The article

Here you can find a detailed informatiom about articles in English. Though the information is for intermediate students, we have something in Russian as well. You are able to apply your knowledge in exercises and check youself doing tests given. The list of used literature and internet resourses is enclosed. Have a good and useful time!

1. THEORY

general notion.

use of articles with common nouns

use of articles with abstract nouns

use of articles with material nouns

use of articles with proper nouns

use of articles in set expressions

артикль в английском языке

2 Exercises

3 Tests

GENERAL NOTION.

    The article is a structural part of speech used with nouns.

There are two articles in Modern English: the indefinite article and the definite article.

The indefinite article has the forms a and an. The form a is used before words beginning with a consonant sound (a coat, a skirt, a doctor). The form an is used before words beginning with a vowel sound (an order, an ant, an hour). The indefinite article has developed from the Old English numeral an (one), and as a result of its origin it is used only with nouns in the singular. The use of the indefinite article implies that the object is presented as belonging to a class

The definite article has one graphic form the, which is pronounced in two ways: [ ðì ] before a vowel sound [ðì 'аер1 ] and [ðə] before a consonant sound [ðə kǽt]. The definite article has developed from the Old English demonstrative pronoun se and in some cases it has preserved this demonstrative meaning in Modern English The use of the definite article shows that a particular object is meant.

  The absence of articles with class nouns in the plural, with abstract nouns and nouns of material has grammatical significance: it shows that the nouns are used in a general sense.

Note:  With nouns in the plural some is often used. Some, as well as the absence of articles with class nouns in the plural, is the equivalent of the indefinite article in the singular. Some is used when the speaker wants to emphasize the idea of number. Some is also used with nouns of material if the idea of quantity is implied. Some has the meaning of 'several1 with class nouns and 'a little' with nouns of material. Some is hardly ever translated into Russian.

 

USE OF ARTICLES WITH COMMON NOUNS

CLASS   NOUNS

 Class nouns are used with the indefinite article:

1. When the speaker presents the object expressed by the noun as belonging to a certain class. 

In this case the indefinite article has the meaning of 'какой-нибудь, какой-то, один (in the meaning of 'некий'). She has a watch of her own. Close beside them grew a rose-bush   covered   with scarlet   hips. Note:In the plural no article is used  in   this  case.   If   the   idea of number is implied the noun is preceded by the pronoun some. I liked the room because there were flowers in it. "I have brought you some flowers..."  "I hate to wear flowers."

2. With a predicative noun, when the speaker states that the object denoted by the noun belongs to a certain class.

Miss Sharp's father was an artist. "Is your   brother   an   agreeable   man, Peggotty?" -  "Oh, what an agreeable man he is!"  She works as a chemist. In the plural neither the article nor the pronoun some is used. They are good children, no doubt. they were business men when I was in the  nursery."   Note : After the conjunction as a predicative noun is often used without an article. She was engaged as governess.

3. When the noun is used in a general sense. What is said of one representative of a class can be applied to all the representatives of the class. The article has the meaning of 'every'. A drowning man catches at a straw. In the plural neither the article nor the pronoun some is used. Real friends should have everything in common. (Wilde)

4. There are cases when the indefinite article preserves its old original meaning of 'one'. This meaning is generally found with nouns denoting time, measure and weight, the  numerals  hundred,   thousand,   million  and  the  nouns dozen, score. He had hardly spoken a word since they left Riccardo's door ... A week or two passed. He seems to have half a   dozen   languages   at   his   finger-tips.  

Class nouns are used with the definite article:

1. When the noun denotes an object or objects which the speaker singles out from all the objects of a given class. An object is singled out in the following cases:

(a) when the speaker and the hearer know what particular object is meant. No special indication is necessary. How did you like the play? I have got the magazine. (b) when the speaker uses an attribute pointing out a particular object

This is the house that Jack built.

(c) when the situation itself makes the object definite.

The wedding looked dismal. The bride was too old and the bridegroom was too young.

2. When the noun denotes a thing unique (the sun, the moon,the universe) or a class.The sun was getting warmer.The bourgeoisie is cowardly. Note: The indefinite article can be used when we mean a certain aspect in which the sun, moon and sky appear to us, a certain state of the sun, the moon, the sky. In this case an attribute is used. A pearl-white moon smiles through the green trees.

3. With nouns used in a generic sense. A noun used in a generic sense denotes a genus taken as a whole, a thing taken as a type, a genre. The tiger has always had the   reputation   of   being   a   man-eater. The telephone was invented in the 19th century. The tragedy and the comedy first appeared in Greece. Note: When the noun man is used in a generic sense no article is used. Silas felt that his trust in man had been cruelly destroyed. A   noun   used   in a   general   sense denotes an object regarded as an individual representative of a class, A detective story helps to while away the time. (Every or any detective story is meant here.) A noun in a generic sense denotes the whole class. Conan Doyle is a master of the detective story. (The detective story is regarded here as a certain genre.)

4. The definite article is used with nouns: (1) modified by adjectives   in   the superlative degree. Miss Tox had the softest voice that   ever   was   heard. (2) in word-groups some, many, none, most + noun with   the  preposition of. Most of the gentlemen looked both angry and uncomfortable. (3) modified by same, wrong (не тот), right  (тот), very  (именно  тот, тот  самый). "Ah! Mr. Burton!" exclaimed the Director, "the very person 1 wanted." «... именно тот (как раз тот) человек, который мне нужен».

(4) with substantivized adjectives and participles. The listeners   noted something  

beyond   the  usual   in   his   voice.

The use of articles with class nouns modified by attributes.

The indefinite article

The definite article

is used with a descriptive attribute which describes an object or give some additional information about it In   a   fortnight   I got   a  long  letter, which  I considered   odd. The post on her left was occupied by Mr. Erskine, an old gentleman of considerable charm and culture

is used when a noun is modified by an attribute which shows that a particular object is meant. This attribute might be called a particularizing attribute and it is used to single out an object from all the objects of the class, to point out one particular object or group of objects. The use of a particularizing attribute implies the idea of 'тот, который'; 'именно тот, этот. A particularizing attribute can be expressed by an of-phrase or an attributive clause. It is always used in post-position. He knocked at the door of a very neat house. (Marryat) The letters that I have here have come to me quite by accident.

NOUNS OF MATERIAL

1. No article is used with nouns of material in a general sense. On   hearing what had happened, she (Katie) ran for warm water.

2. When a definite part of the substance is meant (when the noun is modified by a particularizing attribute or is made definite by the situation), the definite article is used. Pettinger gulped down a glass of the sherry which CorneJius had finally brought. The meat was good and White Fang was hungry.

3. When an indefinite part of the substance is meant, some is used. We took   some   bread   and cheese with us, and got some goat's milk up there on the pasture.

ABSTRACT NOUNS

1. When abstract nouns are used in a general sense, no article is used. While there is life there is hope.

2. When abstract nouns are modified by a particularizing attribute or when the situation makes the idea definite, they are used with the definite article. Last night I heard Carmen and enjoyed the music.

Note I. — It should be borne in mind that abstract nouns modified bv an attribute in ргеposition are used without articles unless they are modified by particularizing attributes: Engish literature, Russian art, Soviet music. Note 2. — The abstract noun weather is never used wilh the indefinite article. What fine weather! It is burning weather. Note 3. — With countable abstract nouns the use   of   the   articles is the  same as with class nouns. It is a capital idea if only one could carry it out.

 

USE OF ARTICLES WITH PROPER NOUNS

Names of persons.

• Names of persons are used without articles Sarie looked at Lanny and Celia.

• Names denoting the whole family are used with the definite article. The Dashwoods were now settled at Berton.

• When   names of persons are used to denote a representative of a family, the indefinite article is used. "Florence will never, never, never be a Dombey," said Mrs. Chick

• Names of persons modified by a particularizing attribute are used with the definite article. You're not the Andrew Manson I married.

• Names   of   persons   used   as  common  nouns take the article according to the general rule on the use of articles. Swithin smiled and nodding at Bosinney said, "Why, you are quite a Monte Cristo."

• Nouns denoting military ranks and titles such as academician, professor, doctor   (both a profession and a title), count,  lord, etc.followed by names of persons do not take the article. In such cases only   the   proper   noun   is   stressed:   Colonel' Brown,   Doctor' Strong. Common nouns denoting professions followed by names of persons are used with the definite article. In this case both nouns are stressed. The painter Gainsborough has left many fine pictures.

• Nouns expressing relationship followed by names of persons do not take the article: Aunt Polly, Uncle James. She turned to Cousin Clixam.

• The   use of   articles with names of persons modified by adjectives is varied. In most cases no article is used with names of persons modified by the adjectives old, young, poor, dear, little, honest, lazy. ... she is the widow of poor Giovanni Bella ... He   saw   that   old   Chapin   wanted   to moralize a little. When modified by other adjectives and participles names of persons take the definite article. The astonished Tom could not say a word. Names of persons modified by the adjective certain are usedwith the indefinite article. I heard it from a certain Mr. Brown.

Geographical names.

No article	The	A/an
Geographical names (continents, countries, states, towns):England, France, Moscow, London and names modified by an attribute in preposition: Soviet Russia, North America, Latin America, Cenlral Asia. Names of lakes  do not take the article if the word lake is used: Lake Ontario 3. With names of mountain peaks: Elbrus, Everest. 4. With   names of single islands: Madagascar. 5. Names of streets and squares: Oxford Street, Walls street, Trafalgar square. There are a few exceptions:  the High Street, the Strand. 6. town + building: Oxford University, York airport 7. In the expressions from East to West, from North to South. 8. Names of months and days without particularizing (the) or descriptive (a) adjective: in June, on Monday	The word groups the Soviet Union, the United States Geographical   names modified by a particularizing attribute. The Philadelphia into which he was born was a city of 250000 and more. With names of oceans, seas, rivers the   Pacific  Ocean (the   Pacific),   (he  Black  Sea),  the Thames. Names of lakes without word lake: the Ontario. 5. With names of mountain: the Urals, the Alps. 6. With names of groups of islands: the Hebrides, the Bermudas. 7. The names of the following countries, towns and provinces: the  Hague,  the  Netherlands,  theWest   Indies,   the   Ruhr,   the   Riviera,   the   Crimea,   the   Ukraine,the  Caucasus,   the Congo, The  Lebanon 8. Names of hotels, ships, cinemas, theatres, newspapers and magazines. 9. With the names of cardinal points: the North, the South, the West, the East. 10. Names of months and days with particularizing adjective: The May of 1949 will always rest in my memory.	Names of months and days with a descriptive adjective: A cold May is the usual thing in Leningrad when we mean one of many Mondays, Fridays. I do not remember exactly when he came from Moscow, but I am sure it was on a Monday

Note: If a noun   is   modified   by a proper   noun in the genitive case no article is used. I met Robert's father.

The noun modified by a proper noun in the common case is used with the definite article. Last summer I visited the Tretyakov Gallery.

USE OF ARTICLES WITH NOUNS IN SOME SET EXPRESSIONS

A/An	The	No article
in a hurry — второпях to   have   a   mind to do something   (a   great   mind, a good mind) — иметь   желание   что-либо сделать to fly into a passion — прийтив бешенство to get in a fury (in a rage)-—прийти в ярость to take a fancy to—проникнуться   симпатией. in   a   low (loud) voice -тихо  (громко) a    great   many   (with   countables) — много a   great   deal (with   uncotintables) — много it is a pity — жаль it is a shame — стыдно it is a pleasure —приятно as a result — в результате. to have a good time — хорошопровести  время to  be at a loss — быть в недоумении at a glance—сразу, с первоговзгляда	it is out of the question — об этом   не  может   быть и речи to    take   the   trouble   to   do something — потрудиться in   the original—в оригинале to  play the piano (the violin,-the   harp) — играть  на   рояле(скрипке, арфе) to keep the house — сидеть дома to   keep the bed — соблюдать постельный режим on the whole — в целом the other day  (refers  to  the past) — на днях on the one hand…, on the other and — с  одной   стороны, с другой to tell (to speak) the truth —говорить   правду;   to tell   the truth — по правде говоря to   be  on the safe side — для верности	out   of   doors —вне дома to  take to heart — принимать'близко к сердцу to take offence — обижаться to   give (to get, to ask) permission — дать (получить, просить) разрешение to lose  heart — терять мужество, приходить в уныние at present — в настоящее время from   morning   till   night — с утра до вечера from head to foot — с головы до ног from beginning to end — сначала до конца at    first     sight — с    первого взгляда by chance — случайн by mistake — по ошибке for hours — часами for ages—целую вечность by   land, by air, by sea — сушей, по воздуху, морем to go to sea — стать моряком on deck — на палубе to keep house — вести хозяйство at sunrise—на рассвете at sunset — на закате at work — за работой at peace — в мире by name — по имени in debt — в долгу

USE OF ARTICLES IN SOME SYNTACTIC RELATIONS

• The use of articles with predicative nouns. A predicative noun is used with the indefinite article if the speaker states that the object denoted by the noun belongs to a certain class. If a predicative noun is modified by a particularizing attribute, the definite article is used. He is the student you wanted to speak to. If a predicative noun denotes a post which can be occupied by one person at a time, either no atricle or the definite article is used. Professor N. is the dean of our faculty. No article is used with predicative pouns after the verbs to turn, to commence, to appoint, to elect. Shakespeare commenced actor. (Шекспир   начинал как актер). They appointed him head-teacher. ( Его назначили старшим преподавателем) A predicative noun sometimes has an adjectival character, especially when it is followed by the adverb enough. In this case no article is used. Surely Bolla isn't fool enough to believe that sort of stuff? The nouns son and daughter used predicatively take article the when  modified by an o/-phrase, though there may several sons and daughters in the family.Lomonosov was the son of a fisherman. Becky Sharp was the daughter of an artist.

• The use of articles with nouns in apposition. Nouns in apposition and nouns forming part of an apposition are used:

1. with the indefinite article if the speaker states that the object expressed by the noun in apposition belongs to a certain class. I want to introduce you to Comrade B,, a great friend of mine. In the plural no article is used. I want to introduce you to Comrades B, and D., great friends of mine.

2. with the definite article if they are modified by a particularizing attribute. Comrade В., the student you have mentioned, has come.

If the noun denotes a well-known person or work of art the definite article is generally used. Pushkin, the great Russian poet, died in 1837. Hamlet, the immortal tragedy by Shakespeare, was written in the first years of the 17th century. But if the person or the work of art is not widely known the indefinite article is used. Pericles, a comedy by Shakespeare, is hardly ever staged. Class nouns used in address take no article. Come downstairs, child.

PLACE OF THE ARTICLE.

The usual place of the article is before the noun if it is not modified by an attribute; if the noun is modified by an attribute, the article is placed before the latter.

However, there are cases when the article follows the attribute. 1. The definite article follows the attribute expressed by the pronouns both, all. Both the stories were interesting. All the stories were Interesting. 2. The indefinite article follows the attribute expressed by an adjective after so, too, as. It was as black a house inside as outside.

3. The   indefinite   article   follows   quite,   such,   what (what in exclamatory sentences). She is quite a child. I've never heard of such a thing. What a wonderful piece of luck!

4. The indefinite article either precedes or follows rather.This enquiry envolved   the respected   lady   in   rather a   delicate position. They stop and interchange a rather heated look