Search results for 'tag:Articles tag:Definite articles' matching tags 'Articles' and 'Definite articles'

Re: question on use of indefinite article

Clive — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 01:51:55 GMT

Hi,
1. Would you say the use of the indefinite article "a" is meant to give a more remote sense of the phrase underlined than were it used the definite article "the"?

You haven't underlined anything.
I recommend that you think about articles in terms of definite/indefinite or specifc/unspecifc, instead of remore/not remote.
A simple approach is to use 'a' th first time you mention something, and then use 'the' for later mentions.
Thus, both uses of 'a' seem ok here. The use of 'the' suggests that you think the reader already knows which mountain you are talking about.

That night he had a vision of a woman going up the mountain to pick some plants.

2. Would you say the indefinite article "a" is additionally modifying the word "vehicle" and "activity"?

*** is a person who goes from place to place living in a car or other vehicle.

They write what they think following a reading or other activity.

Yes, you could think of it that way.

Clive

question on use of indefinite article

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 01:41:02 GMT

Hi,

1. Would you say the use of the indefinite article "a" is meant to give a more remote sense of the phrase underlined than were it used the definite article "the"?

That night he had a vision of a woman going up the mountain to pick some plants.

2. Would you say the indefinite article "a" is additionally modifying the word "vehicle" and "activity"?

*** is a person who goes from place to place living in a car or other vehicle.

They write what they think following a reading or other activity.

Re: A preposition or an infinitive marker?

Scottsox — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 04:22:37 GMT

I agree with the previous post that the original author's translation isn't precisely parallel. "Study" may either be a noun or a verb, but if you want to use "exploring," then you should use "studying" too to keep both of them as gerunds/participles. The Hebrew text of the verse uses a pair of infinitive constructs, which, if my rusty Hebrew knowledge is reliable, implies the substantive use of the infinitive: the process of studying and the process of seeking out. (Interestingly enough, the Hebrew forms are prefixed with the Hebrew preposition "to." If Solomon wanted to emphasize the verbal aspect, he could have used an intensive construction in Hebrew, which, literally translated in English, would sound something like "he studied, studying, and sought, seeking.") The Septuagint text uses articular infinitives (that is, the infinitive with the definite article) for both, which would again imply the substantive nature of the infinitive rather than using the infinitive simply to complete the verb phrase.

Scott

Re: Two infinitives

Clive — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:26:27 GMT

Hi,
To quit in the space is the same to quit in the corridor."
Could someone kindly correct if it's alright grammatically?

"To quit in the space is the same as to quit in the corridor."

However, it sounds more natural to say 'Quitting in the space is the same as quitting in the corridor'.

I have no idea what this sentence means or refers to.

Are the two definite articles required in your context?

Best wishes, Clive

Re: article and word in quote

Mister Micawber — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:15:05 GMT

.
I think the word "House Card" is capitalized, meaning it has a special meaning or treated as a proper noun.-- Yes, it is the name of a type of card; evidently (from the 'a') there are several of these cards in the game, and this is one of them.

From what I learned, I think an indefinite article, "a", can be used if what is in quotation marks is one of many like "a McDonald."-- The quotation marks have nothing to do with it. We can have a McDonald's (one of the restaurants) with no quotation marks.
.

article and word in quote

Anonymous — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 06:23:35 GMT

Hi,
I am not too sure why there has to be the article "a" in front of the word "House Card" in quotation marks.

The instructor will give each person in the room a "House Card."

This is supposed to be part of instructions to be given in playing a card game for an instructional purpose. I think the word "House Card" is capitalized, meaning it has a special meaning or treated as a proper noun. From what I learned, I think an indefinite article, "a", can be used if what is in quotation marks is one of many like "a McDonald."

Re: Omission of the definite article in "Steve jobs, CEO of Apple"

richard_s — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 08:32:51 GMT

theÂ is optional before titles such as manager, CEO, or prime minister / president. Â This is because it can be viewed as a person's name or as a job position. Â The job position takes the article; the person's name does not.

Omission of the definite article in "Steve jobs, CEO of Apple"

Anonymous — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 08:10:16 GMT

Hi,

I wonder why there is no definite article in "Steve jobs, CEO of Apple".
"Steve jobs, the CEO of Apple" is wrong?

Thanks in advance

indefinite article before uncountable nouns

Anonymous — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 01:38:20 GMT

Hi, I think it is a common knowledge that some uncountable nouns can be changed to countable nouns (are susceptable to such transformations) if they are made into types. Does that mean if we could place the phrase "a type" and "a sort" before such a noun, then we would have a correct transformation of that noun? Could we have placed the phrase "a type" and "a sort" instead of making them countable?

... is a development unlike anything we have seen before is occurring in this very instance in this land
... is a coverage of the incidence that happened yesterday was phenomenal and needs to be applauded for its excellent coverage of it.
... gave a legitimacy unlike any other ones out there and pulled the general consensus to their side.

Re: a school and a pizza correspondence?

Avangi — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 04:56:35 GMT

Hi,

Not sure I understand your question. Your use of "specific" is a little fuzzy.

We use the idea of "specific" when distinguishing between the definite article (the) and the indefinite article (a/an). In that sense, the examples you quote are not specific.

Mary just got a job at Pinkerton Academy. She will begin working at the school next Monday. (specific school, definite article) She has never worked at a school before. (non-specific school, indefinite article.)

When deciding between the indefinite article and no article, it's an entirely different issue. It's one school/pizza/piece of pizza vs. the concept, or general idea of school/pizza.

I hate school but I love pizza. No article. I remember a school in New York. The school was fantastic! True, it's a specific school, but until it's identified in some way, we don't use the definite article. In this case, the first sentence identifies it for the second sentence.

I attended school in New York.(no article) There may have been one school or several, but we're talking about the idea of school.

Best regards, - A.