Search results for 'tag:Definite articles tag:Singular nouns' matching tags 'Definite articles' and 'Singular nouns'

superative and article

Anonymous — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 02:55:39 GMT

Hi,
I am wonder if I have to place the definite article before a phrase that has a superative in front or before another word. Normally, I figure a definite noun is necessary if a singular noun/word? is involved, ie I need the best/strongest man to lift this table, but if we have 'men' instead of 'man' or 'people', do we must have to put the definite article?

I need the best/strongest men/people to ...

One more question: Does the word 'ultimate' need a definite article if a singluar noun is involved? It looks to be functioning like the word 'top' which no definite article is needed for a singular noun, IMO. Can you think of several more words like 'top'?

ultimate climbers
the ultimate climber

Re: article

CalifJim — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 01:51:53 GMT

Cool Breeze
However, what you have made a mistake with in my humble opinion is that the indefinite article isn't used with uncountable nouns. The defintite article (the) can be used with all nouns.

Yes, yes, yes. I know that. Maybe I used the wrong words to express what I was trying to say. Maybe I should have said it as follows:

Only an uncountable noun can be used without an article (if it's singular).

The formulation in sea uses no article.

Therefore it treats sea as uncountable.

But I know for a fact that, on the contrary, sea is countable.

Therefore, in sea is wrong (because it contains a countable singular noun being used without an article).

_____

The argument, I'll admit, doesn't specify which article (a or the) will fix what's wrong.

Does this explanation make it clearer what I was getting at?

(Thanks for responding. Sorry about the e-mail problem.

There should be a list on the right with your latest discussions, by the way. Maybe that will help. )

the word "lack" countable or uncountable

Anonymous — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:35:16 GMT

Hi there,

I am from an asian country (korea) and Korean doesn't distinguish countable or uncountable nouns so I have some problem with this concept even though I have been living in english speaking country for 10 years.

Now the word "lack" according to the online Longman dictionary is an uncountable noun, as well as a singular noun.

But we usually say "a lack of quality" or "a lack of resources".

Now we know for sure we never put "a" in front of "water" because "water" is an uncountable noun, as in "furniture" or "stuff".

So how is it that word "lack" can have an indefinite article in front of it?

Does it mean that the English language lacks logic inherently?

Thanks.

Re: "a long time" or "long time"

Clive — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 12:54:31 GMT

Hi,

Yes,

Think of it this way. There should be a definite or indefinite article (a/the) before a singular noun that refers to something you can count.

Clive

Re: Singular & plural words

Yoong Liat — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 05:15:29 GMT

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

what is the plural word for THE??

some singular nouns that stand plural nouns too

Many thank Teresa

Pieanne has already replied as follows earlier.

"The" is the definite article, and has the same form in the plural:

The boy, the boys / the girl, the girls / the table, the tables.

You can say that there are six the's in the above sentence.

Re: Use of indefinite articles

Philip — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 15:37:48 GMT

Ant_222 wrote:
To me, in all these examples singular nouns denote a substance rather than a thing. That's why indefinite articles are omitted. P.S.: Anyway, I'd use "an old dog" for #1... because... it doesn't make much sense to speak of the substance (matter) of an old dog.

I agree.

Re: Use of indefinite articles

Ant_222 — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 11:33:19 GMT

To me, in all these examples singular nouns denote a substance rather than a thing. That's why indefinite articles are omitted.

P.S.: Anyway, I'd use "an old dog" for #1... because... it doesn't make much sense to speak of the substance (matter) of an old dog.

Re: A Mrs Smith

NewPhilologist — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 23:00:10 GMT

Hi Magda,

It means that a certain Mrs Smith called:

Main Entry:²a
Function:indefinite article
[...]
3 a -- used as a function word before a singular noun followed by a restrictive modifier <a man who was here yesterday> b : ANY <a man who is sick can't work> c -- used as a function word before a mass noun to denote a particular type or instance <a bronze made in ancient times> d -- used as a function word before a proper noun representing an example or type <the attractions of a Boston or a Cleveland> e -- used as a function word before a proper noun to indicate limited knowledge about the referent <a Mr. Smith called to inquire about the job> f -- used as a function word before a proper noun to distinguish the condition of the referent from a usual, former, or hypothetical condition <a triumphant Ms. Jones greeted her supporters>

In a similar vein, you may also encounter "One Mrs Smith called yesterday.":

Main Entry:¹one
Function:adjective
[...]
4 a : SOME 1 <will see you again one day> b : being a certain individual specified by name <one John Doe made a speech>

Cheers,
NewPhilologist

Re: Why definite articles here?

CalifJim — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 17:50:37 GMT

Where it is not stated, the word club is assumed.
club is a concrete countable singular noun, so it must have a or the.
a is indefinite, and these clubs certainly aren't indefinite if you can actually name them!
So it has to be the definite article the.

Let's = Let us.

CJ

Re: 'a' or 'an' for acronyms and abbrevation

Anonymous — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 16:55:48 GMT

A and an signal that the noun modified is indefinite, referring to any member of a group. These indefinite articles are used with singular nouns when the noun is general; the corresponding indefinite quantity word some is used for plural general nouns. The rule is:

a + singular noun beginning with a consonant: a boy
an + singular noun beginning with a vowel: an elephant
a + singular noun beginning with a consonant sound: a user (sounds like 'yoo-zer,' i.e. begins with a consonant 'y' sound, so 'a' is used)
some + plural noun: some girls

If the noun is modified by an adjective, the choice between a and an depends on the initial sound of the adjective that immedately follows the article:

a broken egg
an unusual problem
a European country (sounds like 'yer-o-pi-an,' i.e. begins with consonant 'y' sound)

Note also that in English, the indefinite articles are used to indicate membership in a profession, nation, or religion.

I am a teacher.
Brian is an Irishman.
Seiko is a practicing Buddhist.