ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: article

CalifJim — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 06:00:12 GMT

Anonymous
a new performance of a play that has not been performed for ...

Why does it have to be 'a performance' and not 'the performance'?

It's just an abstract definition of a term. No specific performance has been referred to previously, so the is not appropriate. The idea is any new performance, no matter when or where it occurs. Any of these performances would be considered a revival, not just a specific, previously mentioned one.

Anonymous
A new attire of a person can do wonders for his appearance.

attire is uncountable. To make an example with a, change it to suit, which is countable:

A new suit can do wonders for a person's appearance.

Again, the is not appropriate because no specific new suit has been referred to previously. The intent is to express the idea of any new suit, no matter which new suit, and not one specific suit.

Anonymous
Is it easy for anyone without a college education to get a good job?

college education is normally used as a countable compound noun; you will need an article.

Re: article

Mister Micawber — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 05:50:36 GMT

1. Why does it have to be 'a performance' and not 'the performance'? Using 'a' seems to remove the subject matter more from present time, but is it still good? -- There is no relationship with time. 'A' is correct because plays are often performed anew.

A new attire of a person can do wonders for his appearance. -- This is not a definition but this sentence seems better if stated, "The new attire of a person can do wondeers for his appearance." -- 'A' is better, as (most) people change their attire more than once. I agree that 'the' will work here if we think of the specific situation (newly attired).

2.Why the "a college education" and not "college education" with the article? I woud choose the one withuot the article anyday. -- You would not make the most usual choice. A college education is one kind of education.

article

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 05:45:11 GMT

Hi,

1.I have the word 'revival' and a typical definition of it would go like this:

a new performance of a play that has not been performed for ...

Why does it have to be 'a performance' and not 'the performance'? Using 'a' seems to remove the subject matter more from present time, but is it still good?

A new attire of a person can do wonders for his appearance. -- This is not a definition but this sentence seems better if stated, "The new attire of a person can do wondeers for his appearance." But again, the original sentence seems to do the job too. Confused.

2.Why the "a college education" and not "college education" with the article? I woud choose the one withuot the article anyday.

Is it easy for anyone without a college education to get a good job?