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1. The Definite
Article
Many students are confused by the use of articles
in English, particularly by the definite article "the";
The basic rules:
Basically, the rules are quite simple:
* The definite article shows that a noun
is being used in a "defined" or restricted context.
* When a noun is used in a non-defined
or "generalizing" context, a definite article is not needed.
Two sorts of noun.
Use of the definite article therefore depends
on the nature or type of noun that is being used.
As in other languages, nouns in English can be
divided into two distinct categories, called:
count
nouns and
non-count nouns.
* Count nouns
are nouns referring to items that can be counted, for example:
One car, two pencils, three people,
four guitarists, five hotels etc.
Count nouns can be used in the plural.
* Non-count nouns
are nouns referring to abstractions, substances or generalizations, for
example:
Oxygen, health, money, heat, astronomy
Non-count nouns can NOT usually be used in
the plural.
* Some nouns can
be used either in a "count" context, or in a "non-count" context. This
is particularly true with plural uses of count nouns.
Compare:
Count forms:Look
at the birds in that tree.
The books you gave me yesterday are
interesting
The men left the women in the bus.
In each of these cases, the plural nouns refer
to clearly defined groups of birds, books, men or women, not to generalizations.
Non-count forms:Birds
can fly
Books are printed on paper.
Men and women sometimes have different
ideas.
In each of these cases, the plural nouns refer
to generalizations, i.e. all birds, books, men or women
Some singular nouns can also have defined
and non defined uses:
for example:
I like whisky,
but I don't like the whisky you
bought.
Air
is essential for humans, but the air
in this city is polluted.
In both of these examples, the same noun is first
used as a generalization,
then used in a defined context.
Thus, we can draw a few simple but precise
guidelines:
Count-nouns in the singular
must have an article (or other determiner).
The boy, the cat, the pencil, (a cat,
this cat, etc.)
Non-count nouns in the singular
(abstractions etc.) only require an article if they are being used restrictively:
The music of Bach....
Count nouns in the plural
have an article when referring to defined cases, no article when implying
generalisations.
Plural forms of non-count nouns
do not usually exist.
THE BIG
QUESTION:
Sometimes it is not easy to decide if a plural
noun is being used as a generalization, or in a restrictive context: often
the speaker or writer can choose. Look at these two sentences:
a) London buses are red
b) The London buses are red.
In example (a), the writer is clearly implying
a generalisation on the noun group "London
buses": All London buses are
red.
In example (b), he is referring to a restricted
or defined category of the noun "buses",
London buses are red, but other buses may be of other colours.
In cases like these, one therefore has a choice;
but the choice is not always completely free, as it often depends on context.
Is it more important or more logical to imply a generalization, or a limitation?
Deciding whether it is best to use an article
in such cases is a skill that has to be mastered!
This website is being developed: further
subjects will be added in due course.
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