Structural patterns Articles with names of seasons.

a) No article

Names of seasons are mostly used without any articles though the definite article may be found even in general statements. In the function of a predicative It was spring.

Nouns denoting seasons are used without any article when they are modified by the adj NEXT& LAST in Present time context.

They got married last summer.

NOTE: In Past time context the definite article may be used in similar cases but its use is not obligatory.

He said the next summer he would go to England.

b) The definite article

MB ! IN THE FALL The definite article is usually used if names of seasons are modified by limiting attributes or limitation is clear from the context (we talk about specific summer).

It was the autumn of 1942.

We’ll definitely visit you in the summer. (meaning next summer)

The definite article is also obligatory after prepositions during for through .

He won't last through the summer.

NOTE: When we talk about seasons in general, we can use either in or in the. In without the is often used in more formal or literary contexts:

These birds arrive in Britain in summer, and leave as the winter begins.

In the summer, we usually go to the mountains.

c) The indefinite article

When names of seasons are modified by descriptive attributes they take the indefinite article.

It was a rainy autumn.

However, when names of seasons are modified by the adj late early , there is no article.

It was late autumn.

Exercise 9. Choose the right variant.

1. His father always took his children to the coast during (summer/the summer).

2. Her best friend worked hard during (winter/ the winter).

3. You know, (late summer/ the late summer) is usually rainy in this sunny country.

4. My family decided to spend ( autumn/ the autumn) in town.

5. (A summer/ summer) is generally very short in Moscow.

6. Yes, yes, I remember it was (a rainy summer/ the rainy summer).

7. Where are you going for ( the winter/ winter)?

8. My brother told me that it was (a terrible/ terrible summer) for him.

9. I met my husband in ( a summer/ summer).

10. She is going to skate a lot in ( a winter/winter).

11. It was (an autumn/ autumn).

Exercise 10. Fill in the gaps with the right article, where necessary.

1. Suppose he should be absent in ___ spring, ___ summer, and ___ autumn.

2. Things got shabbier and shabbier ___summer after ___ summer.

3. In ____ spring and ____ summer one got on better: sunshine and long days make such a difference.

4. Time will change my love as___winter changes the trees.

5. Now she has nothing to keep her alive, and she'll be dead before___winter.

6. She had favoured me with a description of___brilliant winter she had spent in London two seasons ago.

7. Already it was___deep summer on roadhouse roofs .

8. I don't think either ___summer or harvest, or winter moon, will ever shine on their revels more.

9. ___Summer approached.

10. ___fine spring shone round me.

11. ___Summer followed ____ summer, but he was unchanged.

12. It was a very dark evening for ___summer.

13. _____ spring is the best time to start a new life.

14. Last year _____ winter was mild.

15. We are expecting ______ slushy winter this year.

16. Days in _____ summer are apt to linger.

17. Often he went without a greatcoat in _____ winter.

18. They were made in _____ winter, and it is ____ summer now;

19. "Thornfield is a pleasant place in ____ summer, isn’t it?

20. They often rode to church in ____ winter.

21. He is some brainless beautiful creature who should be always here in ____ winter when we have no flowers to look at.

22. It was a fine day, early in ____ spring, and we were in a good humour.

23. When I came back from the East ____ last autumn I felt that I wanted the world to be in uniform and at a sort of moral attention forever.

24. I suppose you are a stranger in these parts, or you would have heard what happened _____ last autumn.

25. She went up to London ____ last winter with her mama.

26. ____Spring drew on: the frosts of ____ winter had ceased.

27. ____summer of 1778, that is nearly twenty-three years ago.

28. He spent ____ preceding winter in Cairo.

29. ____ summer came.

30. He remembered____autumn that he had passed there.

31. Perhaps in _____ spring, if I have plenty of money, as I dare say I shall, we may think about building.

32. During _____ summer I met Mrs Jones.

33. Once or twice every month during ____ winter he would throw open to the world his beautiful house.

34. You’ll feel better in ______ summer, believe me.

35. Our family had a tradition to meet twice a year in _____ early winter and in _____ late summer.

36. We said good-bye to one another, and arranged to meet in _____ autumn.

37. I know _____ summer will pass happily away.

38. It seems rather absurd that I shouldn't see my own work, especially as I am going to exhibit it in Paris in ____ autumn.

Exercise 11. Translate the following:

1. Была зима.

2. Это был слишком холодный вечер для лета.

3. В течение осени мы часто и много встречались.

4. Ты не переживешь зиму.

5. Лето подошло к концу и привело за собой раннюю осень.

6. Это случилось весной 1945.

7. Это была дождливая холодная осень.

8. Была ранняя весна.

9. Осень была исключительно теплая.

10.Мое любимое время года- лето.

11. Лето 1941 было очень жарким.

12.В течение лета я часто ходил в кино.

13.Была поздняя осень, когда я встретил ее снова.

14.Они должны были пожениться ранней весной.

15.Лето, которое они провели вместе, было самым счастливым в ее жизни.

16.Какое дождливое лето ждет нас в этом году.

17.В тот год зима была теплая.

18.Летом 1980 ей исполнилось 20.