The article
Here you can find a detailed informatiom about articles in English. Though the information is for intermediate students, we have something in Russian as well. You are able to apply your knowledge in exercises and check youself doing tests given. The list of used literature and internet resourses is enclosed. Have a good and useful time!
THEORY
general notion.
use of articles with common nouns
use of articles with abstract nouns
use of articles with material nouns
use of articles with proper nouns
use of articles in set expressions
артикль в английском языке
2 Exercises
3 Tests
GENERAL NOTION.
The article is a structural part of speech used with nouns.
There are two articles in Modern English: the indefinite article and the definite article.
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The absence of articles with class nouns in the plural, with abstract nouns and nouns of material has grammatical significance: it shows that the nouns are used in a general sense.
Note: With nouns in the plural some is often used. Some, as well as the absence of articles with class nouns in the plural, is the equivalent of the indefinite article in the singular. Some is used when the speaker wants to emphasize the idea of number. Some is also used with nouns of material if the idea of quantity is implied. Some has the meaning of 'several1 with class nouns and 'a little' with nouns of material. Some is hardly ever translated into Russian.
USE OF ARTICLES WITH COMMON NOUNS
CLASS NOUNS
Class nouns are used with the indefinite article:
When the speaker presents the object expressed by the noun as belonging to a certain class.
In this case the indefinite article has the meaning of 'какой-нибудь, какой-то, один (in the meaning of 'некий'). She has a watch of her own. Close beside them grew a rose-bush covered with scarlet hips. Note:In the plural no article is used in this case. If the idea of number is implied the noun is preceded by the pronoun some. I liked the room because there were flowers in it. "I have brought you some flowers..." "I hate to wear flowers."
With a predicative noun, when the speaker states that the object denoted by the noun belongs to a certain class.
Miss Sharp's father was an artist. "Is your brother an agreeable man, Peggotty?" - "Oh, what an agreeable man he is!" She works as a chemist. In the plural neither the article nor the pronoun some is used. They are good children, no doubt. they were business men when I was in the nursery." Note : After the conjunction as a predicative noun is often used without an article. She was engaged as governess.
3. When the noun is used in a general sense. What is said of one representative of a class can be applied to all the representatives of the class. The article has the meaning of 'every'. A drowning man catches at a straw. In the plural neither the article nor the pronoun some is used. Real friends should have everything in common. (Wilde)
4. There are cases when the indefinite article preserves its old original meaning of 'one'. This meaning is generally found with nouns denoting time, measure and weight, the numerals hundred, thousand, million and the nouns dozen, score. He had hardly spoken a word since they left Riccardo's door ... A week or two passed. He seems to have half a dozen languages at his finger-tips.
Class nouns are used with the definite article:
When the noun denotes an object or objects which the speaker singles out from all the objects of a given class. An object is singled out in the following cases:
(a) when the speaker and the hearer know what particular object is meant. No special indication is necessary. How did you like the play? I have got the magazine. (b) when the speaker uses an attribute pointing out a particular object
This is the house that Jack built.
(c) when the situation itself makes the object definite.
The wedding looked dismal. The bride was too old and the bridegroom was too young.
2. When the noun denotes a thing unique (the sun, the moon,the universe) or a class.The sun was getting warmer.The bourgeoisie is cowardly. Note: The indefinite article can be used when we mean a certain aspect in which the sun, moon and sky appear to us, a certain state of the sun, the moon, the sky. In this case an attribute is used. A pearl-white moon smiles through the green trees.
3. With nouns used in a generic sense. A noun used in a generic sense denotes a genus taken as a whole, a thing taken as a type, a genre. The tiger has always had the reputation of being a man-eater. The telephone was invented in the 19th century. The tragedy and the comedy first appeared in Greece. Note: When the noun man is used in a generic sense no article is used. Silas felt that his trust in man had been cruelly destroyed. A noun used in a general sense denotes an object regarded as an individual representative of a class, A detective story helps to while away the time. (Every or any detective story is meant here.) A noun in a generic sense denotes the whole class. Conan Doyle is a master of the detective story. (The detective story is regarded here as a certain genre.)
4. The definite article is used with nouns: (1) modified by adjectives in the superlative degree. Miss Tox had the softest voice that ever was heard. (2) in word-groups some, many, none, most + noun with the preposition of. Most of the gentlemen looked both angry and uncomfortable. (3) modified by same, wrong (не тот), right (тот), very (именно тот, тот самый). "Ah! Mr. Burton!" exclaimed the Director, "the very person 1 wanted." «... именно тот (как раз тот) человек, который мне нужен».
(4) with substantivized adjectives and participles. The listeners noted something
beyond the usual in his voice.
The use of articles with class nouns modified by attributes.
The indefinite article |
The definite article
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In a fortnight I got a long letter, which I considered odd. The post on her left was occupied by Mr. Erskine, an old gentleman of considerable charm and culture |
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NOUNS OF MATERIAL
No article is used with nouns of material in a general sense. On hearing what had happened, she (Katie) ran for warm water.
When a definite part of the substance is meant (when the noun is modified by a particularizing attribute or is made definite by the situation), the definite article is used. Pettinger gulped down a glass of the sherry which CorneJius had finally brought. The meat was good and White Fang was hungry.
When an indefinite part of the substance is meant, some is used. We took some bread and cheese with us, and got some goat's milk up there on the pasture.
ABSTRACT NOUNS
When abstract nouns are used in a general sense, no article is used. While there is life there is hope.
When abstract nouns are modified by a particularizing attribute or when the situation makes the idea definite, they are used with the definite article. Last night I heard Carmen and enjoyed the music.
Note I. — It should be borne in mind that abstract nouns modified bv an attribute in ргеposition are used without articles unless they are modified by particularizing attributes: Engish literature, Russian art, Soviet music. Note 2. — The abstract noun weather is never used wilh the indefinite article. What fine weather! It is burning weather. Note 3. — With countable abstract nouns the use of the articles is the same as with class nouns. It is a capital idea if only one could carry it out.
USE OF ARTICLES WITH PROPER NOUNS
Names of persons.
Names of persons are used without articles Sarie looked at Lanny and Celia.
Names denoting the whole family are used with the definite article. The Dashwoods were now settled at Berton.
When names of persons are used to denote a representative of a family, the indefinite article is used. "Florence will never, never, never be a Dombey," said Mrs. Chick
Names of persons modified by a particularizing attribute are used with the definite article. You're not the Andrew Manson I married.
Names of persons used as common nouns take the article according to the general rule on the use of articles. Swithin smiled and nodding at Bosinney said, "Why, you are quite a Monte Cristo."
Nouns denoting military ranks and titles such as academician, professor, doctor (both a profession and a title), count, lord, etc.followed by names of persons do not take the article. In such cases only the proper noun is stressed: Colonel' Brown, Doctor' Strong. Common nouns denoting professions followed by names of persons are used with the definite article. In this case both nouns are stressed. The painter Gainsborough has left many fine pictures.
Nouns expressing relationship followed by names of persons do not take the article: Aunt Polly, Uncle James. She turned to Cousin Clixam.
The use of articles with names of persons modified by adjectives is varied. In most cases no article is used with names of persons modified by the adjectives old, young, poor, dear, little, honest, lazy. ... she is the widow of poor Giovanni Bella ... He saw that old Chapin wanted to moralize a little. When modified by other adjectives and participles names of persons take the definite article. The astonished Tom could not say a word. Names of persons modified by the adjective certain are usedwith the indefinite article. I heard it from a certain Mr. Brown.
Geographical names.
No article |
The |
A/an |
(continents, countries, states, towns):England, France, Moscow, London and names modified by an attribute in preposition: Soviet Russia, North America, Latin America, Cenlral Asia.
not take the article if the word lake is used: Lake Ontario 3. With names of mountain peaks: Elbrus, Everest. 4. With names of single islands: Madagascar. 5. Names of streets and squares: Oxford Street, Walls street, Trafalgar square. There are a few exceptions: the High Street, the Strand. 6. town + building: Oxford University, York airport 7. In the expressions from East to West, from North to South. 8. Names of months and days without particularizing (the) or descriptive (a) adjective: in June, on Monday
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the Soviet Union, the United States
names modified by a particularizing attribute. The Philadelphia into which he was born was a city of 250000 and more.
oceans, seas, rivers the Pacific Ocean (the Pacific), (he Black Sea), the Thames.
lakes without word lake: the Ontario. 5. With names of mountain: the Urals, the Alps. 6. With names of groups of islands: the Hebrides, the Bermudas. 7. The names of the following countries, towns and provinces: the Hague, the Netherlands, theWest Indies, the Ruhr, the Riviera, the Crimea, the Ukraine,the Caucasus, the Congo, The Lebanon 8. Names of hotels, ships, cinemas, theatres, newspapers and magazines. 9. With the names of cardinal points: the North, the South, the West, the East. 10. Names of months and days with particularizing adjective: The May of 1949 will always rest in my memory.
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and days
adjective: A cold May is the usual thing in Leningrad
many Mondays, Fridays. I do not remember exactly when he came from Moscow, but I am sure it was on a Monday |
Note: If a noun is modified by a proper noun in the genitive case no article is used. I met Robert's father.
The noun modified by a proper noun in the common case is used with the definite article. Last summer I visited the Tretyakov Gallery.
USE OF ARTICLES WITH NOUNS IN SOME SET EXPRESSIONS
A/An |
The |
No article |
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USE OF ARTICLES IN SOME SYNTACTIC RELATIONS
The use of articles with predicative nouns. A predicative noun is used with the indefinite article if the speaker states that the object denoted by the noun belongs to a certain class. If a predicative noun is modified by a particularizing attribute, the definite article is used. He is the student you wanted to speak to. If a predicative noun denotes a post which can be occupied by one person at a time, either no atricle or the definite article is used. Professor N. is the dean of our faculty. No article is used with predicative pouns after the verbs to turn, to commence, to appoint, to elect. Shakespeare commenced actor. (Шекспир начинал как актер). They appointed him head-teacher. ( Его назначили старшим преподавателем) A predicative noun sometimes has an adjectival character, especially when it is followed by the adverb enough. In this case no article is used. Surely Bolla isn't fool enough to believe that sort of stuff? The nouns son and daughter used predicatively take article the when modified by an o/-phrase, though there may several sons and daughters in the family.Lomonosov was the son of a fisherman. Becky Sharp was the daughter of an artist.
The use of articles with nouns in apposition. Nouns in apposition and nouns forming part of an apposition are used:
with the indefinite article if the speaker states that the object expressed by the noun in apposition belongs to a certain class. I want to introduce you to Comrade B,, a great friend of mine. In the plural no article is used. I want to introduce you to Comrades B, and D., great friends of mine.
with the definite article if they are modified by a particularizing attribute. Comrade В., the student you have mentioned, has come.
If the noun denotes a well-known person or work of art the definite article is generally used. Pushkin, the great Russian poet, died in 1837. Hamlet, the immortal tragedy by Shakespeare, was written in the first years of the 17th century. But if the person or the work of art is not widely known the indefinite article is used. Pericles, a comedy by Shakespeare, is hardly ever staged. Class nouns used in address take no article. Come downstairs, child.
PLACE OF THE ARTICLE.
The usual place of the article is before the noun if it is not modified by an attribute; if the noun is modified by an attribute, the article is placed before the latter.
However, there are cases when the article follows the attribute. 1. The definite article follows the attribute expressed by the pronouns both, all. Both the stories were interesting. All the stories were Interesting. 2. The indefinite article follows the attribute expressed by an adjective after so, too, as. It was as black a house inside as outside.
3. The indefinite article follows quite, such, what (what in exclamatory sentences). She is quite a child. I've never heard of such a thing. What a wonderful piece of luck!
4. The indefinite article either precedes or follows rather.This enquiry envolved the respected lady in rather a delicate position. They stop and interchange a rather heated look