Грамматика для написания научных статей
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3. As a general rule, use the with plural proper nouns: the United States, the Great Lakes, the Alps, the Philippines, the Chinese (people), the Saudis, the Brazilians.
4. The definite article the is often used with proper nouns that include a phrase with of: the Baseball Hall of Fame, the University of Michigan, the Citv of New York.
5. The indefinite article а/an is rarely used with proper nouns.
B. Specific Reference with Countable and Uncountable Nouns
1. Use the definite article the to show specific reference with a common noun (singular or plural, countable or uncountable). A noun that has specific reference is one that both the waiter and the reader recognize as something unique. We know exactly which one or ones are being referred to. Sometimes we know that the noun being referred to is unique because of our knowledge of the world or the topic.
The earth revolves around the sun, (We know we are talking about the sun of our solar system and that there is only one,)
She took the children to school and then took the dog for a walk, (We know she has children and we know that the dog is the one that she owns.)
2. A reference can he made specific by previous mention in a text.
My neighbor bought a dog. My daughter is looking after the dog this week. (In the second sentence, the dog has now been identified as the specific dog that my neighbor bought.)
She ordered plants and furniture from a catalog. The plants and the furniture look wonderful in her apartment.
(The second sentence refers to the specific plants and the furniture that she ordered.)
3. A reference can be made specific by an adjectival phrase or clause that comes after the noun. The phrase or clause limits it to something specific and unique.
The dogs that belong to the night guard have been trained to attack.
(We know specifically which dogs – the ones that belong to the night guard.) The furniture in the shop window is on sale this week.
(Again, we know specifically which furniture is being referred to.)
C. Nonspecific and Generic Reference with Countable and Uncountable Nouns
The choice of article with common nouns depends on several factors; whether the noun referred to is specific or nonspecific, whether the noun is countable or uncountable; and if countable, whether the noun is singular or plural in form. When both writer and reader do not identify a noun as something known, unique, or familiar, the reference is nonspecific.
1. Use a/an with a singular countable noun when the noun referred to is nonspecific.
My neighbor bought
(The writer docs not expect the reader to know anything about the dog.)
I he artist painted
Use an before a word beginning with a vowel sound: an elephant, an ugly building. Words beginning with the letters h and и can be a problem as they sometimes have a vowel and sometimes a consonant sound: an honest man, a house, a uniform, an understudy.
2. Use no article (known as zero article) when a plural countable noun is nonspecific.
They went to the country' store and bought eggs and cucumbers.
Note that quantity words are often used when a reference is nonspecific.
They bought some eggs and a lot of cucumbers,
3. Use zero article when you make a generalization (a generic reference) about a plural countable noun.
Dogs are friendly animals.
(The writer is making a generalization about all dogs, not any specific dogs.)
Flowers add color to a room.
4. Use zero article when you make a generalization (a generic reference) about an uncountable noun.
Love never lasts. Gold jewelry is expensive.
Do not add the definite article to a generalization just because the noun has an adjective in front of it. The adjective does not make the noun more specific. It m narrows the noun.
5. Use zero article (or maybe a quantity word) for a nonspecific reference to an uncountable noun.
She offered him advice and information.
She offered him some advice and a great deal of information.
Never use a/an with an uncountable noun.
Task 1. In the following quotations, identify each of the underlined nouns.
Еxample: Gentlemen prefer bonds, (Andrew Mellon)
Answer: Gentlemen – countable plural/nonspesific/ bonds = countable plural/nonspecific
1. The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys. (Malcolm Forbes)
2. Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city. (George Bums)
3. Happiness is a warm puppy. (Charles Schulz)
4. As far as I'm concerned, whom is a word that was invented to траке everyone sound like a butler. (Calvin Trillin)