Estela  +  73944 Mon, 14 Feb 05 08:54 PM hello i want to know when do i have to use articles before a word, for instance: the night or just night, the maths are a game or maths are a game. i get totally confused cos in spanish everything needs an article the moon the stars the class the mother the beach the storm, etc i just don t know when it s appropriate in english thanks ! Estela Estela Joined on Tue, Feb 8 2005 New Member 13 Articles

	maverick88  +  73953 Mon, 14 Feb 05 10:38 PM Actually I have the same questions. I asked a few times and still have the same questions since no logical explanations were given. So the rule is that when you have a countable noun and in singular form you use "a";if you want to specify, I mean when you are talking about a specific object you put "the". So my question to the teachers in this forum is: Why is it correct to say "When I came back from school..." and incorrect "...from the school..."? Usually I write suck things like this but I just want to know if it's a matter of sense or there's a grammatical rule. Thank you. maverick88 Joined on Mon, Nov 22 2004 Israel Regular Member 695 An English learner Nouns, Countable Nouns

	Estela  +  73960 Mon, 14 Feb 05 10:44 PM yes, exactly: from school v/s from the school, that s a perfect example i dont understaaaaaand ! i dont know when to put a "the" Estela Estela

	Mae  +  73968 Mon, 14 Feb 05 11:23 PM Yes, it is very difficult to explain it, too. "The" is always used to describe something specific, or non-countable. But, "the" is not used with non countable nouns referring to something in a general sense: [no article] Coffee is a popular drink. [no article] Japanese was his native language. [no article] Intelligence is difficult to quantify. [no article] Hair can be difficult to comb. In the same way, school is a non-countable noun that is referred to in a general sense. "Hospital" is used the same way: "He was taken to hospital". Mae Mae Joined on Sun, Feb 13 2005 New Member 06 Articles, Nouns, Countable Nouns

	Estela  +  73991 Tue, 15 Feb 05 01:02 AM so can i use "THE" and exchanging your examples: the coffee is ready (specific time and space ) the japanese boy i met yesterday the emotional intelligence that he lacks i have to comb the hair of this crippy doll the hospital where he used to work at ??? Estela

	CalifJim  +  74004 Tue, 15 Feb 05 03:05 AM These are fixed expressions. They are not governed by grammatical rules. They have to be memorized as idioms. Note that these in the first group all refer to activities, even if indirectly. at school, to school, from school, in school at work, to work, from work at church, to church, from church, in church at lunch, to lunch, from lunch "home" is a little different. "to home" and "in home" are not correct: at home, home, from home The British have "in hospital"; Americans have "in the hospital". And then there's by car, by bus, by train, ... And: on TV, on hold, on call, on fire But: on the radio CJ CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,391 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche Idioms

	Mae  +  74162 Tue, 15 Feb 05 04:38 PM Yes, you need an article there. Unlike hospital, or school...a meeting is not a general activity that many people participate it. It is much more particular. So, you would say: "I couldn't arrive on time, I was in a meeting". Mae Mae Articles

	CalifJim  +  74250 Wed, 16 Feb 05 03:08 AM I was not on time because I was [in a meeting / on a call / on a conference call / caught in traffic / delayed by rain / on the phone / in an accident]. CalifJim