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The English Article

The document discusses the English articles - the definite article, the indefinite article, and the zero article. 1. The definite article "the" is used for generic, anaphoric, and epiphoric functions. It is also used with geographical names, institutions, family names, and set phrases. 2. The indefinite article "a"/"an" is used for generic, numeric, and epiphoric functions. It is also used before professions and in set phrases. 3. The zero article is used before proper nouns, temporal divisions, appositions, languages, abstractions, and in set phrases. It can also indicate the generic function.

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100% found this document useful (1 vote)
141 views5 pages

The English Article

The document discusses the English articles - the definite article, the indefinite article, and the zero article. 1. The definite article "the" is used for generic, anaphoric, and epiphoric functions. It is also used with geographical names, institutions, family names, and set phrases. 2. The indefinite article "a"/"an" is used for generic, numeric, and epiphoric functions. It is also used before professions and in set phrases. 3. The zero article is used before proper nouns, temporal divisions, appositions, languages, abstractions, and in set phrases. It can also indicate the generic function.

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Sebastian Jianu
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The English Article

1. The Definite Article


2. The Indefinite Article
3. The Zero Article

1.The Definite Article :


Functions - a) the generic function ( the noun is used in its most generic meaning)
e.g. The fox is an animal.

-b) the anaphoric function ( it refers to something already known or previously


mentioned )
e.g. On my way back I met a boy. The boy was my cousin.

-c) the epiphoric function ( the noun is a new element in the sentence)
e.g. I met her on the bank of the river.

Uses :
– 1) All geographical names with the exception of mountain tops, lakes, streets,
cathedrals, bridges.
e.g. Mont Blank is a top in the Alps ; Lake Geneva

The Thames, The Danube, The Black Sea, The Pacific Ocean, The English
Channel

2) Names of parks, institutions and newspapers.


e.g. The People’s Parks, The British Museum, The Times.

3) Family names : The Browns , The Smiths.

4) In set-phrases: At the same time


In the morning
On the one hand What’s the time
On the other hand To break the ice
On the contrary To paint the devil blacker than he is
On the whole

1
NB! The names of the countries are used
with the zero article with the exception of some
names such as : The United States, The British
Isles, The Netherlands, The Congo
The Sudan, The Philippines, The Hague !!!!!!!

NB!When the noun denotes a unique


function it is preceded by zero article and not
by “THE”.
e.g. He is president of the committee.
He was guest of honour.

NB!When the noun has a determination,


It is used with the definite article although it is
an abstract noun.
e.g. Life is difficult. The life of my friend was
difficult

2
2. The Indefinite Article : a , an
Functions:
a) The generic function:
e.g. A fox is an animal.

b) The numeric function:


e.g. He found there an ash-tray and two cigarettes.

c) The epiphoric function:


e.g. On their way to the hotel, they saw a strange house.

Uses:
1) Before nouns denoting professions:
e.g. He is an actor.
I am a teacher.

NB!!! COMPARE
My sister worked as nurse in The World War II.
(dar nu era asistenta)
My sister worked as a nurse in The World War II.
(era chiar asistenta)
2) In set-phrases :
To fly into a passion
For a while
For a change
It is a pity
Not to care a straw

NB!!! Substantivele care incep cu “u” si se


pronunta “iu” se folosesc cu “a” si NU cu “an”
e.g. a uniform
a union
a year

3
3. The Zero Article:
Uses:
1)Before proper nouns – John, Denis, Mary
2)Before temporal divisions – January, February, Sunday, Monday etc.
3)Before close appositions – Dr.Smith, Prof. Johnson etc.
4)Before names of languages – English, Romanian, French etc.
5) Before abstractions – Knowledge is power.
Gold is a precious metal.
6) In set-phrases – On trust
On paper
For fun
At night
At random
At first sight
By mistake
Under stress
7) The generic function:
e.g. Foxes are animals.

NB!!! Omission of The Article :


We must distinguish between cases of zero article
and cases of the omission of the article. The article
is omitted in the following cases:
a) In headlines – Peace, Treaty, Talks, Plan.
b) In stage directions – goes table ! (He goes to the
table on the left.)
c) In notes, telegrams – Come home. Girl you met
died.

NB!!! He went to prison. ( he was jailed)


He went to the prison. ( to visit)

He went to school. ( to attend classes )


He went to the school. ( to meet somebody, etc)

4
NB!!! Before names of lakes, streets,
cathedrals, mountain tops and bridges.
e.g Westminster Abbey is famous all over the
world.
Regent Street is full of people.
St. Ana is a lake.

KEEP IN MIND !!!


1.The British Museum
2.The Houses of Parliament
3.Piccadilly Circus
4.Westminster Abbey
5.10 Downing Street
6.The Barbican Arts Centre
7.Buckingham Palace
8.Trafalgar Square
9.St. Paul’s Cathedral
10. The National Gallery
11. Tower Bridge
12. Madame Tussauds
BUT:
13. The High Street
14. The tower of London
15. Cambridge University
BUT
The University of Cambridge

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