- •1.The sentence. The structural classification. The simple sentence.
- •2.Communicative types of sentences
- •4. Negation
- •3.Modality.Oblique moods in simple sentences.
- •6. Subjects “It” and “There”.
- •7.The noun. Semantic classification.
- •8. The category of number. Irregular plurals.
- •9. The category of number.Singular and plural invariable nouns.
- •10. Agreement of the predicate with the simple subject. Pronouns as subjects.
- •11. Agreement of the predicate with phrasal and homogeneous subjects.
- •12. The case of noun. The use of the genitive case.
- •13. The use of the indefinite and definite articles with countable nouns.
- •14. The use of articles with material nouns.
- •15. The use of articles with abstract nouns .
- •16. The use of articles with names of persons.
- •17. The use of articles with place names.
- •18. The use of articles with nouns in some syntactic function
- •19. Prepositive noun modifiers. Ways of expressing.
- •20. Postpositive noun modifiers. Ways of expression.
- •21. Verb complementation. Intransitive Verbs and Monotransitive
- •22. Verb Complementation. Complex-transitive and delexical
- •23. The predicate. Ditransitive and copular verbs.
- •24. The Object and Complement. Ways of expressing. Types of objects and complements.
- •25. Predicative complexes that function as objects only
- •26. Adverbials. Ways of expressing. Types and Semantic classes.
- •27. Adjective and adverb modifying
- •28. Predicative complexes that function as adverbials only
- •29. Predicative complexes which can be any part of the sentence
- •5) Adverbial modifier
- •30. The compound sentence. Semantic relations between coordinate clauses.
- •31. Complex sentences with nominal clauses.
- •32. Complex sentences with attributive clauses.
- •33.Oblique moods in nominal and appositive clauses.
- •34. Complex sentences with adverbial clauses
- •35. Oblique moods in adverbial clauses.
- •36. Subjunctive II
- •37. The conditional mood
- •38. The suppositional mood and subjunctive I
- •39. Word order. Emphasis. Inversion.
- •40. Making Texts. Cohesion. Discourse.
- •1. The sentence. The structural classification. The simple sentence.
18. The use of articles with nouns in some syntactic function
The use of articles depends on the syntactic function of a noun in the sentence.
1. A noun in the subject position is usually preceded by the definite article in its specifying function, or by either of the articles in their generic function. In these cases the noun denotes some notion forming the starting point of the utterance and therefore is presented as known to both the speaker and the addressee. The way was long. The wind was cold. The indefinite article in its classifying function occurs to express the item of novelty or unexpectedness, no matter what the position of the subject is: On the opposite side of the landing a girl was standing. A girl was standing on the opposite side of the landing. A similar use of the indefinite article occurs in sentences with the existential construction
There is /comes / appears, as in:
There is an exception to the rule.
2. With the noun functioning as an object any article can be used depending on how the speaker formulates his thought, the indefinite article is preferable after verbs of possession and obligatory in verb-object phrases denoting a single action such as to have a smoke, to give a look, etc.
3. The use of the article with nouns in the function of an adverbial modifier depends partly on the type of adverbial modifier. In adverbial modifiers of place the definite article is used in its specifying function to identify the exact place. The indefinite article in its classifying function is preferable when the attention is focused on a description of the place rather than on its identification. In adverbial modifiers of comparison the indefinite article is preferably used in its classifying function with the generic tinge since comparison is drawn with a representation of the class: as strong as a lion, as weak as a mouse.
4. In attributes the indefinite article is used to emphasize the importance and novelty of the noun mentioned. Therefore we find the indefinite article in such phrases as the son of a teacher, a doctor's daughter. While She is the daughter of the doctor suggests reference to a definite person.
5. Predicative and appositive nouns are used:
• With the classifying indefinite article which shows that the speaker is characterizing a person, object or event as a specimen of a certain class of thing. With plural nouns no article is used:
She is really an excellent creature — but a complete fool, as
I said.
• If there is a limiting modifier, predicative and appositive
nouns are used with the definite article:
He is the only person here with medical knowledge. Across from him sat Delaney, the producer of the picture.
• If predicative and appositive nouns denote the position (rank, state, post or occupation) which is unique, i.e. can be occupied by one person at a time, either no article or the definite article is used:
Doris was secretary to a Member of Parliament. His ideal was professor Edward Edwards, head of the
• Variants are possible with predicative nouns after the verbs to appoint, to choose and some others. Cf:
They appointed him a member of the delegation.