье.

2. Когда я смотрю на себя в зеркало, я вижу блондинку с короткими прямыми волосами.

3. Я общительный человек, поэтому у меня много друзей среди одногруппников.

4. Я люблю музыку 60-х годов.

5. Кроме этого я большая любительница театра.

 

X. Write down the right combinations:

 

1. I’m a school-leaver	a) I see a blond girl
2. When I look at myself in the mirror	b) So I’ve got a lot of friends among my groupmates
3. I have an elder sister	c) Which is both sad and exciting
4. I’m a sociable person	d) Lena by name
5. I haven’t got any special hobby	e) But I’m fond of reading books

 

XI. Answer the questions:

1. What are your good habits?

2. What bad habits do you want to get rid of?

3. How do you behave if you are sure that you are right and your partner is wrong?

4. On what occasions do you cry or lose your temper?

5. Do you think that one's appearance, i. e. the way you wear your hair or clothes, speaks for your personality?

6. What things make you angry with somebody or sorry for somebody?

7. Are you more keen on sports or music (reading, dancing)?

8. Do you easily make friends?

9. Were you on friendly terms with all your classmates?

10. What qualities do you value in people most of all?

11. What talents do you think you have got?

12. Is it necessary to have a hobby do you think?

13. What do your parents usually praise you for?

XII. Make a story about yourself.

СТРУКТУРА ПРЕДЛОЖЕНИЯ

В английском языке, в отличие от русского, существует твердый порядок слов, изменение которого может привести к нарушению смысла предложения. Обычный порядок слов в повествовательном предложении таков:

 

My brother	entered	the University
подлежащее	сказуемое	дополнение
(the Subject)	(the Predicate)	(the Object)

 

Структура распространенного предложения может быть представлена следующим образом:

 

This year	my brother	successfully	entered	the University	in Minsk
обстоятельство времени	подлежащее	обстоятельство образа действия	сказуемое	дополнение	обстоятельство места
the Adverbial Modifiers of Time	the Subject	the Adverbial Modifiers of Manner	the Predicate	the Object	the Adverbial Modifiers of Place

 

Слова, входящие в состав предложения и отвечающие на какой-либо вопрос, являются членами предложения. Члены предложения делятся на главные и второстепенные. К главным членам предложения относятся подлежащее и сказуемое. К второстепенным — дополнения, определения и обстоятельства. Каждый член предложения может расширяться за счет различного рода определителей, образуя развернутые группы подлежащего, сказуемого, дополнения, определения или обстоятельства.

Подлежащее и сказуемое обязательны в английском предложении. Подлежащее может быть выражено существительным, местоимением, числительным, инфинитивом, герундием:

 

The students are translating texts.	Студенты переводят тексты.
They don’t know the rule.	Они не знают правила.
Two is a cardinal numeral.	Два — количественное числительное.
То read much is to know much.	Много читать — много знать.
Reading did much for him.	Чтение много дало ему.

 

Местоимения they и one заменяют подлежащее в неопределенно-личном предложении, местоимение it употребляется в безличном. Например:

 

One can often see him here.	Его можно здесь часто видеть.
They say he is clever.	Говорят, что он умен.
It is cold today.	Сегодня холодно.

 

В предложениях с оборотом there is/are формальным подлежащим является слово there, которое, однако, не имеет самостоятельного значения. Такие предложения указывают на наличие предмета в определенном месте. Например:

 

There are many pages in this book.

В этой книге много страниц.

 

В повелительных предложениях подлежащее опускается.

 

Go to the blackboard.

Иди к доске.

 

Сказуемое, как правило, выражается глаголом в той или иной видо-временной форме:

 

The door is closed.	Дверь закрыта.
By that time she had already graduated from the University.	К тому времени она уже закончила университет.

 

Широко распространены и составные именные сказуемые.

 

I am a student.	Я студентка.
My name is Ann.	Меня зовут Аня.

 

В отличие от русского языка, глагол-связка в английском языке никогда не опускается.

Отрицательные предложения образуются путем прибавления частицы not к первому вспомогательному глаголу (don’t, doesn’t, didn’t, haven’t, hadn’t). Глаголы to be и to have прибавляют частицу not к своим личным формам (am not, isn’t, aren’t, wasn’t, weren’t, haven’t, etc.). В английском языке в отличие от русского может быть только одно отрицание.

 

I don’t see anybody in the street.	Я никого не вижу на улице.
Nobody is seen in the street.	На улице никого не видно.

 

 

EXERCISES

Exercise 1. Point out subjects and predicates in the following sentences. Translate the sentences into Russian.

 

1. The stadium was near my house.

2. Swimming in cold water is not very pleasant.

3. To rebuild the city after the war was one of the hardest tasks.

4. Nobody visited her last year.

5. A famous actor played the main part in this film.

6. It is raining now.

7. It was necessary to buy a return ticket.

8. One mustn’t be late for the lessons.

9. Three of the students got excellent marks.

10. Who told you this?

11. The young ought to respect the old.

12. The wallet is mine.

13. The test is not difficult.

14. The weather seems to be changing.

15. He was seen crossing the street.

16. I am to take 3 exams this winter.

17. He is the manager of the company.

18. She is known to be a good doctor.

19. They are likely to arrive tonight.

20. There are many shops in this street.

 

Exercise 2. Point out objects. Translate the sentences into Russian.

 

1. We won’t go out unless it stops raining. 2. They climbed higher. 3. That is the only book by Tolstoy he hasn't read. 4. I live in the house by the sea. 5. He asked me to open the door. 6. I called every morning to see if there was any news. 7. Their train arrives at 5. 8. I am too tired to go to the cinema. 9. It is too late for you to go there. 10. The keys to the boxes were lost. 11. One can daily see him in the bar.

 

Exercise 3. Point out attributes and adverbial modifiers. Translate the sentences into Russian.

 

1. I am going to read the newspapers delivered.

2. Here is the document to be typed.

3. The problem being discussed is very important.

4. I read this article with great interest.

5. He told me about this tragic event at home yesterday.

6. He offered me a cinema ticket at the University yesterday.

7. We often come across this expression in business English.

8. He has sent me a few English books to read in my spare time.

9. She was reading a fresh newspaper sitting in comfortable chair.

10. Show me the telegram received in the morning.

 

Exercise 4. Make up sentences observing the correct word order.

 

1. have, discussed, the problem, they.

2. In our, student, group, studies, this.

3. Examinations, June, will, take, students, the, next.

4. Now, am, at, I, the, lesson, English.

5. Laboratories, are, at, there, many, the, University.

6. Go, Academy, the, to, every, o’clock, at, nine, morning, I.

7. Factories, furniture, produce, these.

8. December, the shortest, the 22nd, of, day, the, year, is.

ВОПРОСИТЕЛЬНЫЕ ПРЕДЛОЖЕНИЯ

Вопросы подразделяются на общие, относящиеся ко всему предложению и требующие ответа «да» или «нет», специальные, к отдельным членам предложения, альтернативные и расчлененные. Основой для специальных вопросов служат общие.

 

Общий вопрос начинается с вспомогательных, глаголов to be, to have, will/shall, would/should, to do или с модальных глаголов в соответствующей форме.

Чтобы сформулировать общий вопрос, следует вынести вспомогательный глагол в начало предложения. Например:

I can swim. — Can I swim? — Yes, I can.

I will go home. — Will I go home? — Yes, I will.

They do not like ice-cream. — Do they like ice-cream? — No, they don’t.

Если вспомогательного глагола в предложении нет, то в начало предложения выносится глагол to do (does, did).

I liked ice-cream: liked — 1 лицо, ед. число, Past Indefinite.

Did I like ice-cream?

В ответе используется тот же вспомогательный глагол, что и в вопросе:

Will you go home? — Yes, I will.

Do you read books? — Yes, I do.

Can you swim? — Yes, I can.

 

Специальные вопросы (special questions) начинаются с вопросительного слова (what, when, why, where, how, which, etc.), после которого сохраняется структура общего вопроса.

Не writes a book. — Does he write a book?

Чтобы поставить вопрос к слову book используется слово what? — что?

What does he write?

Исключение. Чтобы поставить вопрос к подлежащему, достаточно заменить этот член предложения на вопросительное местоимение who? кто? или what? что? Если смысловой глагол имеет форму настоящего времени, его надо поставить в форму 3-го лица единственного числа, т.е. с окончанием -s. I write a book. — Who writes a book?

 

Альтернативные вопросы (alternative questions) фактически состоят из двух общих вопросов, связанных союзом or. Второй из вопросов обычно неполный:

Does he write a novel or (does he write) a poem?

Ответ: He writes a poem.

 

В устной речи весьма распространены расчлененные вопросы (disjunctive questions). Такой вопрос состоит из утвердительного предложения, за которым следует краткий общий вопрос, соответствующий русскому обороту «не правда ли?», «не так ли?». Причем, если первая часть вопроса утвердительная, то вторая — отрицательная, и наоборот:

Не has a book, hasn’t he? — Не doesn’t like ice-cream, does he?

Чаще всего подлежащее второй части вопроса — местоимение. Ответ требуется такой же, как и на общий вопрос:

Не is a student, isn’t he? — Yes, he is.

 

 

EXERCISES

 

Exercise 1. Point out 1) disjunctive, 2) alternative questions and 3) questions to the subject.

 

1. Does he often come here? 2. Who often comes here? 3. When does he come here? 4. He often comes here, doesn’t he? 5. Does he or his friend often come here? 6. He doesn’t often come here, does he? 7. What lay on the table? 8. Did the book lie on the table or on the floor? 9. The book lay on the table, didn’t it?

 

Exercise 2. Put all possible special questions to the following sentences.

 

1. Last night they went to the drama theatre to see a new play. 2. By the time he came home his younger sister has done all home exercises. 3. Every day at 5 o’clock the homeless black cat came to the back door of the old country house to get something to eat. 4. There are many flowers in our garden in summer. 5. He makes many mistakes when he writes his dictations or compositions. 6. The telegram will have been delivered before they get this letter. 7. The theatre was being built when I moved to this street. 8. The students had written their test by 12 o’clock yesterday. 9. Next year she will have taught English for 20 years already. 10. The students are listening to the lecturer attentively.

 

Exercise 3. Put questions to the words in bold type.

 

1. At nine o’clock next morning he went to the station.

2. They work at this problem now.

3. The woman who is speaking with my sister is our neighbour.

4. It was dark and they couldn't see anything.

5. She is eighteen.

6. The document was signed by the President.

7. As a rule I have ham and eggs for breakfast.

8. There are twelve students in our group.

9. It will take them half an hour to get there.

Тема 1.2: Мой рабочий день.

Грамматическая тема: Имя существительное (категория числа).

Topical vocabulary:

housing — жилье

opportunity — возможность

dormitory, student hostel — студенческое общежитие

rent a flat (an apartment) — снимать квартиру

share — делить (-ся)

week-days — будние дни

alarm clock — будильник

usually — обычно

roommate — сосед по комнате

rather — довольно

turn on (off) — включать, выключать

enough — достаточно

completely — полностью, совершенно

get dressed — одеваться

serve — обслуживать

make up — макияж

while — пока, в то время как

prefer — предпочитать

healthy — здоровый, полезный

miss — пропускать

successfully — успешно

boring — скучный

gossip— сплетничать

have to be back — должны вернуться

break— перерыв

report — доклад

canteen — столовая

tape-recorder — магнитофон

brush one's hair — причесывать волосы

it takes me... minutes to get to the Academy by bus — у меня уходит... минут, чтобы добраться до Академии на автобусе

cloackroom — гардероб

upstairs — наверху, вверх по лестнице

downstairs— внизу, вниз по лестнице

miss classes — пропускать занятия

pass exams — сдать экзамены

do well — делать успехи, хорошо учиться

for the first (second) course — на первое (второе) блюдо

get ready — подготовиться

as a rule — как правило

get tired — устать

take pleasure in — получать удовольствие от...

look forward to — ждать с нетерпением

acquaintance — знакомый

 

 

Exercises

 

I. Find the words with the opposite meaning:

1. week-day	a) harmful
2. usually	b) funny
3. to turn on	c) downstairs
4. healthy	d) seldom
5. boring	e) day-off
6. upstairs	f) to fail exams
7. to pass exams	g) to turn off

 

II. Translate into English:

• быть студентом (студенткой) дневного отделения

• рассказать вам о...

• в будние дни

• просыпаться — вставать в 7 часов утра

• включать магнитофон

• принимать душ

• чистить зубы

• одеваться

• слушать последние новости

• У меня уходит час, чтобы добраться до института

• ездить на автобусе (троллейбусе, трамвае)

• опаздывать на занятия

• заканчиваться в 15:50 вечера

• пропускать занятия

• сдать экзамены успешно

• время от времени

• подготовиться к занятиям

• как правило

• устать

• приходить домой

• быть дома

• иметь свободное время

III. Read the text:

Hi again... As you already know I am a first-year student of the Technical Academy. There are two opportunities for me: I can live in a dormitory (a students hostel), or to rent a flat (an apartment).

I decided to rent a flat. To make the rent smaller, I also decided to share my flat with another girl — Natasha Kozlova. She studies at the Academy, too, and she is my best friend now. I'll tell you more about her later.

Now, let me describe my usual working day. My classes begin at 8:30. So on week-days I have to get up at 7:15. I don't have an alarm clock and usually my roommate wakes me up and my working day begins. I turn on the radio and do my morning exercises while Natasha takes a shower; I don't take a bath in the morning because I don’t have enough time for it. I take a cool shower (that's when I completely wake up), brush my teeth. After that I go back to our room and get dressed. I brush my hair and put on a light make-up. Then we have breakfast. Natasha makes breakfast every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I have to serve breakfast on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. I love to listen to the latest news on the radio while I am eating and Natasha prefers light music.

We leave the house at ten minutes past eight and walk to the nearest bus-stop. We live rather far from the Academy and it usually takes us about a quarter of an hour to get there by bus. Sometimes when the weather is fine and we have enough time we walk to the Academy. It is very healthy to walk much.

The classes begin at 8:30 in the morning and they end at 2:00 p.m. We have lectures in different subjects. As a rule we have three or four classes a day. Sometimes it is very hard to wait till they end.

Usually I don't miss my classes because I want to pass my exams successfully. But sometimes I do, especially when the weather is fine and the classes are boring.

At 11:50 we have lunch. That's my favourite time. That is the time to share the latest news and to gossip. My friends and I prefer not to go to the canteen and we often have lunch in a small cafe not too far from the Academy. At 12:30 we have to be back to our classes. During the working day we also have several short breaks that last for ten minutes. Occasionally I have to stay at the Academy till 5 or even 6 o'clock in the evening because I go to the library to get ready for my practical classes or to write a report. As a rule I have no free time on week-days. So by the end of the week I get very tired.

We come home at about 7 o'clock in the evening. We eat supper together and share the latest news.

After supper we wash dishes, drink coffee or tee and watch TV. I prefer old comedies and Natasha likes serials or films about traveling. Sometimes Natasha and I go for a walk in the park or visit our friends.

At about eleven at night I go to bed. I like to read some­thing before going to bed and Natasha likes to listen to some music Sometimes I fall asleep while I am reading and Natasha gets up and switches off the light and says — Good night!

IV. Agree or disagree with these sentences (true / false):

 

1. On working days the narrator has to get up at 7:20.

2. The narrator usually takes a shower in the morning.

3. They live not far from the Academy.

4. As a rule they have five classes a day.

5. The narrator likes to read before going to bed.

 

V. Fill in the necessary words: report, to miss, enough, to share, roommate, to gossip.

1. Usually my … wakes me up and my working day begins.

2. Sometimes when the weather is fine and we have …time we walk to the Academy.

3. Usually I don't … my classes because I want to pass my exams successfully.

4. Lunch is the time … the latest news and...

5. I go to the library to get ready for my practical classes or to write a...

 

VI. Translate the sentences into English:

 

1. У меня есть две возможности: я могу жить в общежитии или снимать квартиру.

2. Мы живём достаточно далеко от академии, и обычно у нас занимает почти четверть часа, чтобы добраться туда на автобусе.

3. Обычно я не пропускаю занятия, так как хочу сдать экзамены успешно.

4. Так к концу недели я чувствую себя очень уставшей.

5. Мы ужинаем вместе и делимся последними новостями.

 

VII. Write down the right combinations:

 

1. To make the rent smaller	a. to walk much
2. I turn on the radio and do my morning exercises	b. while Natasha takes a shower
3. It is very healthy	c. we also have several short breaks
4. As a rule	d. we have 3-4 classes a day
5. During the working day	e. I decided to share my flat with another girl.

 

VIII. Tell about your typical day. The following questions will help you:

1. Do you get up early?

2. Is it easy for you to get up early

3. Do you wake up yourself or does your alarm-clock wake you up?

4. Do you do your morning exercises?

5. What do you prefer: a hot or a cold shower in the morning?

6. How long does it take you to get dressed?

7. What do you usually have for breakfast?

8. Some people look through newspapers or listen to the latest news on the radio while having breakfast. What about you?

9. When do you usually leave your house?

10. Do you work? If yes, where?

11. How long does it take you to get to your Academy (Institute)?

12. Do you go there by bus/trolley-bus or walk?

13. Where do you usually have lunch (dinner)?

14. What time do you come home?

15. How long does it take you to do your homework?

16. How do you usually spend your evenings?

17. Do you have a lot of free time?

18. Do you play any musical instrument?

19. Are you fond of listening to music?

20. What kind of music do you prefer?

21. Do you collect anything (stamps, records, postcards, coins, matchboxes, etc.)?

22. What time do you usually go to bed?

ИМЯ СУЩЕСТВИТЕЛЬНОЕ

(ТHЕ NOUN)

Имена существительные могут обозначать названия предметов (a cottage, a lamp), живых существ (a girl, a boy), веществ (iron, milk), явлений (spring, movement), признаков (beauty, coldness), действий и состояний (rest, cooperation, honesty).

Основными признаками существительного являются артикль и предлог: a door, the door, on the table, over the table.

Имена существительные делятся на собственные (the Volga, London, Jane) и нарицательные (a tree, a crowd, a city). Имена существительные нарицательные можно разделить на исчисляемые (carpet, pen) и неисчисляемые (snow, sugar), конкретные (coal, wool) и абстрактные (knowledge, information) и собирательные (group, army).

Имена существительные могут употребляться в предложении в функции:

1) подлежащего:

The lesson begins at 8.

2) дополнения (прямого и косвенного):

She gave the child a cake.

3) именной части составного сказуемого:

My son is a doctor.

4) определения:

The Minsk Underground is new.

5) обстоятельства места, времени, образа действия и др.:

The student made some mistakes in his test. We saw this play at the theatre on Friday.

В английском языке существительные имеют грамматические категории числа и падежа, но не имеют категории рода. Существительные, обозначающие лиц мужского пола, заменяются местоимением he (он), женского пола — местоимением she (она). Названия животных, птиц, а также все неодушевленные предметы обозначаются местоимением it (он, она, оно).

B английском языке род имен существительных за редким исключением (tiger — tigress, poet — poetess) узнается только в контексте. Иногда к существительному добавляется слово, указывающее на пол: a girl-friend, she-cat.