Слайд 1
Article determination
The Indefinite article A/AN
The definite article THE
The Zero Article
Слайд 2The Indefinite article A/AN
A is used before a noun beginning with
a consonant sound
Ex.: a uniform, a yoghurt
An is used before a noun beginning with a vowel sound
Ex.: an umbrella, an owl
Слайд 3The Indefinite article A/AN
Functions
Classifying
Nominating
First – mention
Numerical
Generic
Слайд 4The Indefinite article A/AN
The Indefinite article in the Classifying function is
used to show that the speaker is characterizing a person, object or event only as a specimen of a certain class of things.
Слайд 5The Indefinite article A/AN
The classifying indefinite article is mostly found with
predicative, appositive nouns and adverbial phrases:
Ex.: I’m a teacher. – a predicative
Ex.: He owes his curious name to his father, a well-read man. – an apposition
Ex.: She looked like a boy. – an adverbial phrase
Слайд 6The Indefinite article A/AN
The Indefinite article in the Nominating function is
used when the speaker wants to name an object or to state what kind of object is meant.
Ex.: He struck a match and lit a cigarette. - objects
Слайд 7The Indefinite article A/AN
The indefinite article is used to name an
object which is usually new to the hearer. This is the first-mention function of the indefinite article. It serves to introduce some new information.
Ex.: One morning a man was sitting on the bench near the house.
Слайд 8The Indefinite article A/AN
The indefinite article in the numerical function is
generally found:
With nouns denoting time, measure and weight
Ex.: for a minute or two
b. With the numerals hundred, thousand, million, dozen and score
Ex.: I’ve told you a hundred times
Слайд 9The Indefinite article A/AN
The indefinite article in the numerical function is
generally found:
c. After the negative not
Ex.: not a word, not a trace
d. In some set phrases
Ex.: at a time, at a gulp, at a draught
e. Between two noun groups in expressions denoting prices, salaries, speed etc.
Ex.: 90 pounds a week, 12 hours a day
Слайд 10The Indefinite article A/AN
The Indefinite article in the Generic function expresses
a generalization: what is said about one specimen of a class can be applied to all the specimens of the class. The meaning here is close to every/any.
Ex.: A tiger is a wild animal.
Слайд 11The Definite article The
The graphic form is identical the, which is
pronounced differently:
Before a vowel sound [ðı]
Ex.: the actor
Before a consonant sound [ðƏ]
Ex.: the cat
Слайд 12The Definite article The
Functions
Specific
Unique
Generic
Слайд 13The Definite article The
The definite article in the specific function shows
that the speaker is referring to a particular example.
Ex.: There is someone at the door.
The house was a bare three minutes from the station.
Слайд 14The Definite article The
The definite article in the specific function:
With the
adjectives in the superlative degree
Ex.: She was the most active of us.
Слайд 15The Definite article The
But
Most in combination with an adjective can have
the same meaning as very, exceedingly and is used with the indefinite article
Ex.: A most clever man
Слайд 16The Definite article The
The definite article in the specific function:
With the
ordinal numerals
Ex.: You should say the first romance of your life.
BUT in the meaning one more or another
Ex.: Two people would have to hold the chair and a third would help him up on it.
Слайд 17The Definite article The
With the cardinal numerals
Usually no article
Ex.: There were
four of us.
The definite article is determined by the context
Ex.: Emily looked at Vera. The two women rose.
Слайд 18The Definite article The
Note the difference
the second chapter/ chapter two
Слайд 19The Definite article The
The definite article in the specific function:
With the
limiting adjectives and the identifying pronoun same
Ex.: the main reason, the only occasion, the same student, the right way, the very person ant etc.
Слайд 20The Definite article The
Note An only child is to be regarded
as a set phrase
Ex.: I’m an only child in the family.
Слайд 21The Definite article The
Prepositional phrases as limiting attributes
Ex.: I despise you
from the bottom of my heart.
Prepositional phrases without limiting meaning are used with the indefinite article usually denote: material (a ring of gold); content (a cup of tea); quality and measure (a distance of two miles); composition (a group of boys; a man of forty)
Слайд 22The Definite article The
The definite article in the unique function shows
the uniqueness of an object or event. The group of nouns with unique reference is rather limited:
the sun, the moon, the stars, the sky, the earth, the world, the Universe, the planets, the equator, the north pole, the weather, the devil, the pope and etc.
Слайд 23The Definite article The
The definite article in the generic function shows
the reference to a whole class of referents; it is used to denote a genus taken as a whole, or a thing taken as a type.
Ex.: The cuckoo is a lazy bird.
The old could not help the young.
Слайд 24The Zero Article
With the nouns in plural
Ex.: Horses are domestic
animals.
Before the uncountable nouns
Ex.: I like milk.
Before Proper names
Ex.: Mary is my friend.
Washington is the capital of the USA.
Слайд 25The Zero Article
With the addressee
Ex.: Good morning, child!
Before the nouns denoting:
season, day time and meals
Ex.: Summer is my favourite season.
Before ranks and titles
Ex.: Mr. West, Professor Smith
Слайд 26The Zero Article
With some word-combinations
Ex.: at first, at home, at peace,
at war, at table, by chance, by heart, by name, by mistake, by means of, in time, to be in bed, to go by bus, to go to school, to go to town, to tell lies, day by day
Слайд 27The Use of Articles with Abstract Nouns
Abstract non-count nouns with generic
reference are used without any article.
Ex.: Knowledge is power.
It gives me great pleasure.
Abstract non-count nouns can be used with the indefinite article when they are modified by descriptive attributes
Ex.: In a wild relief he put his hands to his face.
Слайд 28The Use of Articles with Abstract Nouns
Abstract nouns with specific reference
are used with the definite article.
Ex.: I feel giddy. I’ll just sit here quietly till the giddiness wears off.
Some Abstract nouns are never used with the indefinite article:
Weather, money, news, work, luck, fun and etc.
Слайд 29The Use of Articles with Abstract Nouns
The use of articles within
some syntactic structures
Ex.: It’s a shame; It’s a pleasure; What a pity!; What a relief!
Слайд 30Articles with Names of Seasons and Parts of the Day
Names of
seasons and parts of the day take no article when used predicatively:
Ex.: It was summer.
No article is used when such nouns are modified by: early, late, broad, high
Ex.: It was late evening.
Слайд 31Articles with Names of Seasons and Parts of the Day
Used with
the indefinite article if they are modified by a descriptive attribute
Ex.: It was a foggy evening.
In the specific use the definite article is used
Ex.: I shall not forget the evening I spent with them.
Слайд 32Articles with Names of Seasons and Parts of the Day
Optional points
(specific/generic)
Ex.: (The) winter came early that year.
In number of some set phrases:
In the morning, in the evening, at night, at dawn, after sunset, from morning to night, through the autumn, late at night, night after night, all through the day and etc.
Слайд 33Articles with Names of Meals
Names of meals usually take no articles
Ex.:
Dinner is ready.
With the descriptive attribute the indefinite article is used
Ex.: He ordered a modest lunch.
With the limiting attribute the definite article is used
Ex.: The dinner she prepared was wonderful.
Слайд 34Articles with Names of Meals
Names of meals may denote party, tea
party and etc. the usage of article depends on the situation
Ex.: Why not give a dinner?
She began to dress for the dinner to which she had been invited.
Слайд 35Articles with the nouns: School, Prison, Church, Hospital
No article is used
when they denote the purpose they are used for
Ex.: I go to school. (to study)
The definite article is used when they denote the building
Ex.: They went to the church to repair the roof.
Слайд 36Names of Parts of the Body
The definite article is used in
prepositional phrases associated with the object, in passive constructions, with the subject
Ex.: The woman took the boy by the hand.
The dog bit her on the leg.
The definite article is used when a touch, blow or pain is referred to
Ex.: She had a pain in the side.
Слайд 37The Names with the Specific Periods
The definite article is used with
the names of decades, centuries, historic periods
Ex.: the bronze age, the nineteenth century
The definite article is used with past, present, future
Ex.: I think about the present and remember about the past.
Слайд 38The Names with the Specific Periods
No article is used with present
and future after at and in
Ex.: Try to remember it in future.
Note: In American English in the future is more common than in future
Слайд 39Articles with Proper Nouns
Personal Names
Normally no article is used
Ex.: Tom grinned.
The
definite article is used:
with a family name in the plural
Ex.: The Forsytes were resentful.
With the limiting attribute
Ex.: This wasn’t the Simon he had known so long.
Слайд 40Articles with Proper Nouns
Personal Names
with a descriptive attribute indicating a
permanent quality
Ex.: At that moment they were interrupted by the gentle Mrs Shobbe.
In the meaning the very one
Ex.: Do you mean the Shakespeare?
Слайд 41Articles with Proper Nouns
Personal Names
The indefinite article is used
To indicate one
member or a certain person
Ex.: His mother was a Devereux.
Слайд 42Articles with Proper Nouns
Personal Names
Indicating concrete object or a person having
specific characteristics
Ex.: I bought a Volvo.
I’m not a Michael Angelo.
Слайд 43Geographical Names
No article: Continents, countries, states, cities, towns
Ex.: (North) America (old)
England
The definite article with some provinces, countries
Ex.: the Argentine, The Netherlands, The USA, the Crimea, the Ruhr, the Hague
Слайд 44Geographical Names
The definite article with the of-phrase
Ex.: the England of today
The
indefinite article with a descriptive attribute
Ex.: a very cheerful England
The definite article is used with the names of rivers, oceans, seas and lakes
Ex.: The Baikal BUT Lake Baikal
Слайд 45Geographical Names
The definite article with the names of deserts
Ex.: The Sahara
The
definite article with the chains of mountains and groups of islands
Ex.: The Urals, The West Indies
No article with one mountain and one island
Ex.: Everest, Sicily
Слайд 46Geographical Names
The definite article with the of-phrase plus the Proper name
Ex.:
The Cape of Good Hope
The University of London BUT London University
Слайд 47Calendar Items
Names of months and days of the week generally take
no article
Ex.: It was Monday.
Meaning one of many (indefinite article)
Ex.: We met on a Friday.
With a descriptive attribute (indefinite article)
Ex.: A cold May is a usual thing.
With a limiting attribute (definite article)
Ex.: He came on the Friday when Tom was born.
Слайд 48Articles with Miscellaneous Proper Names
No article with the names of parks,
streets
Ex.: Central Park, Fleet Park
Exception: The Strand, The High Street, Whitehall, Downing Street
But: The Gorky Park, the Red Square
Слайд 49Articles with Miscellaneous Proper Names
The definite article with the names of
museums, theatres, galleries, concert halls, clubs, hotels
Ex.: the Rotary club, the Opera House, the Savoy, the Bolshoi theatre, the Tate
No article with the names of airports and railway stations
Ex.: London airport, Victoria station
Слайд 50Articles with Miscellaneous Proper Names
The definite article with the names of
ships and boats
Ex.: the Titanic, the Sedov
The definite article with the names of newspapers and magazines
Ex.: the Times, the Guardian, the Language
But Punch, Newsweek
Слайд 51Articles with Miscellaneous Proper Names
The definite article with the names of
territories consisting of word combination
Ex.: the Lake District, the Yorkshire Forest
The definite article with abbreviations
Ex.: The BBC, the FBI
BUT If abbreviations are pronounced as one word no article is used
Ex.: NATO, UNESCO
Слайд 52Articles with Miscellaneous Proper Names
No article with the names of chains
of shops, companies
Ex.: Shell, Sony
But: The Bell Telephone Company
The definite article with the names of political and government bodies and institutions
Ex.: the house of commons
Exception: Parliament, Congress, County, Council
Слайд 53Articles with Miscellaneous Proper Names
No article or the definite article with
the names of musical groups
Ex.: Queen, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones
The definite article with the names of sporting events
Ex.: the Olympic Games, the Cup Final
BUT: Wimbledon, Ascot and Epsom
Слайд 54Articles with Miscellaneous Proper Names
No article with the names of religious
and other festivals
Ex.: Easter, Christmas, New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day
The indefinite article is used in I wish you a happy Easter! Did you have a good Easter?