In Nouns^x, Grammar^x, Definite articles^x

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...

Hi, Please look at this and tell me if the indefinite article 'a' goes with the third and fourth underlined parts. Is there possible confusion? If yes, how would you resolve it in term of grammar and the sentence structure? Would you say ther article 'a' does not go with any...

I can see no reason why the definite article should be used with youths. We know nothing about these youths and the reference is to no specific group of youths. If we use the before youths, logically it should be used with any plural noun in similar contexts: The cars were parked illegally in...

Hi CB, thanks so much for your reply(i was the one who asked about the differences between verbal nouns and gerunds). i agree that there seems to be discrepancies between one grammarians usage and another's. I certainly like your definition of gerunds, in so far as they are unable to take the...

Hi, Here's another quotation of Paracelsus, in which I am troubled by the definite article before "sperma". I certainly wouldn't use it, so can somebody explain why it is needed here? "If the sperma, enclosed in a hermetically sealed glass, is buried in horse manure for...

. 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...

We didn't refer to this words alone. It were noun phrases buit therewith that we called definite or indefinite. And since nouns can be (in)definte, that's all right.

You can use the with a name, thus: The 21-year-old Lohan took ... = Lohan, who is a 21-year-old, took ... The ingenious Mr. Blackstone also invented ... = Mr. Blackstone, who is ingenious, also invented ... The ubiquitous Miss Gossip has written ... = Miss Gossip, who is ubiquitous, has...

Hi there, Some nouns in English, uncountable under normal circumstances, take the indefinite article when qualified by the adjective or adverbial phrase. How do I tell if a noun should take the indefinite article or not? Examples: When I got back home, I took a short nap to make up for the...

Hi 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...