By Indefinite articles, Conversations

I've heard the word with the indefinite article: "she went off on a tangent." In geometry, a tangent is something that touches, but does not intersect, another figure. In conversation, a tangent is something touching, but not really pertaining to, the subject being discussed. For example, I could...

This is not a matter of "kitchen (or any other noun) must always take the article the", or a matter of "kitchen (or any other noun) must always take the article a". The articles are used in specific situations. Some situations require the indefinite article (a or an); some situations require...

Hi, Let me try a different kind of explanation. The first time you mention something to me, say 'a'. That makes the thing specific/definite in our conversation. So thereafter, you can say 'the' and I'll know the thing you are talking about. A man with a scar on his nose and a parrot sitting on...

Hi again, The only thing I didn't understand is #5. That list always consists of the four directions, so why is the indefinite article correct? A similar example: «Can I have a list of the people you have called today?» Can you explain such situations? What is meant by "list" is quite a certain...

Hi, 1. Are these sentences with (or without) articles OK? Is a mushroom animal or vegetable? OK Is the mushroom an animal or a vegetable? OK, but I prefer it without the indefinite articles. Is this mushroom an animal or a vegetable? OK 2. What is the difference among the following...

Actually, Demi, mine is more 'bookish' (formal) than your version, which is more common in conversation and informal writing. 'There' and 'it' as preparatory subjects do just that: prepare the listener, attracting his/her attention to the rest of the utterance, just as we often say 'hey!' to...