Use of Articles with Predicative Nouns
The 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 that can be occupied by one person at a time, either no article or the definite article is used. Mr. Henderson is manager, not under-manager any longer. (Lindsay) Montanelli was director of the theological seminary at Pisa. Comrade N. is the dean of our [...]
Use of Article with some Proper Nouns
Articles with names of Hotels, Ships, Newspapers and Magazines Names of hotels, ships, newspapers and magazines are used with the definite article. And he added that the Independent had accepted and was about to publish two poems which he had been able to write because of her. (Dreiser) The three men came to the turning at the corner of the Grosvenor Hotel. (Hichens) Article with names of Cardinal Points With the names of cardinal points, the definite article is used. the North, the South, the West, the East. In the expressions from East to West, from North to South [...]
Article with Geographical Names
#1. Geographical names like all the other proper nouns are used without articles England, France, Moscow, London. The same holds good when a geographical name is modified by an attribute in pre-position: Soviet Russia, North America, Latin America, Central Asia. N o t e. — The word groups the Soviet Union; the United States are always used with the definite article. #2. Geographical names modified, by a particularizing attribute are used with the definite The Philadelphia into which Frank Algernon Cowperwood was born was a city of two hundred and fifty thousand and more. (Dreiser) #3. With names of oceans, [...]
Article with Names of Persons
#1. Names of persons are used without the Article Sarie looked at Lanny and Celia. (Abrahams) #2. Names denoting the whole family are used with the definite The Dashwoods were now settled at Berton. (Austen) #3. When names of persons are used to denote a representative of a family, the indefinite article is “Florence will never, never, never be a Dorabey,” said Mrs. Chick. (Dickens) #4. Names of persons modified by a particularizing attribute are used with the definite article. You’re not the Andrew Manson I married. (Cronin) The tall blond man of forty is not much changed in feature [...]
Articles with Abstract Nouns
#1. Whenabstractnounsareusedina 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. He (Cowperwood) was the courage and force of his father, the spirit and opportunity of his brothers, the hope of his children, the dignity and significance of the Cowperwood name. (Dreiser) Last night I heard Carmen and enjoyed the music. N o t e 1. — It should be borne in mind that abstract nouns modified by an attribute in [...]
Article with Nouns of Material
#1. With nouns of material used in a general sense, when a certain material as such is meant, no article is used. Honey is wholesome. On hearing what had happened, she (Katie) ran for warm water... (Voynich) #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 Cornelius had finally brought. (Heym) The meat was good and White Fang was hungry. (London) #3. When an indefinite part of the substance [...]
Some uses of Definite Article
The definite article is used: #1. With nouns modified by adjectives in the superlative degree. Miss Tox had the softest voice that ever was heard. (Dickens) #2. with nouns in word-groups the first component of which is some, many, none, most and the second a noun with the preposition of. Most of the gentlemen looked both angry and uncomfortable. (Voynich) #3. with nouns modified by the pronoun same and the adjectives wrong, right, very. То all invitations he replied with the same courteous and positive refusal. (Voynich) I do wish we had not opened the door of the wrong room. [...]
Articles with Class Nouns modified by Attributes
The definite article is used when a noun is modified by an attribute that shows that a particular object is meant, i. e. by an attribute that might be called a particularizing attribute. A particularizing attribute 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 ‘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. [...]
Indefinite Article with Class Nouns
Class nouns are used with the indefinite article: When the speaker presents the object expressed by the noun as belonging to a certain class. She has a watch of her own. On the green surface of the lake a little boat, with white wings faintly fluttering, rocked in the dewy breeze. (Voynich) Close beside them grew a rose-bush covered with scarlet hips. (Voynich) 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. Some, as well as the absence of articles with class nouns [...]