19. Comment on the use of articles with abstract nouns.

Abstract nouns fall into two classes: countables and uncountables.

Singular countable abstract nouns are used with the indefinite or definite article; (a life, a thought) plural abstract nouns are used without any article or with the definite article (thoughts)

20. Comment on the use of articles with names of person.

● Names of persons are used without articles.

● Names denoting the whole family are used with the definite article.

● When names of persons are used to denote a representative of a family, the indefinite article is used.

● Nouns denoting and titles such as academician, professor, doctor followed by names of persons do not take the article.

● Nouns expressing relationship followed by names of persons do not take the article.

● Names of persons modified by the adjective certain are used with the indefinite article.

21. Comment on the use of articles with geographical names.

● Geographical names like all the other proper nouns are used without articles.

● With the names of oceans, seas, rivers the definite article is used.

● Names of lakes do not take the article if the word lake is used, which is nearly always the case; if it is not mentioned we find the definite article.

● With names of mountain chains the definite article is used. (The Urals, The Alps)

With names of mountain peaks no article is used: Elbrus, Everest.

● With names of groups of islands the definite article is used: the Bermudas.

With names of single islands there is no article: Madagascar.

● The names of the following towns, countries and provinces are used with the definite article: The Hague, the Netherlands, the West Indies, the Ruhr, the Riviera, the Crimea, the Caucasus, the Congo.

● Names of streets and squares are used without articles. There are few exceptions: The High Street, the Strand.

22.The Use of Articles with Some Semantic Groups of Nouns

Names of Seasons

• Names of seasons are used without articles if they show a certain time of the year.

It was spring.

• When you are talking about a specific occurrence of a season, you usually use the definite article.

You’ll feel better in the spring.

Names of Months and Days of the Week

• As a rule names of months and days are used without articles.

• Names of months are used with the indefinite article when modified by a descriptive attribute.

A cold May is the usual thing in our city.

23. The Use of Articles with Miscellaneous Proper Names

This group of proper names includes names of various places, objects and notions.

Names of buildings and institutions

The following names typically have the definite article (although on maps the definite article is usually not shown):

• Names of theatres (a), concert halls (d), cinemas (e), clubs(f)

• Names of hotels, restaurants, pubs, bridges and buildings.

• Names of museums, picture galleries: the National Gallery.

The following names typically have no article

• Many names are two words. If the first word is the name of a person or a place usually “the” is not used with names like this: Victoria Station, Edinburgh Castle.

But the White House, the Royal Palace,

• Names of airports and railway stations: London Airport

• Names of hospitals

• Names of churches, cathedrals and abbeys: St Peter’s, Canterbury Cathedral, Westminster Abbey.

Names of streets, roads, squares and parks

• Names of streets (a), roads (b), parks (c), squares (d), stadiums and malls (e) tend to be used without any article:

a) Oxford Street, Southampton Row Street.

But names of some streets are traditionally used with the definite article, e.g. the Strand, the High Street, the Mall

Names of zoos, gardens are used with the definite article

Names of musical groups can have either no article or the definite article: Queen, the Beatles,