Set expressions
it is out of the question – об этом не может быть и речи
on the whole – в общем
in the original – в оригинале
to play the piano (the violin, the harp) – играть на пианино (на скрипке, арфе)
to keep the house – сидеть дома
the other day – на днях
on the one hand…on the other hand – с одной стороны, с другой стороны
to tell (speak) the truth – говорить правду
to keep the bed – оставаться в постели
by the way – кстати
on the right (left) – справа, слева
to be on the safe side – для уверенности
to run the risk – рисковать
THE USE OF
The zero article or meaningful absence of the article
1). When the speaker presents the object (in the plural) as belonging to a certain class.
I saw green trees behind the house.
2). With the noun (in the plural) used in a general sense.
Chairs are made of wood.
3). With uncountable material used in general sense.
Paper is used for writing.
My sister likes sugar very much.
I had a drink of brandy.
4). With abstract nouns used in a general sense.
While there is life there is hope.
5). With names of persons, animals, birds.
William Shakespeare wrote many remarkable words.
Kate asked Pete about his family.
6). With nouns denoting military ranks and titles such as academician, professor, doctor, count, lord, followed by names of persons.
Doctor White entered the room.
This is Professor Hallorsen.
7). With names of persons modified by the adjectives old, young, poor, dear, little, honest, lazy.
I saw little Mary at the concert.
Poor Jack couldn’t say a word.
8). With names of countries, towns, villages, streets, parks, squares: England, France, London, North America, Central Asia, Green Street, Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park.
9). With names of single islands: Madagaskar, Midway, Sardinia, Elba, Euboea, Borneo, Barbados, Luzon.
10). In the expressions from East to West, from North to South.
Forests spread on a very large territory from North to South in this country.
11) With names of days and months.
We have 5 lessons on Monday.
12). With nouns modified by a proper noun in the possessive case.
I met Robert’s father.
13). With predicative nouns after the verbs turn, commence, appoint, elect or when they are followed by the adverb enough.
Compeyson turned traitor.
Shakespeare commenced actor.
I was fool enough to ask her to live here.
14). With nouns in apposition and nouns forming part of an apposition. The nouns are in the plural.
I want to introduce you to Ann and Kate, great friends of mine.
15). With a predicative noun if it denotes a post which can be occupied by one person at a time.
Professor Brown, director of the Medical Institute is going to deliver a lecture.
16). With class nouns used in address.
Come downstairs, child.
Can we go now, uncle?
17). With the nouns day, night, morning, evening if they denote a certain part of the day (day and morning mean “light”, and night and evening mean “darkness”).
Day is meant for work, night for sleep.
It was evening. The river was before them.
18). With the nouns day, night, morning, evening if they are modified by the adjectives early and late because these adjectives do not describe the morning or night, but only show the time.
It was late evening and I wanted to sleep.
A bright sun seemed to indicate late morning.
19). With names of seasons if they show a certain time of the year.
It was spring.
She likes winter most of all.
No article is used when names of seasons are modified by the adjectives early and late.
The weather was warm. It was early autumn.
20). With the nouns school, college, bed, prison, jail if they lose their concrete meaning and express the purpose for which the objects denoted by these nouns serve.
to be at college – to be a student of a college
to go to school – to be a schoolboy (schoolgirl)
to leave school – to finish or drop one’s studies
School begins at nine.
She went to college in the North.
Afternoon school begins at two o’clock.
to go to bed (to get into bed) – ложиться спать
to be in bed – лежать в кровати
He goes to bed at ten.
She likes to spend her Sunday morning in bed.
to be in prison (in jail) – to be a prisoner
to be sent to prison – as a prisoner
to be put to prison – as a prisoner
Mrs. Dorrit was in prison many years.
21). With the noun town used with prepositions:
a) when we mean the nearest town (if we live in the country) or the town we live in.
You cannot go to town tomorrow.
b) when the noun town is opposed to the noun country.
I prefer to live in town because I don’t like country life.
22). With the nouns breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper in a general sense.
Is supper ready?
My mother is preparing dinner.
23). With names of languages if they are not followed by the noun language.
She knows French perfectly.
The English of the 14th century differs from Modern English.
24). With nouns modified by the pronouns few, little in the meaning of “мало”.
He said few words which didn’t satisfy her.
I see very few women; but those are the women of rank.
25). With cardinal numerals.
Two students didn’t pass the examination.
26). With nouns modified by the pronoun another in the meaning of:
a) “другой”
Give me another pen, I don’t like this one.
b) “one more”
I’m thirsty; I should ike another cup of tea.
27). With the nouns week, month, year, summer, autumn, spring, winter modified by the adjective last.
I met her last month.
She received a lot of letters last year.
28). With nouns modified by the adjective next in the meaning of “будущий” when referring to time. The expression next time means “в следующий раз”.
I’ll bring the magazine next time.
Next day he knew the truth.
29). With homogeneous members of the sentence closely connected with each other and joined by the conjunction and.
The breakfast was taken away, and that meal over, it was the general custom of uncle and niece to separate.
30). With nouns if they are followed by a cardinal numeral in the meaning of an ordinal one.
Take bus ten.
Open the book on page thirty-five.
From Number 18 he went round to Radhor Place.
31). With nouns expressing relationship not followed by a proper noun when used by members of the family.
Grandma told me to put on my new suit.
Nouns expressing relationship followed by names of persons do not take the article either.
Father Brown made no answer.
32). With the noun man (occasionally woman) used in a generic sense.
Man reveals the secrets of nature.
Woman is man’s helpmate.
33). With nouns denoting monetary units of the old money system. These nouns are often met in fiction English.
I paid threepence and then found myself in a heaving darkness.
34). With names of most sports and games.
Basketball is my favourite game.
35). With names of single mountains and mountain peaks: Ben Nevis, Elbrus, Snowdon.
36). The article is often omitted in newspaper and magazine headings, telegrams.
Great War.
37). No article is used with nouns preceded by possessive, demonstrative or interrogative pronouns as well as the pronouns some, any, no, each, every.
My sister entered the Pedagogical Institute last year.
Guest or no guest, he goes out of this hotel.