THE ARTICLE

The article is a structural part pf speech used with nouns

• The indefinite article – a, an = belonging to a class

• The definite article – the = particular object
CLASS NOUNS
The indefinite article
• belonging to a certain class
• with a predicative noun
• a noun used in general sense
• in the meaning of “one”
CLASS NOUNS
The definite article
• the speaker singles out this object
• a) from the context
• b) with an attribute pointing out a particular object
• a thing unique
• generic sense
• + nouns with adjectives in the superlative degree (the loudest scream)
• the right, the wrong, the very
• substantivized adjectives – the poor, the rich
Nouns of materials

• in general sense – no article

• definite part – the
• indefinite part – some
• If we mean different sorts of smth - materials become countables.
Abstract nouns

• general sense – no article

• + particularizing attribute of the situation makes it definite – the
• certain kind of quality – a
• a period of 10 days, what fine weather, the weather influences people’s mood.
PROPER NOUNS
name of people
• Names of people – no article
• The whole family – the
• Names of people denoting a representative of a family – a
• Modified by a particularizing attribute – the
• As common nouns – a/the
• Ranks and military titles - no article but common nouns denoting professions –+ name -
the
• aunt, uncle cousin – no article
• other people’s relations – the
• old, young, poor, dear, little, honest, lazy + name – no article
• Other adjectives + name – the
• Name +certain - a
geographical names
• No article
• Name + attribute in pre-position – no article
• Name + particularizing attribute – the
• Oceans, rivers, seas – the
• Lakes – no article if there is a word “lake”
• Mountain chains – the
• Mountain peaks - no article
• Groups of islands – the, one single island – no article
• The Hague, the Netherlands, the West Indies, the Ruhr, the Riviera, the Crimea and some
others.
• Streets and squares – no article but the High Street, the Strand, the Mall
• Hotels, restaurants, theatres, cinemas, museums, galleries, ships, newspapers – the. But if
named after people with s at the end - no article.
• Cardinal points – the
Proper names

• Days of the week, months – no article:

• Particularizing attribute – the
• One of many – a. Descriptve attribute – a

• Modified by a proper name – the

The Lesya Ukrainka Theatre
• But – Robert’s father