Snappy  +  691697 Fri, 27 Mar 09 07:21 PM Normal 0 0 2 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Question 1. I found the following example sentence in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English: She was finally evicted in April for non-payment of rent. Is it optional to put "the" between "for" and "non-payment"? She was finally evicted in April for the non-payment of rent. Question 2 According to a Japanese website for English learning, the following sentences are both acceptable and there is no difference in meaning between them. The closure of a factory causes hardship to everyone involved. Closure of a factory causes hardship to everyone involved. But the definite article before "closure" is required in the following case. The closure of that factory caused hardship to all of them. Wrong: Closure of that factory caused hardship to all of them. Does it mean that "the" is required before "closure of that factory" because the sentence mentions "that factory" (not just any factory)? Snappy Joined on Tue, Mar 24 2009 Kobe, Japan Full Member 209 Articles, Definite Articles, Sentences, Countries, United Kingdom, Great Britain, Online, Websites, Asia, Languages

	Mister Micawber  +  691746 Fri, 27 Mar 09 11:46 PM . Question 1. Is it optional to put "the" between "for" and "non-payment"?-- Yes but the omission is more usual.  It is the name of a social breach: he was arrested for murder. Question 2 Does it mean that "the" is required before "closure of that factory" because the sentence mentions "that factory" (not just any factory)?-- The Japanese website (of course) is wrong. All 4 are acceptable and the members of each pair carry the same meaning. . Mister Micawber Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004 Yokohama Veteran Member 30,841 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.' Sentences, Online, Websites, Asia

	Snappy  +  691771 Sat, 28 Mar 09 02:15 AM Mister Micawber “The Japanese website (of course) is wrong. All 4 are acceptable and the members of each pair carry the same meaning.” According to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, The is used before nouns referring to actions and changes when they are followed by 'of': the growth of the steel industry the arrival of our guests You mean it is quite okay to say, for example, "I would like to report growth of the steel industry," or "I heard that arrival of our quests has been postponed."? Snappy Nouns, Definite Articles, Countries, United Kingdom, Great Britain, Online, Websites, Asia, Languages

	Mister Micawber  +  691776 Sat, 28 Mar 09 02:51 AM .  Not at all; I only said that those 4 sentences were all correct.  I think that, as with most grammar books, Longman has oversimplified. . Mister Micawber Sentences

	Snappy  +  691780 Sat, 28 Mar 09 03:28 AM Thank you, but I'm a little confused. Mr. Micawber, I suppose you live in Japan. Probably you realize that the English definite and indefinite articles are very difficult to Japanese people Let me propose the following hypothesis: Hypothesis ”Closure of a factory causes hardship to everyone involved.” is okay, because we can use the ing-form "Closing" instead. Closing of a factory causes hardship to everyone involved. "She was finally evicted in April for non-payment of rent." is okay, because we can use the ing-form instead. She was finally evicted in April for not paying rent. If this hypothesis is correct, "the" is optional in the following case. What do you think of the liberalization of rice imports?/What do you think of liberalization of rice imports? Because we can say, "What do you think of liberalizing rice imports?" May I have your opinion? Snappy Articles, Definite Articles, Countries, United Kingdom, Great Britain, Indefinite, Asia, Languages

	Mister Micawber  +  691786 Sat, 28 Mar 09 04:07 AM . It doesn't work for your other sentences (which require 'the'), even though conversion to the gerund is possible here, too: "I would like to report growing of the steel industry," or "I heard that arriving of our quests has been postponed". . Mister Micawber Gerunds, Sentences

	Snappy  +  691853 Sat, 28 Mar 09 10:04 AM Mister Micawber “It doesn't work for your other sentences (which require 'the'), even though conversion to the gerund is possible here, too:” May I confirm one more thing? Do you mean #1 below is okay but #2 is not okay? 1. Closing of a factory causes hardship to everyone involved. 2. The closing of a factory causes hardship to everyone involved. Snappy Gerunds, Definite Articles, Sentences

	Mister Micawber  +  692094 Sun, 29 Mar 09 09:23 AM . Both are fine. . Mister Micawber