Additional notes on the Use of the Definite article

The definite article is used:

(1) With nouns modified by adjectives in the superlative de­gree.

Miss Tox hadthe softest voice that ever was heard. (Dickens)

(2) With nouns in word-groups the first component of which is some, many, none, most and the second a noun with the prepo­sition of.

Most of the gentlemen looked both angry and uncomfortable. (Voynich)

(3) With nouns modified by the pronoun the same and the adjec­tives wrong (не тот), right (тот), very (именно тот, тот самый).

At all invitations he replied with the same courteous and posi­tive refusal. (Voynich)

I do wish we had not opened the door of the wrong room. (Jerome)

"Ah! Mr. Burton!" exclaimed the Director, "the very personI wanted." (Voynich)

« ... именно тот (как раз тот) человек, который мне нужен».

Signora Grassini hated Gemma for the very expression of her face. (Voynich)

Синьора Грассини ненавидела Джемму за самое выражение ее лица.

 

(4) With substantivized adjectives and participles.

 

Only the simple and the humble were abroad at that early hour (Bennett)

Grey conveyed some of his loveof the beautiful to Cowperwood. (Dreiser)

The listeners noted something beyond the usual in his voice. (Galsworthy)

Note.With countable abstract nouns the use of the articles is the same as with class nouns.

It is a capital idea if only one could carry it out. (Voynich)

 

 

NOUNS OF MATERIAL

 

§ 5. With nouns of material used in a general sense, when a certain material as such is meant, no article is used.

 

Honey is wholesome.

On hearing what had happened, she (Katie) ran for warm water...(Voynich)

§ 6. When a definite part of the substance is meant (when the noun is modified by a particularizing attribute or is made definite by the situation), the definite article is used.

 

Pettinger gulped down a glass of the sherry, which Cornelius had finally brought. (Heym)

The meat was good and White Fang was hungry. (London)

§ 7. When an indefinite part of the substance is meant, some is used.

 

We tooksome bread and cheese with us, and gotsome goat's milk up there on the pasture. (Voynich)

Nouns of material denoting different sorts of material are countable and the articles are used according to the general use of articles with class nouns.

 

A pleasure to give a good wine to a young woman who looked so well. (Galsworthy)

This use is very rare.

 

ABSTRACT NOUNS

 

§ 8. When abstract nouns are used in a general sense, no article is used.

 

While there is life there is hope.

 

§ 9. When abstract nouns are modified by a particularizing attribute or when the situation makes the idea definite modifies abstract nouns, they are used with the definite article.

 

He (Cowperwood) was the courage and force of his father, the spirit and opportunity of his brothers, the hope of his children, the dignity and significance of the Cowperwood name. (Dreiser)

Last night I heard Carmen and enjoyed the music.

 

Note 1. It should be borne in mind that abstract nouns modified by an attri­bute in pre-position are used without articles unless particularizing attributes modifies them: English literature, Russian art, Italian music etc.

Note 2. The abstract noun weather is never used with the indefinite article.

What fine weather!

It is burning weather. (Ch. Bronte)

 

When the noun weather is used in a general sense, the definite article is used.

There are people who say thatthe weather can influence people's mood. (Bennett).

 

§10. Abstract nouns can be used with the indefinite article; in this case the abstract now denotes a certain kind (оттенок) of a quality, feeling, state, etc. The noun nearly always has a descriptive attribute.

 

How clever you are, Mr. Hopper. You have acleverness quite of your own. (Wilde)

In her eyes there was an eagerness, which could hardly be seen without delight. (Austen)

 

§ 11. The indefinite article is used with the nouns period, po­pulation, distance, height, salary etc. followed by of +numeral + noun.

 

Simpson was out of the city for a period of ten days. (Dreiser)

 

USE OF ARTICLES WITH PROPER NOUNS

 

Names of persons.

1. Names of persons are used without articles.

 

Sarie looked at Lanny and Celia. (Abrahams)

2. Names denoting the whole family are used with the definite article.

 

The Dashwoods were now settled at Berton. (Austen)

3. When names of persons are used to denote a representative of a family, the indefinite article is used.

 

“Florence will never, never, never be a Dombey,” said Mrs. Chick. (Dickens)

 

4. Names of persons modified by a particularizing attribute are used with the definite article.

 

You're notthe Andrew Manson I married. (Cronin)

The tall blond man of forty is not much changed in feature from the Godfrey Cass of six-and-twenty. (Eliot)

 

5. Names of persons used as common nouns take the article according to the general rule on the use of articles.

 

Swithin smiled and nodding at Bosinney said, "Why, you are quite a Monte Cristo." (Galsworthy)

Mozart has been called the Raphael of music.

 

6. Nouns denoting military ranks and titles such as academician, professor, doctor (both a profession and a title), count, lord, etc. followed by names of persons do not take the article.

In such cases only the proper noun is stressed: Colonel' Brown, Doctor' Strong.

Common nouns denoting professions followed by names of persons are used with the definite article. In this case both nouns are stressed.

The painter Gainsborough has left many fine pictures.

 

7. Nouns expressing relationship followed by names of persons do not take the article: Aunt Polly, Uncle James.

She turned to Cousin Clixam. (Bennett)

 

Nouns expressing relationship not followed by a proper noun and the nouns nurse, cook, baby do not take the article when used by members of the family.

“I'd like to see Mother,” said Emily. (Galsworthy)

If other people's relations are meant, the article is used.

 

The son is as clever as the father.

 

8. The use of articles with names of persons modified by ad­jectives is varied.

In most cases no article is used with names of persons modified by the adjectives old, young, poor, dear, little, honest, lazy.

... she is the widow of poor Giovanni Bolla ... (Voynich)

He saw that old Chapin wanted to moralize a little. (Dreiser)

 

When modified by other adjectives and participles, names of persons take the definite article.

 

He thought Amelia worthy even of the brilliant George Osborne. (Thackeray)

The astonished Tom could not say a word.

 

9. Names of persons modified by the adjective certain are used with the indefinite article.

I heard it from a certain Mr. Brown.

 

§ 13. Geographical names.

The following geographical names are used without articles:

1. Names of continents:

Africa, Antarctica, America, Asia, Australia, Europe

But: the Arctic, the Antarctic, as they denote the regions round the north and south poles.

2. Names of countries, counties, provinces, states:

France, Italy, Texas, Wisconsin, Devonshire, Scotland

Note 1. Some names of countries, counties, etc. require the definite article; some other names can be used with or without the definite article: (the) Congo, (the) Lebanon, (the) Senegal, the Ruhr, the Saar, the Ukraine, the Crimea etc.

Note 2. Names of states consisting of word groups are used with the definite article:

the United States of America (the USA), the UK.

3. Names of cities, towns, villages:

London, New York, Stradford-on-Avon

Note: The only exception is the Hague

4. Names of mountain peaks, islands:

Elbrus, Mount Everest, Cyprus, Man, Java

5. Names of lakes:

Lake Michigan, Lake Baikal BUT: the Michigan, the Baikal

6. Names of waterfalls:

Niagara Falls, Victoria Falls

7. Names of bays:

Hudson Bay

8. Names of peninsulas and capes:

Hindustan, Labrador, Cape Horn

Note. If the noun peninsula is added, the definite article is used.

The Hindustan Peninsula, the Balkan Peninsula

Geographical names modified by a particularizing attribute are used with the definite article.

The Philadelphia into which Frank Algernon Cowperwood was born was a city of two hundred and fifty thousand and more. (Dreiser.)

 

Other geographical names take the definite article.

These are:

1. Names of seas, oceans, rivers, straits, canals:

The Atlantic (ocean), the Mediterranean (Sea), the Thames, the Mississippi, the Bering Strait, the Suez Canal, the English Channel

2. Names of mountain chains and groups of islands:

the Alps, the Rocky Mountains, the Hawaii, the Bermudas

3. Names of deserts:

the Sahara, the Gobi

4. Names of mountain passes:

the Saint Gotthard Pass

5. Geographical names having the plural form:

the Midlands, the Netherlands, the Yorkshire Forests , the Netherlands

 

Names of streets and squares are used without articles: Oxford Street, Wall Street, Trafalgar Square, Russell Square. There are a few exceptions: the High Street, the Strand, the Red Square.