Вопрос 5. The Article. Three types of the Article. The Definite Article and its use.

The Definite Article

The Definite article is used:

1. if the context or the situation makes the noun clear. : Open the door. Go to the kitchen. Where is the key?

2. if the noun was already mentioned. : Three little Kittens lost their mittens…

3. if the noun has a restrictive (limiting) attribute. It may be expressed by a clause, a prepositional phrase, by the words very, right, left, central, wrong, only, one, opposite, main, last, next (following), same, by ordinal numerals, by the superlative degree of adjectives

4. with unique objects or notions. They are the sun, the moon, the earth, the world, the universe, the horizon, the equator, the south, the north, the west, the east, the globe, the Milky Way, the cosmos, the hemisphere, the atmosphere.

5. with an adverbial modifier of place to identify the exact place. : Jane is in the garden. The indefinite article is also possible.

6. in a number of idioms like: to make the best of something, to be in the know

The Generic Use of the Definite Article

1. A singular countable noun with the definite article may represent a whole class of objects, thus becoming the symbol

of that class, the image of it. We mainly find here names of animals, plants, professions and occupations, unique phenomena, inventions, collective nouns denoting social groups. Scientific terms are also often used generically.

But the indefinite article is not permissible when invention, genre or à phenomenon is meant.

2. The nouns man, woman, child used in a generic sense, take no article. : Now I know what man is capable of. Woman’s work is never done.

Articles with the Names of Meals

To this group of nouns belong: breakfast, brunch (elevenses), lunch, dinner, supper, tea.

1. When these nouns are used in their abstract meaning denoting a process of taking food, or are associated with time, they are used without any article, such as: to have (take, prepare, serve, cook) dinner, breakfast, lunch, supper; to go to dinner, to be at dinner (lunch); to return by (before, after) supper.

2. The indefinite article is used when names of meals are modified by descriptive attributes. : You can get a hot supper here.

3. The definite article is found with names of meals if there is a situation, a context, a restrictive attribute, or if the food itself is meant: The dinner you cooked was marvelous.

4. Sometimes names of meals become countable nouns denoting:

1. a party (both articles may be used): We gave a dinner last night.

2. a portion (the indefinite article expresses oneness): I don’t have enough money to buy a supper.

The Use of Articles with Material Nouns

1. Material (uncountable) nouns used in a general sense take no article and have no plural form.: Food is something we cannot do without.

2. The definite article is used if the noun is clear from the situation or the context or if there is some limitation: The food she cooked was uneatable

3. Some uncountable material nouns can become countable and express different sorts, kinds, portions. Here belong the following nouns: beer, cheese, coffee, detergent, food, jam, meat, medicine, perfume, soup, tea, whisky, wine, wood, wool, etc