Articles with abstract nouns

Generally – no article.

+ No article with adjectives denoting:

• nationality (French art)

• social characteristics (racial, religious)

• period of time (modern, ancient, mediaeval, further)

• authenticity (true, real, false)

• degree (perfect, great, utter, sheer (sheer joy), huge, complete, absolute)

• genres, trends in art (classical, folk, romantic, detective (detective literature))

• referring to social/political life (social, public, moral, personal, mental, humane (humane philosophy))

• position (outside, inside, inner, local)

“A” if the noun denotes a certain kind of quality, state, emotion. Usually it means a descriptive attribute.

She sat down with a feeling of hopelessness.

a dramatic eagerness

“A” – always with “peculiar” and “certain”.

There’s a certain/peculiar quietness in the room.

+ It’s a pity/shame/relief/pleasure/disappointment.

+ What a pity/shame/relief/pleasure/disappointment.

+ a period of 10 days

a distance of 10 miles + a height of…/a salary of…/a population of…

But: “a” is often omitted (though there is a descriptive attribute):

• with predicative nouns

It was dramatic eagerness.

• in prepositional phrases

He was a man of wonderful courage.

• with prepositions “with” and “in”

She looked at us with helpless anger.

“A” is never used with: “advice, assistance, control, evidence, health, fun, information, luck, money, nature, news, progress, weather, work.”

“The” is used if:

• there is a restrictive attribute

the art of the 19^th century; the history of England

• the situation/context makes the idea definite.

+ with adjectives “the present, the past, the future, the singular, the plural”

in future – впредь; in the future – в будущем

Articles with nouns of material/substance

Generally – no article.

(Even if there is a descriptive attribute: beautiful silk, Venetian glass)

“The” if a definite part is meant (there is a restrictive attribute or the situation makes it clear what we mean):

The milk you bought yesterday has gone sour.

“A” if we use a noun of material as a class noun/if a sort is meant:

He ordered a beer.

Articles with proper names articles with names of persons

Generally – no article.

“The”:

• the whole family: the Forsytes

• limiting attribute: The Webber I know lives in Vienna.

“A”:

• a representative of a family: Florence will never be a Dombey.

• a (certain) Jones некий Джонс

+ Military ranks/titles/nouns expressing relationship + proper names = no article:

Colonel Brown

Count Dracula

Aunt Polly

President Lincoln

(But: the painter Raphael)

+ Nouns expressing family relationship + “nurse, cook, baby” are used without any articles if used by members of the family.

Note 1: names of persons used as common nouns follow the general rules on the use of articles:

He’s quite a Titian.

I’ll take a Pullman.

I’d have recognized an Aivazovsky.

Note 2: names of persons modified by adjectives:

• “old, young, poor, dear, little, honest, lazy” – no article

• other adjectives and participles – “the”

The late Mrs. Jones was a nice person.

• “certain” – “a”

• if we mean their mood – “a”

A surprised Jane opened the door.