Use this tag for questions about the usage of articles.
4
votes
10answers
558 views
Why is it ‘A God,’ not ‘God' in Mark Sanford’s “I want to acknowledge a God not just of second chances, but third, fourth, eighth chances”?
There was a quote of ex-South Carolina governor Mark Sanford in his victory speech in the House vacant seat election in the New York Times article (May 13) written by Gail Collins under the title ...
1
vote
0answers
63 views
Omitting article “the” in front of plural nouns
I'm helping someone learn English (second language), and I'm having trouble explaining when to use the and when not to. For example:
Students learn better when teachers are passionate about ...
1
vote
0answers
36 views
articles in English [duplicate]
Most of the time I understand how to use articles, but when it comes to certain sentences I start to lose confidence.
Could anyone please consider the following uses? In each case I am trying to ...
2
votes
3answers
181 views
Difference between “an” and “one”
Forgive me if I miss something very obvious; English is not my native language.
I am currently taking an online (sort of) Math class that aims to teach creating/writing unambiguous Mathematical ...
3
votes
3answers
63 views
Use of the definite article “the” before “church”
I was in a Teacher's selection for a school in my country, and one of the coordinators said that she heard a mistake from another teacher that was unacceptable. I tried to figure out why was that, but ...
0
votes
2answers
55 views
When modifiers precede, is ‘wounded’ used without ‘the’?
. . .she tended Hungarian wounded returning from the Russian front
and casualties wounded in American bombing raids. (The Telegraph)
When there are modifiers before 'wounded,' is it used ...
5
votes
1answer
4k views
Rule on absence of the article “the” with plural nouns [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Definite article with plural nouns
I recently reviewed (as I believe, rather thoroughly) the rules of using articles in English and I do not recall any rule on absence ...
10
votes
3answers
2k views
Why use “the” for oceans/seas/rivers etc. but not lakes?
Possibly two questions in here: Are these sentence constructions logical, and if they are, why are they different?
I swam across the Ocmulgee River.
I swam across the Pacific Ocean.
I swam ...
4
votes
4answers
9k views
Is it 'a usual' or 'an usual'? Why?
is it 'a usual' or 'an usual'? 'A usual' sounds more correct in my head ('Today was a usual day.') than 'an usual', but u is a vowel. Which one is correct and why?
0
votes
1answer
79 views
zero article in a concessive adverbial clause
Between the two expressions:
a) A doctor by training as he is, he has proved himself to be a successful writer
b) Doctor by training as he is, he has proved himself to be a successful writer
which ...
0
votes
2answers
79 views
The article: communicative function [closed]
Okay, this might come across as a fairly stupid question, yet I have to know this. Does anyone know what the communicative function of 'the article' is?
For example, if we consider 'must' and 'have ...
0
votes
0answers
39 views
Is the English correct? What's the best translation or interpretation? [duplicate]
I'm reading a technical IT document that can be found here.
So, the question is, in the phrasebelow:
A challenge password
is it correct write "a" instead of "an"? Why?
What is its' best ...
1
vote
1answer
65 views
use of articles with personal names modified by adjectives
Suddenly, to everybody's surprise, the silent Mr.Smith swung around and addressed Barbara.
The dinner was served by a silent Mrs. Keats.
I saw an infuriated Jennifer, who started shouting at ...
74
votes
6answers
13k views
Do you use “a” or “an” before acronyms?
99% of the time, I'm clear on when I should use "a" versus "an." There's one case, though, where people & references I respect disagree.
Which of the following would you precede with "a" or "an," ...
0
votes
0answers
64 views
“An A and B” vs. “an A and a B” [closed]
Which one is correct if both A and B are singular — "an A and B" or "an A and a B"?
I am confused because I have seen both cases.
0
votes
1answer
53 views
articles when not to use [duplicate]
Which of the following sentences are correct?
Although it lives in all oceans and most seas, it prefers temperate and polar regions.
Although it lives in all oceans and most seas, it prefers the ...
0
votes
1answer
61 views
Using stressed “the” to emphasize outstanding noun
I'm not a native English speaker and sometimes I encounter article "the" used in stressed form before some noun or name, mostly in movies, like "That's not the gun, that's THE gun" or "He is THE ...
-1
votes
2answers
161 views
Must a non-proper noun that starts a sentence be preceded with an article?
I'm doing some research in NLP, and thought you guys would be the best to ask this.
When looking at an English sentence, it is sometimes hard for a computer to distinguish between proper nouns, such ...
0
votes
2answers
120 views
“A first post” — makes sense or not?
I once knew a person who titled the first post in his blog, "A first post."
It was immediately pointed out to him that correct usage is "The first post." To that he responded: Well, every blog has ...
2
votes
4answers
8k views
Is saying “I had a fever” correct?
I'm sure this might have been asked, but couldn't find it, so forgive me if it is a duplicate.
Is saying "I had a fever" correct ?
I've also heard people saying "I had fever",
but don't ...
-1
votes
1answer
86 views
Do you feel any subtle changes in meaning with the addition or omission of article(s) in this sentence? [closed]
I'm translating a short story that is a parody of Kafka's 'Report to an Academy.' A chimp is called to present a report to an academy about the time when he was a chimp. I'm to translate into English ...
0
votes
2answers
67 views
Usage of the article 'a' before bait in this particular instance
Is it acceptable to use the article 'a' before 'bait' in this sentence? Is there a difference in meaning here when you use 'a' or drop it?
"You would not have sent it to me for no reason. It was a ...
2
votes
2answers
119 views
“He feared a U.S. invasion” vs. “He feared U.S. invasion”
It it accurate to say this?
He feared a U.S. invasion.
Or should I say,
He feared U.S. invasion.
I'm trying to figure out when to place "a" in front of the U.S. when U.S. comes with a noun ...
1
vote
2answers
164 views
Should I use an article with the word “part”?
I’ve noticed that some people use an article with the word “part” and the bulk of them does not (at least at some web pages I skimmed through). Which is the correct variant? I think that parts of ...
-1
votes
3answers
203 views
What article should be used in such sentences?
What article should be used in the following sentence?
He was English by [a/the/] blood.
I feel there should be a zero article here, but I was taught that the zero article is impossible in ...
41
votes
9answers
5k views
When should I use “a” vs “an”?
In the following example, is it appropriate to use a or an as the indefinite article, and why?
He ate [insert here] green apple.
I know that in the case of just "apple", it would be "an apple," ...
2
votes
1answer
62 views
Article usage on word 'default' when the context is known
This question excludes 'default' used in court or 'a default' for an indefinite future (e.g. setting a default option). My question pertains to circumstances where the context behind the question or ...
8
votes
5answers
443 views
Do idioms pose an exception to normal definite and indefinite article usage?
I found this phrase in my biology textbook (emphasis added):
...in relation to Earth's history, 100,000 years or even a million years is the blink of an eye.
The part of the phrase in question ...
3
votes
2answers
170 views
Correct placement of articles
My supervisor corrected the draft of my thesis, inserting a lot of articles here and there. I have doubts if he was correct. Could someone comment on the following sentences?
Over the last decade ...
-2
votes
1answer
193 views
An Ozibox user OR a Ozibox user is correct? [duplicate]
Which one is better and why?
1) Are you an Ozibox user?
2) Are you a Ozibox user?
Ozibox is the name of a web application
0
votes
4answers
147 views
Why “the ipad” and not simply ipad [duplicate]
From what I've learned, special names don't get definite articles.
(I should admit that the use of articles in English is very tricky) For example, we say Apple but not the Apple to refer to the ...
6
votes
3answers
932 views
“What kind of a person” vs. “what kind of person”
I often hear people saying what kind of [singular noun] rather than what kind of a [singular noun].
Are we not supposed to use an article (a) before noun?
-1
votes
2answers
96 views
Usage of “to” and “from” in my sentence
Is my sentence grammatically correct?
I asked from the friend who took this picture, had you ever seen anything like this before?
or should it be:
I asked a friend who took this picture, ...
-2
votes
2answers
121 views
Correct usage of indefinite articles 'a' and 'an' infront of acronyms [duplicate]
I wonder what is the correct usage, my assumption is that it is based on how you pronounce it, like for example:
an SQL query => pronounced an ess cue ell query ,
an XP OS => pronounced an ex pee oh ...
0
votes
1answer
130 views
Under which cases should an article (a/an/the) not be used? [duplicate]
The current machine has been repaired.
Current machine has been repaired.
Which is more natural? What are the subtle differences between them?
Under which cases should an article ...
6
votes
3answers
362 views
Usage of “a” and “the” in titles
Which one should I use for page title?
Apple — Tasty Fruit
Apple — A Tasty Fruit
Apple — The Tasty Fruit
The article is only about tasty apple.
-2
votes
2answers
73 views
“the 1st” or “1st”
I'm wondering which is the right usage between "the 1st" and "1st" in these sentences:
a) The United States ranked 1st in Bloomberg's Global Innovation Index.
b) The United States ranked the 1st in ...
2
votes
2answers
449 views
Is it “a user” or “an user” [duplicate]
Since user starts with a vowel shouldn't we use "an" ? I've seen many cases of using "a" .
21
votes
5answers
5k views
Are there any simple rules for choosing the definite vs. indefinite (vs. none) article?
I can’t for the life of me figure out where to use a and where to use the — and where there is no article at all. Is there a simple rule of thumb to memorize?
The standard rule you always hear:
...
0
votes
1answer
88 views
Zero article after “of” in “a change of place”
Given the sentence
The use of apples instead of pears is unexpected in the dish.
I don't think we can use apple instead of apples. (Correct me if I'm wrong.) But then, how come we can say the ...
1
vote
0answers
140 views
Guide to English Articles [closed]
I'm looking for a full and complete guide to English articles like THE, A, AN, (none).
Can anyone recommend me something like that? I'd like to finally learn this and never make a mistake again. ...
0
votes
0answers
31 views
Which article do I use? [duplicate]
When a word like television is used for a primary purpose then I know that no article is used; but when used for secondary purpose then which article is used?
Most people think __ is essential ...
3
votes
1answer
466 views
Use (or non-use) of articles before abstract nouns
I know I have asked a similar question before but this time I have examples taken from COCA and they do puzzle me. I would love to hear explanations from native speakers.
The following (incomplete) ...
-1
votes
1answer
116 views
Article Usage in a Presentation [closed]
I am preparing a presentation on a topic. I am curious about the usage of grammar articles in it. Do we have to conform to the rules of articles for a presentation?
1
vote
2answers
114 views
Why do prehistoric animals seem to lack articles?
Why do we say "this is a cat" or "this is a forty spotted pardalote" but "this is velociraptor" with no the or a?
-3
votes
1answer
1k views
The <noun> of <noun>
I wonder about the the <noun> of <noun> template. For example, the customers of a movie theater or the possessor of a car. The question is "Is it a stable rule in English to put "the" ...
2
votes
3answers
117 views
Choice of articles: the reduction/ a reduction /reduction
I am often confused about the use of articles before abstract nouns. Are the following three sentences all grammatically correct? If so, what differences are there, if any, in their meaning or nuance?
...
3
votes
2answers
120 views
Using articles before titles beginning with articles
What are the rules for the use of articles before titles beginning with articles? Which of the following sentences is correct?
I went to the The New York Times office this morning.
I went to The New ...
0
votes
1answer
74 views
“Is there a best X?” — why “a” if it's the superlative degree?
Which of the following is grammatical?
Is there a best school?
Is there the best school?
I'm sure that the first one is right. But why?
1
vote
3answers
141 views
“a” and “the” before time markers
For my linguistics course I was asked to explain the difference in meaning of the following:
1. I would like to have lunch with you on Friday
2. I would like to have lunch with you on a Friday
...
