http://www.englishforums.com/search/pro.htm?q=tag%3aDefinite+ArticlesSearch results for 'tag:Definite Articles' matching tag 'Definite Articles'en-USXMOD (Build: 3616.28671)http://www.englishforums.com/English/ArticlesArticles/lgxzl/post.htmSun, 25 Oct 2009 09:41:23 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:952351seromack"I live in a small house with my parents and my brother and sister" In the sentence above, are supposed to use and article or a possessive pronoun before brother and sister ? ...or while talking about father... "I have a father. My father is a sculptor. I always talk to my/the father when I want to ask him something." Do we need to use a definite article or a possessive pronoun? and one more... If somebody plays an instrument, can we say: " My favorite instrument is a cello and I play on it" Is this ON article correct?http://www.englishforums.com/English/Articles/lrxbm/post.htmWed, 30 Sep 2009 05:34:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:922806anonymouswhat kinds of countries whose names contain the definite article? Please help me ..http://www.englishforums.com/English/UseIndefiniteArticlePluralsPlural-Headings/kqhgh/post.htm#916002Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:32:29 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:916002mister micawberYou haven't used the indefinite articles ( a/an ). You have used two definite articles: 'Modifying the Design of the Components'. You cannot use ' a components ', if that is what you mean.http://www.englishforums.com/English/GrammerSometimesOmitDefiniteArticle/kpvhx/post.htm#910503Sun, 20 Sep 2009 18:26:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:910503rayhJust with the context you have provided I am inclined to say that omitting the articles is an error. However, as you probably know, article use is quite idiomatic and speaker dependent as well as being very context dependent. Without a more complete context that's about all I can say and even with the full context I'm not sure I could give you an answer that would be very satisfying. There are many threads here on the forums that discuss article use, you can use the search function to find them.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Essay/khkgr/post.htm#883085Wed, 02 Sep 2009 05:46:31 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:883085ben777Hello Vctory Ong, I enjoyed reading your essay, I think you're an imaginative writer who is skilled at making the place you are describing seem real. Here are some of the errors I noticed in your essay. We enjoys, they dances, jogs... everyone go home for work.. We have a rule in English, sometimes you have to add an "s" to the end of a verb, and sometimes you don't. Usually, the only time you need to add an "s" at the end of the verb is when the noun that immediately comes before it is in the singular, third person format. 3rd person is when you are speaking about people as if you are outside of the situation, and singular is when you are referring to a noun as one entity. In the excerpts from your work...http://www.englishforums.com/English/3Sentences3Questions/kzmjd/post.htm#863456Sat, 15 Aug 2009 16:37:03 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:863456yankee1. Should I use definite articles in this sentence? Why/why not? I would not use the definite article. However, I might possibly use it if the sentence is a reference to something previously mentioned in the the broader context -- in which certain people were described and or classified as being "prophets of doom". I would need to see the broader context in order to say for sure whether I might include the definite article. (The) prophets of doom have always accompanied humanity in its peregrination through (the) ages. 2. a) Should I rather say were or are in the first part of the sentence? NO b) Should I use a definite article in front of human corpse(s) ? You can say "the human corpse s " if you are...http://www.englishforums.com/English/InRegardEnglishArticlesBibleVerse-Included/jpxlm/post.htmWed, 22 Jul 2009 07:37:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:829629anonymousHi. 1. Why is there a definite article, "the", before the phrase (a proper name?) "King's Garden"? Here, would you say the word "King's" is more or less functioning as an adjective? In Nehemiah 3:15 of the New International Version of the Bible, it is written: 15 The Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallun son of Col-Hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah. He rebuilt it, roofing it over and putting its doors and bolts and bars in place. He also repaired the wall of the Pool of Siloam, e )'> by the King's Garden, as far as the steps going down from the City of David. 2. Why isn't there an article before the word "animal" if the word...http://www.englishforums.com/English/AfraidCockroachAfraidCockroaches/2/jxkwn/Post.htm#823735Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:07:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:823735mrpernicketyHere is some food for thought. When each of the following example used singular verb, does it mean "one insect", or as I said, a collective species?: In all the examples you have quoted, each mention of "roaches" is regarded as a reference to a species, rather than to one insect, of course. That is why the definite article precedes the word "roach". On the whole, these articles drive me nuts and I have not been able to aquire a good grasp of them (and as God is my witness I'm trying), but I think in the examples above, the definite article is crucial - failing the definite article, the sentences would sound off key. That is of course just my take on this, some might present their...http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheNationality/jlvcp/post.htm#807198Sun, 05 Jul 2009 10:44:04 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:807198anonymousHi, Thanks!! But I am still confused... Please let me organize all the things. In my understanding so far, (A) whether or not " -ese" words (Japanese, Chinese, Tiwanese, Vietnamese, etc.) accompany definite articles depends on the context ("the" will be inserted in the cases of (1) and (2) you mentioned. Other than those cases, "the" is not likely to be placed.). (B) the same applies to "-ns" words and "-ers" words (Americans, Germans, Scandinavians, Australians, Italians, Arabians, Russians, New Zealanders, etc.) (C) meanwhile, "- h" words (French, Spanish, Irish, British, Dutch) always accompany definite articles. (D) other exceptions might include...http://www.englishforums.com/English/QuestionAboutArticles/jkgqh/post.htmThu, 02 Jul 2009 06:32:14 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:802832aedilisHello all. I have a trouble with this sentence, and I hope you could help me. "As much as Seoul and Tokyo pledged closer cooperation toward their common goal, greater distance is felt between China and its two neighbors to the east." It's from newspaper editorials, and I think there shold be a definite article 'the' in front of 'greater'. Because it seems similar to the 'the more~, the more-' phrase. Below is an example of the 'the more~, the more-' phrase, in case I failed to make it understood. -> The more I study, the more confused I become. Actually, this is what I feel now :( And if my assumption is right, 'closer' needs an article too. ...http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheArticlesThe/jghcn/post.htm#783299Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:45:15 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:783299avangiIn a given context, there may be none; but technically the "definite article" refers to a definite group of years. Prior context may reveal what specific group of years we're thinking of.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Adjective/wmcld/post.htm#728362Wed, 13 May 2009 15:09:58 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:728362alpheccastarsMr. M. Is correct. The words "a, an, and the" are also called articles. A and an are called indefinite articles; "the" is called the definite article. You can read about articles in this article ! A determiner is a class of noun modifiers. Articles are in this class, along with other words like both, all, each, every, many, three, any, some ... You can read more about determiners HERE .http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheArticlesMuralFire/whbmh/post.htm#703075Mon, 27 Apr 2009 01:29:54 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:703075avangiIn #1, the article is necessary. "They are painting mural on the wall" is incorrect. In #2, the indefinite article is correct. More context is required to determine if the definite article would be more appropriate. Are we talking about a specific fire?http://www.englishforums.com/English/AQuestionAboutGrammarPassage/wzqgh/post.htm#702484Sun, 26 Apr 2009 17:25:15 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:702484anonymousI agree with Delmobile that this is in a telegraphic style common in informal business writing, which explains the missing definite articles. To agree a delivery date sounds OK to my (native British) ears, though. Agree can be transitive or intransitive in British English but I think is usually intransitive in American English. The other thing that seemed a little non-standard to me was the concept of attaching a backlog. A backlog to me is an abstrast concept - all the things that are waiting to be dealt with. Again some words have been ommitted. The writer presumably means (s)he has attached a list of the items that form the backlog. Jonhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/DefiniteArticleHistoricalEvents/wvpqd/post.htm#692434Mon, 30 Mar 2009 08:00:58 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:692434mister micawber. Hi. Do we always place definite articles for historical events?-- I don't know; there is no such rule, though. If you care to list them all, I'll pass judgment. Do historical events have to be great events?-- No. Are there degrees of importance for historical events to use the definite article?-- No; it is irrelevant. ... burned to the ground in the Great Baltimore Fire of 1901 . Would you say here the existence of the word "of" in the name plays a factor in the consideration?-- No; it is irrelevant. .http://www.englishforums.com/English/DefiniteArticleHistoricalEvents/wvpqd/post.htmMon, 30 Mar 2009 07:29:19 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:692430anonymousHi. Do we always place definite articles for historical events? Do historical events have to be great events? Are there degrees of importance for historical events to use the definite article? Would you say here the existence of the word "of" in the name plays a factor in the consideration? ... burned to the ground in the Great Baltimore Fire of 1901http://www.englishforums.com/English/UsageOfArticles/wvnhb/post.htm#691853Sat, 28 Mar 2009 10:04:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:691853snappyIt 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.http://www.englishforums.com/English/UsageOfArticles/wvnhb/post.htm#691780Sat, 28 Mar 2009 03:28:40 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:691780snappyThank 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...http://www.englishforums.com/English/UsageOfArticles/wvnhb/post.htm#691771Sat, 28 Mar 2009 02:15:35 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:691771snappyThe 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."?http://www.englishforums.com/English/UsageOfArticles/wvnhb/post.htmFri, 27 Mar 2009 19:21:59 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:691697snappyNormal 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...http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhyWouldIndefiniteArticle/wdxmr/post.htmMon, 16 Mar 2009 06:23:49 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:687157anonymousHi. I believe I have asked a question similar to this in the past and believe I haven't gotten a clear answer. That is why I am asking this again using the sentence which I think I have used back then (maybe changed the sentence a little). Why would you (if you do) an indefinite article here in both places? To proceed this process further, you need to submit an Application for Tax Exemption along with a Residence Certificate. You have two names that are capitalized and I think they indicate they contain/mark some internal importance (to a company). Does that mean it is a proper noun (name?) in that no other like that is out there (any where?)? If it is not, then could we say that names for these types of documents that are...http://www.englishforums.com/English/ATheArticles/wdxbv/post.htm#687015Sun, 15 Mar 2009 19:47:59 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:687015cool breezeSo does it mean that it's possible to use both the and a/an before a relative clause? If I said: "...the man who brought such humiliation upon his office" instead of "...a man who brought...", would the meaning remain the same? No no! The indefinite article is needed for your sentence. Here's ann example of a definite article brought on by a relative clause: This is the car I bought last week. (I bought only one car last week.) This is a car I bought last week. (I bought at least two cars last week.) CBhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/CorrectSentencesPlease/wdjql/post.htm#685835Thu, 12 Mar 2009 10:33:27 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:685835anonymousGreat. Why did you put the definite article here for no.4? Couldn't it be the indefinite article "a" there? You corrected: 4. Two-year contract with a possible extension according to the result of the performance evaluation. Also, why do they have to be indefinite articles here? In order to proceed further, you need to submit an Application for Exemption and a Residence Certificate . I think the words "Application" and "Certificate" are generic (?) words and could make it possible for people to take the underlined phrases as one of the several, but I don't understand why it could not be definite articles. I think if you switch the words "Residence Certificate" around and...http://www.englishforums.com/English/TwoPunctuationQuestionsInvolving-WordsExtraQuestionArticle/wdbbd/post.htm#683231Thu, 05 Mar 2009 07:33:13 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:683231yutgoyunA. Do not put a comma after the so. You would be breaking up a clause if you did. You put commas after opening "So"s because in that situation it functions as an opening word. A good rule of thumb is if you can remove the word and the sentence still works, you should put a comma. B. It depends on the context. "Then find the same symbol on this page!" as a rhetorical order does not need a comma. "Then, find the same symbol on this page" would be how it might appear in a list of things to do. C. Either works. I would prefer it with the "the" (I would prefer it with "the" - both work!). Definite articles are much more lax in English than other languages in my experience.http://www.englishforums.com/English/CheckForMePlease/hpbxl/post.htmSat, 31 Jan 2009 13:02:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:658880kittixayNormal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE TH Present Simple Tense - In case of preceded by the third person singular, the verb that changes in form is Verb to be and Verb to have - In case we add es is the verb that ends in S, SS, Ch, Sh, O, X - In case of the verb that ends in y, we change y into ies Modal Verbs : May-might, Can-could, Will-would, Shall-should, Must. If these verbs are preceded by the third person singular, don’t conjugate it and don’t use the preposition "to" - Besides these four captions above, if the verb is preceded by the third person singular just add S. - Present Simple...http://www.englishforums.com/English/CommasDefiniteArticles/hxbpn/post.htm#654080Mon, 26 Jan 2009 02:48:04 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:654080cliveHi, How should I use the definite article when I'm using commas? EX. The school appeals to me because of the curriculum, the international campus, the stu n dents and the ambiance. You can omit all but the first if you want to. It's a style choice. I'd keep the articles. Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/CommasDefiniteArticles/hxbpn/post.htmMon, 26 Jan 2009 01:10:58 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:653986carolina211How should I use the definite article when I'm using commas? EX. The school appeals to me because of the curriculum, the international campus, the stundents and the ambiance.http://www.englishforums.com/English/QuestionsArticlesAgainLordRings/hmpjj/post.htm#648130Mon, 19 Jan 2009 13:38:52 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:648130ant_222Thanks for help, Amy! You seem to have misunderstood my first question. It is the lack of the definite article before "old fears" that puzzles me. I'd say: "For a second the old fears seized him...". Maybe I wasn't clear. Hope you understand me now. Antonhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/QuestionsArticlesAgainLordRings/hmpjj/post.htmMon, 19 Jan 2009 13:11:34 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:648100ant_222Hello everybody, Below are two sentences over which I really stumbled, because I'd certainly not use articles the way Tolkien did. «Frodo woke up to find Faramir bending over him. For a second (?) old fears seized him and he sat up and shrank away» It is certian that "old fears" refer to the day before, when Frodo feared that Faramir would be allured by the Ring like Boromir had been, and would take it by force. This is quite a certain fear, so why the definite article wasn't used? «There are no travelers in this land: only the (?) servants of the Dark Lord, or of the White.» Conversely, here I don't see any reason to use the definite article. In case of a single person one would say "He is a servant of the...http://www.englishforums.com/English/ApostropheEssaysScientificTexts/hjjqj/post.htm#632838Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:57:21 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:632838anonymousHi Calif, Here are two examples: (Not sure if they are right, however. I think that the use of definite articles is not quite right here.) Thank you! Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Learning experience meaningfulness and the teacher’s importance Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 The length of the student’s narratives varied from a short statement (2 words) to a complete occurrence description (61 words)http://www.englishforums.com/English/CouldSentenceThankYou/hjjvh/post.htm#631564Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:27:18 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:631564avangiI see your point. I'd delete the two definite articles, vet. med., and rural vet. I'm not sure if "veterinarian" is properly used as an adjective in modifying "work." I should think "veterinary work" (just as you have used "veterinary education"), OR " the rural veterinarian's work ." (Note that " veterinary work " would not use the article.) Best regards, - A. Edit. Not sure what you mean by "production." At first I took it as the production of medicines for veterinary use. In this case the sentence order would determine the use of the definite article: (1) the production of vet. medicines; (2) vet medicine production (no article). Now I'm...http://www.englishforums.com/English/DoesSoundNaturalNativeSpeaker/hwjcm/post.htm#626646Tue, 30 Dec 2008 13:57:28 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:626646yizhivikaHi Eff, Some do, some don't.. 1) From time to time, the palace is a venue for performances by costumed actors. (OR: COSTUMED ACTORS PERFORMANCES??) That's fine as it is. If you were to use 'costumed actors performances', you should add an apostrophe to 'actors' to make it a plural possessive, thus: 'costumed actors' performances'. However, the sentence sounds better the way you have written it; I'd find 'costumed actors' performances' a bit cumbersome here. 2) Visitors can explore the infamous bottle dungeon into which the body of Cardinal Beaton was thrown after his murder. This act was commited by protestants as a revenge for the burning of the reformist leader George Wishart....http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhyDefiniteArticles/hzjgn/post.htmTue, 16 Dec 2008 10:45:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:611928anonymousHi, I like to taste the finest tea the world has to offer and I found that Starbucks has some of the finest tea around. Last time I went to Seoul, I went into a Starbucks (I think there are several in the city) and bought a brand of tea called "TAZO". Each bag was packaged in paper separately in a box and on the back of the package (for a tea bag), I saw this writing: After Mt. Mazama erupted 7,700 years ago, there was a spot in the southern Cascades where you could feel the warmth of the lava and the cool of the jet stream... Why do they have the definite article "the" in both places before the words "lava" and "jet stream"? I think they are there because they are used to make a general reference...http://www.englishforums.com/English/ThereSentences/hvjqw/post.htmSun, 07 Dec 2008 06:07:21 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:607180rika-chiHello! It is generally said that existential "there" sentences like (a) convey new information, so they usually occur with indefinite articles "a": (a) There is a book on the table. But there are also sentences like (b), which occurs with the definite article: (b) There is the book on the table. Obviously (b) doesn't convey new information. I think that's because (b) is a locative (demonstrative) "there" sentence, not an existential "there" sentence. Is it right? If so, "there" in the sentences with the definite article are all locative? And also, true to its name, existential "there" sentences are used when you describe the existence of something, and often include a...http://www.englishforums.com/English/UsingAcademicArticles/hczdq/post.htm#600276Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:10:09 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:600276alpheccastarsChacha: Here are some more comments. Beware that I am not professional writer; I'm only using my "native language" sensibilities. In fact, even if the facts about the transgressions (you refer to specific incidents in the festival, so the definite article is needed) were accurately represented (such as accepting that there was graffiti or litter), these (use these to circumscribe or limit the scope to the definitions cited previously) official definitions of transgressions (here, omitting "the" is OK because you mean not any transgressions specific to the festival, but all transgressions, no matter what or where) were still objectionable. Finally, these official definitions of festive behaviour were...http://www.englishforums.com/English/DefiniteArticleNeeded/hcjnh/post.htm#597401Fri, 28 Nov 2008 04:39:43 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:597401alpheccastarsA student uses scissors to cut (the) paper. You should be consistent with the articles: Here are some natural variations: The student uses scissors to cut the paper. >> A specific student is cutting some specific paper. Students use scissors to cut paper. >> In general, people who are students cut paper with scissors. The student uses scissors to cut paper. >> The emphasis is on the fact that scissors, and not something else, is used for the purpose of cutting paper. A student may use scissors to cut paper. >> Indefinite article (meaning any student) used with modal verb. A student may use scissors to cut the paper. >> Indefinite article used with modal verb, but now referencing some specific paper.http://www.englishforums.com/English/OneProblemsFacedEnglishLearners-Misconceptions/hrnkh/post.htm#588735Tue, 18 Nov 2008 02:57:01 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:588735alpheccastarseither "learners of the English language," or "English language learners." Why is article the essential here? There is only one English language. e.g. I'm learning Chinese language these days. Is there any need to specify Chinese language using the ? The use of the is justified in sentences as in ''I'm learning the Southern American English dialect nowadays . Avangi, Jackson: The rule is that articles (definite, indefinite) are omitted in the case of mass nouns (non-count), and required for count nouns. "Language" is a count noun. Thus, I can say: I speak two language s - Spanish and Greek. I am studying the language of the tribal peoples of Tanzania. When English, Chinese, Polish,...http://www.englishforums.com/English/MakingALsitWithCommas/hrdqb/post.htm#585790Mon, 10 Nov 2008 01:40:52 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:585790cliveHi, This may seem slightly trivial; however, I have always tried to be pedantic with English writing. When one makes a list using a comma, do they all need to make sense with the words preceeding the first comma. Yes, although that's really a matter of meaning rather than of grammar. Strcitly speaking, grammar does not really care about meaning. I know this will make little sense. So, here is an example to show what I mean: I went to the store and bought a book, car, bike, and train. Firstly, when can I omit the indefinite articles in a list? Either omit all but the first, or include them all. Do I have to place one on the last item in the list? No, unless you included them all. You can also, of course, have mixed lists, eg I...http://www.englishforums.com/English/MakingALsitWithCommas/hrdqb/post.htmMon, 10 Nov 2008 01:26:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:585787eddie88HI. This may seem slightly trivial; however, I have always tried to be pedantic with English writing. When one makes a list using a comma, do they all need to make sense with the words preceeding the first comma. I know this will make little sense. So, here is an example to show what I mean: I went to the store and bought a book, car, bike, and train. Firstly, when can I omit the indefinite articles in a list? Do I have to place one on the last item in the list? Secondly, and unfortunately, I couldn't think of an example which shows the difficulty I am having. But in the example, anyway, does everything listed need to make sense back to the last word before the list. In this case, the word 'bought' is the last word and...http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheTrafficRulesCountryProhibit-CrossingStreetWhileLight/2/gpnmd/Post.htm#579348Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:44:46 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:579348cliveHi, What's the difference between #9 and #10? #9 a street (I think a street always means any street .) Not always. See below. #10 the street that means any street , not the specific street So I think both means any street , in a simple or short expression. But I think their nuances are different because their words are different. I think different words have different nuances. What's the difference? You should always look both ways before you cross the street. You should always look both ways before you cross a street. I really see no difference here, except that the former sounds more idiomatic, and thus makes the speaker sound more natural . Person A: Did you hear about Tom? He was killed crossing the street. Person...http://www.englishforums.com/English/ThereIsAThe/gpgzr/post.htm#576735Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:13:01 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:576735kooyeenHi, and welcome. I would say such rule is not a strict rule, but just a rule of thumb applies to most common contexts, not all of them. What's on the table? - There's the book (you know what book we are talking about, a specific one). What's all this noise? Look out the window... - Oh, there's the dog chasing that homeless guy again. To me, existential "there" answers the question "What exists in a certain environment? What is the situation in a certain environment?", so using definite articles is actually expected in some cases. That said, I am a non-native speaker and so what I just said might be of no value whatsoever, LOL.http://www.englishforums.com/English/QuestionIndefiniteArticle/gprjp/post.htm#574995Fri, 10 Oct 2008 01:51:55 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:574995cliveHi, 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...http://www.englishforums.com/English/TwoInfinitives/gxxqn/post.htm#574253Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:26:27 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:574253cliveHi, 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, Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/SyntaxAnalysis/gxgbd/post.htm#571842Tue, 30 Sep 2008 08:23:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:571842cool breezeIt was claimed that only man could use language as a medium of communication . I'm not sure what kind of syntactic analysis you have in mind. I tend to dispense with needless analysis and labelling anyway. The sentence consists of a main clause and a subordinate clause , which is the object of the main clause. No one person is referred to, which is evident from man without an article. The entire human race is meant as opposed to animals. Nor does the speaker have any specific language in mind as there is no article before language . It was claimed that only the man could use the language as a medium of communication. Even though the sentence is grammatically correct, it would not be uttered in ordinary circumstances because of...http://www.englishforums.com/English/ArticleRestaurantFoodName/gxvgp/post.htmSun, 28 Sep 2008 06:55:46 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:571181anonymousHi, Could we put the definite or indefinite articles "the" and "a" in front of restaurant food names? I had the (a??) Tenderloin Steak with *** sauce. I had the (a??) Creme Normandy for dessert. Normally, I think one would find the above names in a menu like this: Tenderloin Steak with *** sauce $ ***.*** Creme Normandy $ X.***http://www.englishforums.com/English/CorrectnessArticleUse/gmqdm/post.htm#565122Fri, 12 Sep 2008 01:28:09 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:565122anonymousThank you, again. Would you consider the use/placement of these articles correct? Thank you for your anticipated help. Using the definite article before '*** Stadium" and "*** Street" OK? Proper nouns: *** Street and *** Stadium The old *** Street that has been with us for years will go a face-lift. After the extensive remedial work and some new work on our old friend, we will soon see an almost new *** Street that will offer a new level of convenience and brighten up our daily driving situations to and from the street. The outdated, long-underused *** Stadium of ours will go through a very extensive renovation. Soon, you will see a *** Stadium that offers a new level of high-tech conveniece that likely to surpass your...http://www.englishforums.com/English/CorrectnessArticleUse/gmqdm/post.htm#565121Fri, 12 Sep 2008 01:27:34 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:565121anonymousThank you, again. Would you consider the use/placement of these articles correct? Thank you for your anticipated help. Using the definite article before '*** Stadium" and "*** Street" OK? Proper nouns: *** Street and *** Stadium The old *** Street that has been with us for years will go a face-lift. After the extensive remedial work and some new work on our old friend, we will soon see an almost new *** Street that will offer a new level of convenience and brighten up our daily driving situations to and from the street. The outdated, long-underused *** Stadium of ours will go through a very extensive renovation. Soon, you will see a *** Stadium that offers a new level of high-tech conveniece that likely to surpass your...http://www.englishforums.com/English/EnglishArticleProperNoun/gmjrx/post.htm#563001Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:26:21 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:563001anonymousHi, Thank you so much again. Can anyone tell me why having the indefinite article 'a' is the right thing to do here? I don't think the italicized words are proper nouns, since among other reasons which I can't think of right now, they are not capitalized. They seem to be literal translation of the English words 'house' and 'academy' and that seem to be the reason why they have the articles "a's". Right? A hanok is a traditional yangban wooden house that has remained ... A seowon is a traditional academy. .http://www.englishforums.com/English/TwoQuestions/gmjbl/post.htm#562752Fri, 05 Sep 2008 07:57:32 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:562752yizhivika1. In colloquial speech, they are often used interchangeably. However, in using "It was awesome.", you might be describing your own reaction at the time to what you saw, whereas with "It is awesome" you would probably be talking about the place itself (assuming it still exists!). If the place no longer exists, you should also use "It was awesome." 2. No, you wouldn't use definite or indefinite articles here, but you would say, housi ng , clothing and food.http://www.englishforums.com/English/PlaceAricleHere/glnlc/post.htm#559851Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:18:23 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:559851anonymousThank you. How is Ondol different from these proper nouns (I think they are) that I see having definite articles? the Pacific Ocean I think Mr. M said the definite article is needed for this name of program that is in quotes: The 'Cow Power Program' Is this program a proper name? And I see a lot names of government agencies and committees with the definte articles, aren't these names proper names? eg, the IRS