http://www.englishforums.com/search/pro.htm?q=tag%3aIndefinite+ArticlesSearch results for 'tag:Indefinite Articles' matching tag 'Indefinite Articles'en-USXMOD (Build: 3616.28671)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/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/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/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/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/SuperativeAndArticle/glmbg/post.htm#559143Wed, 27 Aug 2008 08:42:49 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:559143cool breezeDo you have any comments on "top gun" or "ultimate climber" with and without articles - or definite vs. indefinite articles?? No, I don't think I have any. I'm sure your reliable ear will offer you the right choices. CBhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/SuperativeAndArticle/glmbg/post.htm#558836Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:52:28 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:558836avangiThanks, CB. I actually knew better, but was trying to show ultimate as adj. vs. "psuedo-superlative," or something like that. Do you have any comments on "top gun" or "ultimate climber" with and without articles - or definite vs. indefinite articles?? - A.http://www.englishforums.com/English/LookingTipsCurriculumSuggestions/glrwm/post.htmFri, 15 Aug 2008 21:50:11 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:555317mikesusangrayHi all! I've been giving English conversation lessons to a theology professor for about a year now. He's getting on in the years - a couple years from retirement - and his primary goal has been just to get his spoken English going a little stronger. His mother tongue is French but he's been teaching at a German language university for many years. I'd like to add some more specific inputs to our lessons but I can't seem to find the right material. His passive skills are excellent - he reads widely and with perfect comprehension in his field - and he can communicate quite understandably. He is a linguistics specialist and can grasp any concept about the language immediately. I brought along Cambridge Advanced Grammar in...http://www.englishforums.com/English/IWashroomAfterwards/gknpw/post.htm#554298Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:05:27 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:554298jackson6612Madhulk, I think you are right. Washroom is an uncountable noun, therefore indefinite articles a or an cannot modify it. Of course, Jack would not go to his neighbour's home to use his washroom. So, the definite article the would be used to refer to Jack's own washroom.http://www.englishforums.com/English/IsCompulsoryArticlesCountableNouns/2/gkdkw/Post.htm#553733Mon, 11 Aug 2008 21:44:11 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:553733jackson6612Let me rephrase it again, even indefinite article the is used with countable nouns or the nouns which are acting as counting nouns . What's "indefinite article the"? Sorry, I meant to say definite article . As the meaning of my question stands corrected now, what is your answer? I have been told that the accent of Russian is such that Russians have to struggle a lot in order to speak good English. Is it true?http://www.englishforums.com/English/IsExceptional/2/gkgcl/Post.htm#552356Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:28:22 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:552356califjimA few grammar books carried by ESL students suggest that "there is" only takes indefinite articles Good advice for beginners using "existential there ". You've got four combinations to disentangle here. "existential there " means there exists -- such-and-such "has existence". "locative there " means in that location -- at that place . The two meanings are different. And each can be used with either an indefinite or a definite expression. 1. Existential there with an indefinite: There's a book on the table. (A book is to be found -- has existence -- on the table.) 2. Existential there with a definite: For sinners, there's hell. | For help with your homework, there's...http://www.englishforums.com/English/IsCompulsoryArticlesCountableNouns/2/gkdkw/Post.htm#552331Thu, 07 Aug 2008 23:39:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:552331ant_222Let me rephrase it again, even indefinite article the is used with countable nouns or the nouns which are acting as counting nouns . What's "indefinite article the"? So it means if some non-countable noun is acting as a countable noun then it has to be an uncountable because there are two main types of nouns: countable and uncountable. Sure. Isn't it a tautology? Dictionaries describe "happiness" as an uncountable noun, but in specific contexts (like GG's example) it may be used as a countable noun, which I have called playing a "countable" role, or, to be more correct, the role of a countable noun. So, what the dictionaries say doesn't always 100% correspond to reality. You said,...http://www.englishforums.com/English/IsExceptional/gkgcl/post.htm#552221Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:53:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:552221jazzmasterA few grammar books carried by ESL students suggest that "there is" only takes indefinite articles such as "a/an", as in "There is an apple". Anything else, such as "the, my, our, his", is not supposed to come after "there is". My brief opinion: those are the kinds of books you should avoid reading. Unfortunately, there's a lot of 'em. Thanks for coming by, Kooyeen. "those are the kinds of books you should avoid reading" ... you know what? I could not agree with you more. You got that right. What a crap. Those books are beginning to evolve around themselves and started making up their own rules. I feel very sorry for those who are being taught with those books....http://www.englishforums.com/English/IsCompulsoryArticlesCountableNouns/2/gkdkw/Post.htm#552215Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:36:54 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:552215jackson6612Ant, you mean that even article the is used with countable nouns or the nouns which are acting as countable nouns. Yes, but it can be used with uncountable nouns as well. Countable (along the lines of GG's example): " The happiness that he had now was something he had never experiences before". Uncountable: "Boil a litre of water, put 25 g of tea into an earthenware pot, pour the water onto the tea ". And would you please give a short explanation of the underlined part When you specify the properties of something referred to by a noun that usually has an abstract, categorical or very general meaning, that automatically changes the meaning of it so that it denotes a specific instance of that...http://www.englishforums.com/English/IsExceptional/gkgcl/post.htm#552207Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:17:57 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:552207kooyeenA few grammar books carried by ESL students suggest that "there is" only takes indefinite articles such as "a/an", as in "There is an apple". Anything else, such as "the, my, our, his", is not supposed to come after "there is". My brief opinion: those are the kinds of books you should avoid reading. Unfortunately, there's a lot of 'em.http://www.englishforums.com/English/IsExceptional/gkgcl/post.htmThu, 07 Aug 2008 12:22:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:552035jazzmasterI need your opinion on "there": A few grammar books carried by ESL students suggest that "there is" only takes indefinite articles such as "a/an", as in "There is an apple". Anything else, such as "the, my, our, his", is not supposed to come after "there is". Therefore: There is the book I was looking for. There is his mother. There is my car. ... these are all "exceptional uses" according to what they say. I have never heard of this rule/restriction on "there is" and it completely throws me off. I see a lot of sentences on the internet which simply use "the , my, our" after "there is", and cannot find any articles or footnotes on this...http://www.englishforums.com/English/IsCompulsoryArticlesCountableNouns/gkdkw/post.htm#551819Wed, 06 Aug 2008 22:31:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:551819jackson6612GG, your post is just to the point. It's just that I do consider such nouns countable when they're used the way you showed. The very specifying of special properties makes these nouns refer to an instance of happiness or ecstasy, thus making them countable. What I wanted to say is, whenever the indefinite article is used, the following noun is either countable or plays a "countable" role. Ant, you mean that even article the is used with countable nouns or the nouns which are acting as countable nouns. And would you please give a short explanation of the underlined part. Thank you.http://www.englishforums.com/English/IsCompulsoryArticlesCountableNouns/gkdkw/post.htm#551733Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:29:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:551733ant_222GG, your post is just to the point. It's just that I do consider such nouns countable when they're used the way you showed. The very specifying of special properties makes these nouns refer to an instance of happiness or ecstasy, thus making them countable. What I wanted to say is, whenever the indefinite article is used, the following noun is either countable or plays a "countable" role.http://www.englishforums.com/English/PuzzleAboutPronunciationWord-The/gjgxz/post.htm#547420Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:22:23 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:547420mister micawber. Hello Mathew, and welcome to English Forums. The 2 pronunciations of 'the ' are not grammar rules, but physical effects of the smooth flow of sounds between words-- they are more like laws of physics. Native speakers (lucky us!) do not have to affirm pronunciations-- we just talk without thinking. However, I can tell you that in the native mind, the definite and indefinite articles are mostly already attached to their nouns, so that they are conceived and produced with a single thought. This kind of conversation is common: A: I see you've got a pear for lunch. B: A what? A: A pear . B: Oh no, that's the apple you gave me this morning. A; The what? B: The apple-- you remember?http://www.englishforums.com/English/IndefiniteArticleGerund/ggpvk/post.htm#536070Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:48:36 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:536070anonymousThank you, again. Are these types of verbal nouns (as you called it) or instances of verbal nouns? What validates their placement of an indefinite article? I did a Google Book search for the what you seem to be callling "verbal nouns" -- watching, mixing, playing, shouting and seemed to have come up with these tidbits: a watching of the clould and pillar a watching of the sky a mixing of the two stratified layers a mixing of the systems a mixing of molecules a playing of flutes a playing of a symphony a shouting of Song a shouting of patrotic sentiments What do all indefiinte articles indicate? An instance of mixing, watching, playing and shouting? Or a thttp://www.englishforums.com/English/WhenTeacherArrivedStoppedTalking/2/ggxbw/Post.htm#535782Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:21:49 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:535782ant_222My problem with definite and indefinite articles is less than with definite/indefinite pronouns. I think I'm starting to see other and another as indefinite articles, my as definite article and mine as indefinite article. There's no such corellation, except for "another", which is in fact "an" + "other", so dont' need to think of these words as capable of rendering a noun definite or indefinite on their own. "Take by my hand" — how can it be definite when we don't no which hand is in question? "Your English is better than mine" — how can it be indefinite when it's a comparison of the English skills of two people? ... And so on. I have to say referring to...http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhenTeacherArrivedStoppedTalking/2/ggxbw/Post.htm#535115Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:56:37 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:535115new2grammarMy problem with definite and indefinite articles is less than with definite/indefinite pronouns. I think I'm starting to see other and another as indefinite articles, my as definite article and mine as indefinite article. I have to say referring to other, another, my, mine as definite/indefinite is something new to me.http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhenTeacherArrivedStoppedTalking/2/ggxbw/Post.htm#535034Tue, 01 Jul 2008 08:51:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:535034new2grammarI thought when we speak of definite or indefinite, we talk about the definite and indefinite articles, the, an,a my other book is definite another book of mine is indefinite I can stretch definition of definite-indefinite to cover the above. Anotehr book of mine can be any book of all the books that I own whereas my other book is specific in teh sense that it's the one of a total of two books that I own that I haven't mentioned. other books of mine is indefinite??? The remaining books that I own should be definite/specific. I have mentioned one book, the rest of my book collection is what this phrase refers to. It's specific (definite) Sorry that I'm asking such a basic grammar rule. Please helphttp://www.englishforums.com/English/Noun/gdpbp/post.htm#520250Wed, 28 May 2008 23:21:57 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:520250avangiHi Believer, In terms of common usage, both your examples work with both definite and indefinite articles - i.e., countable and uncountable. I'd say your interpretation of the situation is correct. In the case of quotes, we observe the "a/an" switch, based on the way the letter would be spel(t): an "ing"; an "s"; a "t"; a "w." The "mixing" examples are all good, and natural. (I once worked in a large bakery.) I can't imagine what "an instance of sugar and flour" might mean. You could say " the/a/an occurrence/combination of sugar and flour in the same recipe . . . " (I think you'd have to say, "an instance of sugar and flour ...http://www.englishforums.com/English/ArticlesOrdinalNumbers/gcdkr/post.htmSat, 10 May 2008 09:10:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:511989damirHi there, I thought that ordinal numbers can have only a definite article. Then I read one post yesterday from a native speaker where he used indefinite article... "A second text file was used to pry it open" Why he used indefinite article? I've also found out that ordinal numbers don't need to have an article at all. When is then used definite, when indefinite and when zero article with oridnal numbers?http://www.englishforums.com/English/UseThereofFirstAmendment/mlqd/post.htm#481107Sun, 24 Feb 2008 17:50:15 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:481107anonymousI think there are a couple way to look at this. One is the use of the word 'thereof' and what it means. It is defined as such: thereof -adverb: of or concerning this, that or it When the word 'thereof' is used it gets its meaning entirely from the word to which it refers. So in a sense you must ask 'Of what?' in order to understand what it means. free exercise of what? of religion What kind of establishment? one of religion The indefinite articles a and an are defined as such: weakened variation of one; one, lone, single So my use of 'one' should be correct there. Another thing you must do is put it into context. The Bill of Rights is a document which defines the rights and liberties of...http://www.englishforums.com/English/KindlyExplain/zlkgm/post.htm#474662Sat, 09 Feb 2008 05:10:07 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:474662cliveHi, 1. Kindly tell if any grammar errors in the following: Oritel East & Oritel West are one of the finest hotels in Mumbai. (or at Mumbai) Oritel East and Oritel West are two of the finest hotels in Mumbai. Oritel East & Oritel West are the finest hotels in Mumbai. Oritel East and Oritel West are the finest hotels in Mumbai. The Taj is the finest hotel in Mumbai The Taj is the finest hotel in Mumbai. 2. Oritel East & Oritel West have the most scenic locale & pricturesque surrounding (or surroundings). Please explain why 'Surroundings'. Because the plural form is more idiomatic, and also because each hotel is presumably in a different place. 3. Its five star ambience & economic...http://www.englishforums.com/English/ArticlesGivingHeadacheAgain/zwdlm/post.htm#458041Sat, 29 Dec 2007 02:42:28 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:458041mister micawberAs stated, ' come into view ' is the expected idiom. However, it seems to me that #2 is odd primarily because of the indefinite article; ' the ocean came into our view ' would work much better.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Culture/zhlzd/post.htm#455314Thu, 20 Dec 2007 13:58:32 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:455314cool breezeHi Believer Don't look for logic with regard to articles in English. Adjectival attributes very often bring on an indefinite article: A new culture was born. A relative clause may do the same: We need a culture that is totally different from what we have now . When an adjectival attribute refers to a nation or a historical period , zero article is usually used: He takes an interest in Korean culture. I don't like German literature. Medieval music is very fascinating. The is used in such cases when the reference is to things not associated with culture: The Swedish Army has not been engaged in a battle for 200 years. How many fleets does the French Navy consist of? The Finnish president attended the conference. CBhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/UseArticlesFrontHotelNames/zhjlg/post.htmWed, 19 Dec 2007 03:11:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:454790anonymousHi, I find the use of articles in front of hotel names so confusing. Do you have some tips. I think chain hotels like Marriots (I think that is how they are spelled) can have the definite article 'the' or the indefinite article 'a' somewhat freely but when you have some names that seem to be taken to reflect the local flavor, confusion seems to be born (in my mind, that is). Also, why is that when you have a great hotel chain like the Marriot, the definite article 'the' seems to go with it almost always, but when we look at the actual pictures of those hotels, they seem to have "Marriot" with the articles for their signs up high on the roofs?http://www.englishforums.com/English/IndefiniteArticleProper-Name/zgrxr/post.htm#447742Thu, 29 Nov 2007 09:41:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:447742cool breezeHi Muttley Unfortunately there are a myriad cases involving proper nouns with adjectival attributes and the indefinite article. You'll just have to learn them piecemeal. As you said in your first post, a/an is often used with a person's name: We met a sad George yesterday. The indefinite article is usually not used with place names in similar cases: We arrived in fascinating Amsterdam yesterday. To my mind, the use of the articles in general is the most difficult single aspect of English grammar because very often there is absolutely no logic to it and there are thousands, if not tens of thousands of idioms with or without an article. Just be patient and don't lose heart when you realise the absence of logic and order. CBhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/TwoQuestions/zvwlj/post.htm#439833Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:18:59 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:439833cliveHi, What grammar part is this? It is nice seeing you here . A gerund. ou are really saying 'Seeing you here is nice'. Should I use the articles before these? I want/would like to invite you to a (no 'a'??) Christmas dinner . I want/would like to invite you to a (no 'a'??) Thanksgiving dinner . The terms are usually treated as proper names, and thus no article. If you decide to use the indefinite article, it suggests that you will have more than one Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner. Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/WhenSentence/zdgwv/post.htm#434223Wed, 24 Oct 2007 14:54:06 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:434223marius hancuSee some of these threads: http://www.englishforums.com/search/indefinite+article.htm Also, click under the "Articles" and "Indefinite articles" buttons under your original postinghttp://www.englishforums.com/English/AboutTheDefiniteArticle/zddxb/post.htm#433454Mon, 22 Oct 2007 15:35:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:433454philipAnt_222 wrote: Hello everyone, I was reading an ISO standard concerning OSI, Open System Interconnetion, and stumbled over an unusual use of the indefinite article. These three sentences follow one after another in that document: 1. The release of an (N)-connection is normally initiated by one of the (N+1)-entites associated in it. 2. The release of an (N)-connection may also be initiated by one of the (N)-entites supporting it as a result of an exception condition iccuring in the (N) layer or the layers below. 3. Depending upon the conditions, release of an (N)-connection may result in the discard of (N)-user-data. And the question is: Why in sentences #1 and #2 they write "_the_ release of..." and in the third sentence simply...http://www.englishforums.com/English/AboutTheDefiniteArticle/zddxb/post.htmMon, 22 Oct 2007 15:29:29 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:433450ant_222Hello everyone, I was reading an ISO standard concerning OSI, Open System Interconnetion, and stumbled over an unusual use of the indefinite article. These three sentences follow one after another in that document: 1. The release of an (N)-connection is normally initiated by one of the (N+1)-entites associated in it. 2. The release of an (N)-connection may also be initiated by one of the (N)-entites supporting it as a result of an exception condition iccuring in the (N) layer or the layers below. 3. Depending upon the conditions, release of an (N)-connection may result in the discard of (N)-user-data. And the question is: Why in sentences #1 and #2 they write "_the_ release of..." and in the third sentence simply...http://www.englishforums.com/English/SomeRuleAboutUsingArticles/vxpcr/post.htm#407443Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:11:45 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:407443califjim"more of a guideline" - yes and no. It seems to me that certain uncountables lend themselves to use with the indefinite article than others. The ones that do almost invariably take the indefinite article when the appropriate conditions apply. So knowledge and sadness go in the one group and grit goes in the other group. At least that's one theory. Another possibility goes as follows: The use of a/an can be paraphrased as a kind of . a good knowledge of is then a good (thorough) kind of knowledge of . a kind of doesn't make as much sense with the adjective true : a true kind of grit ? as opposed to a false kind of grit ? Perhaps the only kind of grit is true grit, so the use of a doesn't make sense. CJhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/SomeRuleAboutUsingArticles/vxpcr/post.htmTue, 21 Aug 2007 10:35:59 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:407235anonymousHi, There is an entry in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary about usage of indefinite article: used before uncountable nouns when these have an adjective in front of them, or phrase following them: a good knowledge of French a sadness that won’t go away However, just came across this example: It takes true grit (U) to stand up to a bully. So, I guess, the rule above is more of a guideline than a rule?http://www.englishforums.com/English/ADoubt/vmmxz/post.htmWed, 25 Jul 2007 22:43:02 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:396751anonymousHi! Consider this sentence. He has a very good knowledge. What is the function of the aricle 'a' in the sentence? ( I know that the articles can function as adjectives but never as adverbs..Well, the case here is different, isn't it?....Can an indefinite article modify an uncountable noun? ) I am quite confused! Please help me out!! Thanks for your time..http://www.englishforums.com/English/Article/vlcxp/post.htm#388964Sat, 07 Jul 2007 04:57:23 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:388964cliveHi, - A ferocious heatwave that has gripped the western United States was expected to continue on Friday, with sizzling record temperatures forecast across the sun-baked region. -" The high pressure system that has been stubbornly parked over southern California is on a weakening trend, allowing temperatures to cool down to seasonable temperatures," meteorologist Jamie Meier said. Hello. Why was an indefinite article used for the first sentence and not for the second one? In my opinion, it isn't just any heatwave; it references to a specific ferocious heatwave that has gripped the western U.S. So shouldn't it have been " The ferocious heatwave"? The truth is that article usage is difficult to explain, difficult to learn and...http://www.englishforums.com/English/InCategoryPartsSpeechPlaceArticles/vlbnh/post.htm#388777Fri, 06 Jul 2007 15:56:04 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:388777philipBird Of Paradise wrote: The articles, THE, A, AN, to which category of parts of speech do they belong, or they are a disticnt part of speech? Someone please giude me. My dictionary lists them as definite article and indefinite article . They do function as a limiting adjective, so you could think of them as such, especially while doing old-fashioned diagraming of sentences. Other than for that activity, I don't think it makes much difference what "group" they belong to.http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhatIsRight/vjwdl/post.htm#385200Thu, 28 Jun 2007 05:57:02 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:385200cliveHi, Let us say that K-11 stands for students in the eleventh grade. Let us also say that there are many students for that grade level and there are a system to distinguish those people like this: 11-1, 11-2. etc. Typically, (the??) 11-1 class is consisted of 15 students. How should I write this? I am a student in 11-1 class. Or I am a student in the 11-1 class. I think you'd usually hear simply I'm in 11-1. And, normally, classes that are part of school curriculum are written without Engglish articles but how much can I extend that concept? Can it be extended to 'reading class' or 'writing class"? I have math class in/on my third period. You'd usually hear I have math in my third period. I have (the??)...http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhatIsRight/vjwdl/post.htmSun, 17 Jun 2007 13:20:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:380675anonymousHi, Let us say that K-11 stands for students in the eleventh grade. Let us also say that there are many students for that grade level and there are a system to distinguish those people like this: 11-1, 11-2. etc. Typically, (the??) 11-1 class is consisted of 15 students. How should I write this? I am a student in 11-1 class. Or I am a student in the 11-1 class. And, normally, classes that are part of school curriculum are written without Engglish articles but how much can I extend that concept? Can it be extended to 'reading class' or 'writing class"? I have math class in/on my third period. I have (the??) reading class in/on my third period. Also, It is known that 'math class' is normally used without...http://www.englishforums.com/English/AGirlGirls/vwlnr/post.htm#379105Wed, 13 Jun 2007 14:58:34 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:379105kooyeenLOL, GG, and that seems simple to you? Grammar Geek wrote: Anyway, you need to let logic (is there logic in English?) , the requirement to avoid ambiguity (is English not ambiguous?) , the desire to avoid sounding silly (how do I know what sounds silly?) , and lastly, what genuinely sounds right (yeah, lol, everything sounds right to me...) guide your decision. For example if "They should bring a pencil in case the teacher decides to give a test" is ok and logic tells you that each person brings a pencil, why on earth does "All of the student raised their hand" sound silly , considering that logic tells you even more clearly that they don't share a giant hand? I think we would need to use the singular or plural at arndom...http://www.englishforums.com/English/QuestionsOnEnglishArticle/vwwlc/post.htmWed, 06 Jun 2007 14:48:27 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:375889anonymousHi, Please help. 1. Do you have to place indefinite articles in front of the words 'gay' or 'madman'? Why or why not? I have a pink shirt on and have pink glasses on. People will think of me as gay (a gay???) or if not, they will think of me as madman (a madman???). 2. Is this a case of using words/nouns in terms of what they represent? Moon is to night as sun is to day. Teacher is to school as nurse is to hospital.http://www.englishforums.com/English/UseOfIndefiniteArticles/vvxdc/post.htm#358067Mon, 30 Apr 2007 15:37:48 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:358067philipAnt_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.http://www.englishforums.com/English/UseOfIndefiniteArticles/vvxdc/post.htm#357944Mon, 30 Apr 2007 11:33:19 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:357944ant_222To 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.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Qunatifiers/vcmbb/post.htmThu, 05 Apr 2007 06:13:07 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:347396seekerofpeaceWould I be right in saying that "quantifiers" are a type determinant? Are quantifiers a sub-group of determinants, like definite and indefinite articles?