The use of the article with the proper nouns

Ministry of education and science of Ukraine

Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatuk national pedagogical university

 
 
 
 

English Philology Department 
 

The use of the article with the proper nouns 
 
 
 
 
 
 

                                                                                      Course Paper

                                                                                  Done by the 3^rd year student

  Foreign Language Department

                                                                      Boshkevych Mariana

                                                                

                                                                      Research Supervisor                                                                                               

                                                              Poleshchuk I.B. 

Ternopil – 2010

Contents 
 

Introduction…………………………………………………..…………………. 3

Chapter 1. Articles

1.1. Types of article………………………………………………………………5

1.2. The definite article: “the”…………………………………………………...14

1.3. The indefinite article: “a/an…………………………………………………18

1.4. The zero article……………………………………………………………... 23

Chapter 2. The use of article with proper nouns in " The Dressmaker " by Beryl Bainbridge

2.1. The use of definite article with proper nouns in " The Dressmaker " by Beryl Bainbridge………………………………………………………………………...25

2.2. The use of indefinite article with proper nouns in " The Dressmaker "……..26

2.3. The zero article with proper nouns in the work……………………………...26

Conclusions……………………………………………………………………….28 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Intoduction 

    The theme of our course paper sounds as following: « The use of the article with

the proper nouns».

     In English there a lot of rules to use the article with proper nouns. It is used essentially to understand some information clearly , in general, it is meant to enrich and clarify ideas and lead the interlocutors to communicate eloquently.

     Standing on such ground, we would like to point out tasks of this work.

1. The first task of our work is to give definition to term «article».

2. The second task is to define the tapes of article and denote the main rules of their using, especially with the proper nouns.

      The object of our research is the use of article with proper nouns.

      The subject of our investigation is the using of article with proper nouns in

" The Dressmaker " by Beryl Bainbridge.

      Actuality of this work reflects modern trends in linguistics and it would serve as a good manual for those who want to master modern English language. Also this work can be used by teachers of English language for teaching English grammar.

      Novelty of our research work is denoted by signifying of the most frequent in use rules of the use of the article with the proper nouns.

       Practice meaning of the present work might find a good way of implying in the following spheres:

1. In High Schools and scientific circles of linguistic kind it can be successfully used by teachers and philologists as modern material for writing research works dealing with English adjectives.

2. It can be used by teachers of schools and colleges by teachers of English as a practical manual for teaching English grammar.

3. It can be useful for everyone who wants to enlarge his/her knowledge in English.

     The composition of the work contains four parts: introduction, the theoretical part, practical part, conclusion, and bibliography. The introduction part contains the brief description of this course paper. The theoretical part of the work includes several items.    

     There such problems as main features of English article their role in English language and grammatical characteristics of them are described. Our conclusions are based on the results of the scientific investigations and own researches. Bibliography part contains the different sources that were used in the present work. It includes linguistic books and articles dealing with the theme, a number of used dictionaries and encyclopedias.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Chapter 1. Articles 

    We use a number of words in front of common nouns (or adjective + common noun) which we call determiners because they affect (or determine) the meaning of the noun. Determiners make it clear, for example, which particular thing(s) we are referring to or how much of a substance we are talking about. Singular countable nouns must normally have a determiner in front of them. [39].

    A somewhat arbitrarily defined small group of determiners that are placed before nouns. Articles standing alone have little meaning; when used with a noun they can indicate whether the noun refers to a specific one or ones of its type or whether it refers to its type in general[42].

    In grammar, an article is a function word that is not assignable to any of the traditional grammatical word classes (such as pronouns, articles or conjunctions). The term is a catch-all term for a heterogeneous set of elements and lacks a precise universal definition. It is mostly used for words that help to encode grammatical categories (such as negation, mood or case) and are uninflected.^[1] In English, the infinitive marker to and the negator not are examples of words that are usually regarded as particles [35; 63].

    An article is a kind of adjective which is always used with and gives some information about a noun.  There are only two articles a and the, but they are used very often and are important for using English accurately [34; 69].

Articles make up a very small, but powerful class of words that are placed in front of nouns [40].

Depending on its context, the meaning of the term may overlap with such notions or meanings as "morpheme", "marker", or even "adverb" (another catch-all term). Like many linguistic concepts, the precise content of the notion is very language-specific.

Under the strictest definition, which demands that a particle be an uninflected word, English deictics like this and that would not be classed as such (since they have plurals), and neither would Romance articles (since they are inflected for number and gender).

    Definite and indefinite articles belong to the class, which helps us to classify or identify the object.

       Both types of articles draw special attention to the noun they precede. The choice of article shows the way in which the speaker is thinking about the noun: as a specific member of its class or as a general, representative member of its class. Because articles modify nouns, they are best thought of as specialized adjectives, something like the younger brothers or sisters of adjectives. Unlike “real” adjectives, however, articles can only modify a noun in one of two ways[42].

    The correct use of the articles (a/an and the) is one of the most difficult points in English grammar. In most European languages there are rules about when to use (or not to use) indefinite and definite articles. These rules generally depend on the gender of the noun and on whether a word is singular or plural. In English, gender does not affect our choice, but whether a word is singular or plural may do so. Fortunately, however, most mistakes in the use of the articles do not matter too much. Even if we leave all the articles out of a sentence, it is usually possible to understand it [6; 265].

    “A/an” is called the “indefinite article”. “The” is called the “definite article”. We often use no article at all in English. This non-use of the article is so important that we give it a name the zero article. Articles are used to show whether we are referring to things that are known they both (“indefinite”) do not know both to the speaker/writer and to the listener/reader (“definite”) or that. Articles can also show whether we are talking about things in general or particular things [9; 65].

    The use of articles is complicated, because it depends on three different things.

    First, it makes a difference what kind of noun we are using. Articles are not used in the same way with singular countable nouns (like cat, bridge), with plural countable nouns (like cats, bridges), and with uncountable nouns (like water, rice).

    Secondly, we use articles in one way if we are talking about things in general (for example Englishmen, or the guitar, or life in general, or whisky), and we use them in a different way when we are talking about particular examples of these things (for example, an Englishman, or a guitar that we want to buy, or the life of Beethoven) [12; 130].

    Thirdly, when we are talking about particular examples, it depends whether these are definite or indefinite. If they are definite we normally use “the”. If we are talking about indefinite things we use articles    differently (“a/an”. or no article)  [16; 135].

    The article system is so complex and often idiosyncratic, it is especially difficult for non-native English speakers to master. This handout explains three basic rules that are the foundation of the article system and two basic questions that will help you choose the correct article in your writing. It provides examples of articles being used in context, and it ends with a section on special considerations for nouns in academic writing.

As you use the handout, try to keep three things in mind:

• First, this handout will be most effective if you use it as a tool. Every time you read this handout, read it along side another piece of writing (a journal article, a magazine, a web page, a novel, a text book, etc.). Locate a few nouns in the reading, and use the handout to analyze the article usage. If you practice a little bit at a time, this kind of analysis can help you develop a natural sensitivity to this complex system.
• Second, using articles correctly is a skill that develops over time through lots of reading, writing, speaking and listening. Think about the rules in this handout, but also try to pay attention to how articles are being used in the language around you. Simply paying attention can also help you develop a natural sensitivity to this complex system.
• Finally, although using the wrong article may distract a reader’s attention, it usually does not prevent the reader from understanding your meaning. So be patient with yourself as you learn.

Basic rules

This is a simple list, but understanding it and remembering it is crucial to using articles correctly.

1: Every time a noun is mentioned, the writer is referring to:

1. All of them everywhere.
2. One of many

2: Every kind of reference has a choice of articles:

1. All of them everywhere...(Ø, a/an, the)
2. One of many.................(Ø, a/an)
3. This one exactly............(Ø, the)

(Ø = no article)

 The choice of article depends upon the noun and the context. This will be explained more fully below.

Basic questions

To choose the best article, ask yourself these questions:

1. "What do I mean? Do I mean all of them everywhere, one of many, or this one exactly?"
2. "What kind of noun is it? Is it countable or not? Is it singular or plural?

     e.g Does it have any special rules?"

Your answers to these questions will usually determine the correct article choice, and the following sections will show you how.

When you mean "all of them everywhere"

Talking about "all of them everywhere" is also called "generic reference."

We use it to make generalizations: to say something true of all the nouns in a particular group, like an entire species of animal.

When you mean "all of them everywhere," you have three article choices: Ø, a/an, the. The choice of article depends on the noun. Ask yourself, "What kind of noun is it?"

1. Non-count nouns = no article (Ø)

a. Temperature is measured in degrees.

b. Money makes the world go around.

2. Plural nouns = no article (Ø)

a. Volcanoes are formed by pressure under the earth's surface.

b. Quagga zebras were hunted to extinction.

3. Singular nouns = the

a. The computer is a marvelous invention.

b. The elephant lives in family groups.

Note: We use this form (the + singular) most often in technical and scientific writing to generalize about classes of animals, body organs, plants, musical instruments, and complex inventions. We do not use this form for simple inanimate objects, like books or coat racks. For these objects, use (Ø + plural).

4. Singular nouns = a/an (when a single example represents the entire group)

a. A rose by any other name would still smell as sweet.

b. A doctor is a highly educated person. Because of this, a doctor also has tremendous earning potential.

Note: Because it is generic reference, second mention does not use "the."

How do you know it's generic? The "all…everywhere"

Here's a simple test to you can use to identify generic reference while you're reading. To use this test, substitute "all [plural noun] everywhere" for the noun phrase. If the statement is still true, it's probably a generic reference. If not, it’s probably specific (see the next section for details).

Example:

• A whale protects its young— "All whales everywhere" protect their young. (true—generic reference)
• A whale is grounded on the beach— "All whales everywhere" are grounded on the beach. (not true, so this is not generic reference; this "a" refers to "one of many")

You’ll probably find generic references most often in the introduction and conclusion sections and at the beginning of a paragraph that introduces a new topic. Your academic discipline might have a preference for one of the four ways to make generic reference. When you’re reading, try to pay attention to how the writers in your field are doing it, and try to do it the same way in your own writing.

When you mean "one of many"

Talking about "one of many" is also called "indefinite reference." We use it when the noun’s exact identity is unknown to one of the participants: the reader, the writer, or both. Sometimes it’s not possible for the reader or the writer to identify the noun exactly; sometimes it’s not important. In either case, the noun is just "one of many." It’s "indefinite."

When you mean "one of many," you have two article choices: Ø, a/an. The choice of article depends on the noun. Ask yourself, "What kind of noun is it?"

1. Non-count nouns = no article (Ø)

a. Our science class mixed boric acid with water today.

b. We serve bread and water on weekends.

2. Plural nouns = no article (Ø)

a. We're happy when people bring cookies!

b. We need volunteers to help with community events.

3. Singular nouns = a/an

a. Bring an umbrella if it looks like rain.

b. You'll need a visa to stay for more than ninety days.

Note: We use many different expressions for an indefinite quantity of plural or non-count nouns. Words like "some," "several," and "many" use no article (e.g., We need some volunteers to help this afternoon. We really need several people at 3:00.) One exception: "a few" + plural noun (We need a few people at 3:00.)

In certain situations, we always use "a" or "an." These situations include:

1. Referring to something that is one of a number of possible things.

Example: My lab is planning to purchase a new microscope. (Have you chosen one yet? No, we’re still looking at a number of different models.)

2. Referring to one specific part of a larger quantity.

Example: Can I have a bowl of cereal and a slice of toast? (Don't you want the whole box of cereal and the whole loaf of bread? No, thanks. Just a bowl and a slice will be fine.)

3. With certain indefinite quantifiers.

Example: We met a lot of interesting people last night. (You can also say "a bunch of" or "a ton of" when you want to be vague about the exact quantity. Note that these expressions are all phrases: a + quantifier + of.)

Exception: "A few of" does not fit this category. See Number 8 in the next section for the correct usage of this expression.

4. Specifying information associated with each item of a grouping.

Example: My attorney asked for $200 an hour, but I’ll offer him $200 a week instead. (In this case, "a" can substitute for the word "per.")

5. Introducing a noun to the reader for the first time (also called "first mention"). Use "the" for each subsequent reference to that noun if you mean "this one exactly."

Example: I presented a paper last month, and my advisor wants me to turn the paper into an article. If I can get the article written this semester, I can take a break after that! I really need a break!

Note: The writer does not change from "a break" to "the break" with the second mention because she is not referring to one break in particular ("this break exactly"). It's indefinite—any break will be fine!!

When you mean "this one exactly"

Talking about "this one exactly" is also called "definite reference." We use it when both the reader and the writer can identify the exact noun that is being referred to.

When you mean "this one exactly," you have two article choices: Ø, the. The choice of article depends on the noun and on the context. Ask yourself, "What kind of noun is it?"

1. (Most) Proper nouns = no article (Ø)

a. My research will be conducted in Luxembourg.

b. Dr. Homer inspired my interest in Ontario.

Note: Some proper nouns do require "the." See the special notes on nouns below.

2. Non-count nouns = the

a. Step two: mix the water with the boric acid.

b. The laughter of my children is contagious.

3. Plural nouns = the

a. We recruited the nurses from General Hospital.

b. The projects described in your proposal will be fully funded.

4. Singular nouns = the

a. Bring the umbrella in my closet if it looks like rain.

b. Did you get the visa you applied for?

In certain situations, we always use "the" because the noun or the context makes it clear that we’re talking about "this one exactly." The context might include the words surrounding the noun or the context of knowledge that people share. Examples of these situations include:

1. Unique nouns

a. The earth rotates around the sun.

b. The future looks bright!

2. Shared knowledge (both participants know what's being referred to, so it's not necessary to specify with any more details)

a. The boss just asked about the report.

b. Meet me in the parking lot after the show.

3. Second mention (with explicit first mention)

a. I found a good handout on English articles. The handout is available online.

b. You can get a giant ice cream cone downtown. If you can eat the cone in five seconds, you get another one free.

4. Second mention (with implied first mention—this one is very, very common)

a. Dr. Frankenstein performed a complicated surgery. He said the patient is recovering nicely. ("The patient" is implied by "surgery"—every surgery has a patient.)

b. My new shredder works fabulously! The paper is completely destroyed. (Again, "the paper" is implied by "shredder.")

5. Ordinals and superlatives (first, next, primary, most, best, least, etc.)

a. The first man to set foot on the moon…

b. The greatest advances in medicine…

6. Specifiers (sole, only, principle, etc.)

a. The sole purpose of our organization is…

b. The only fact we need to consider is…

7. Restricters (words, phrases, or clauses that restrict the noun to one definite meaning)

a. Study the chapter on osmosis for the test tomorrow.

b. Also study the notes you took at the lecture that Dr. Science gave yesterday.

8. Plural nouns in partitive -of phrases (phrases that indicate parts of a larger whole) (Note: Treat "of the" as a chunk in these phrases—both words in or both words out)

a. Most of the international students (emphasis on part of the group)

b. Most international students (emphasis on the group as a whole)

c. Several of the risk factors (emphasis on part of the group)

d. Several risk factors (emphasis on the group as a whole)

e. A few of the examples (emphasis on part of the group)

f. A few examples (emphasis on the group as a whole)

Note: "Few examples" is different from "a few examples".

Compare:

The teacher gave a few good examples. (emphasizes the presence of good examples)

The teacher gave few good examples. (emphasizes the lack of good examples)

        Thus, article (abbreviated art) is a word that combines with a noun to indicate the type of reference being made by the noun. Articles specify the grammatical definiteness of the noun, in some languages extending to volume or numerical scope. The articles in the English language are “the” and “a/an”.

    1.2. The definite article: “the”

Definite articles typically arise from demonstratives meaning that. For example, the definite articles in the Romance languages—e.g., el, il, le, la—derive from the Latin demonstratives ille (masculine) and illa (feminine).

The English definite article the, written þe in Middle English, derives from an Old English demonstrative, which, according to gender, was written se (masculine), seo (feminine), or þæt (neuter). The neuter form þæt also gave rise to the modern demonstrative that. The ye occasionally seen in pseudo-archaic usage such as "Ye Olde Englishe Tea Shoppe" is actually a form of þ^e, where the letter thorn (þ) came to be written as a y[].

    English, knowing when to use 'a' or 'the' can be difficult. Fortunately, there are rules to help you, but you need to know what type of noun you are using.

    A definite article indicates that its noun is a particular one (or ones) identifiable to the listener. It may be the same thing that the speaker has already mentioned, or it may be something uniquely specified. The definite article in English is the. Some languages include masculine or feminine articles instead or in addition to a neutral gender definite article [].

    “The” is the commonest specific determiner; it is sometimes called the definite article. “The” usually means something like “you know which one(s) I mean”. We use “the” before a noun when our listener/reader knows (or can work out) which particular person(s), thing(s) etc. we are talking about [14; 65].

The definite article the is the same for all genders in singular and in plural. 
the boy, the girl, the cat, the computers

          If the following word begins with a vowel, we speak [ ], if the following word begins with a consonant, we speak [ ].

The definite article "the" is the same for all genders in singular and in plural. 
     e.g. the boy, the girl, the cat, the computers

If the following word begins with a vowel, we speak [ ], if the following word begins with a consonant, we speak [ ] [28; 103].

The word ‘The’ is the definite article and it indicates that the noun that follows has already been defined in some way. The word ‘the’ should be used in the following types of sentences:

• When you know that the person to whom you are talking knows what particular thing / person you are talking about.

e.g The banana you ate was rotten. Here, the listener knows that you are talking about banana, so you should use ‘the’ in the beginning of the sentence.

• When you have already stated the thing you are discussing about.

e.g. He has got two children a boy and a girl. The boy is ten and the boy is eight.

Here, you have already mentioned about the boy and the girl. So, you should use ‘the’ to mention about them again.

• When you are talking about geographical area.

     e.g.the equator, the North Pole.

• When you are talking about seas, oceans, and rivers.

e.g. the Indian ocean, the Nile.

• When you are mentioning something as the famous, best, etc… Here, the word ‘the’ will give a strong pronunciation.

   e.g He is the best painter in the world [41]. 

    Compare:

    Did you lock the car? (The listener knows very well which car is meant).

    We hired a car to go to Scotland. (The listener does not know which one).

    The listener/reader may know which one(s) we mean because:

1. we have mentioned it/them before

    e.g. She’s got two children: a boy and a girl. The boy’s fourteen and the girl’s eight.

  “So what did you do then?” “Gave the money straight back to the policeman.”

    The speaker uses “the” because the listener has already heard about the money and the policeman.

2. we say which one(s) we mean

    Could you close the door? (Only one door is open).

    Ann’s in the kitchen.

    Did you enjoy the party?

    What’s the time? [12; 165]

    Basic uses of article “the”

    When using “the”, we must always bear in mind two basic facts:

• “The” normally has a definite reference (a person or the thing referred to is assumed to be known to the speaker or reader).
• “The” can combine with singular countable, plural countable and uncountable nouns (which are always singular).

    These two facts underlie all uses of “the”. Some of the most important of these uses are discussed in the sections that follow.

• The use of “the” in time sequences

e.g. the beginning, the middle, the end, the first, the last, the next, the present, the past, the future.

• The use of “the” with parts of the day

e.g. in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening, etc.

• The use of “the” with the seasons.

(the)spring/summer/autumn/winter.

• The use of “the” in fixed time expressions.

All the while, at the moment, for the time being, in the end, etc.

• We often use “the” with “unique items.”

• Historical events: the French Revolution, the Victorian age.
• Ships: the Canberra, the Titanic.
• Political parties: the Conservative Party, the Labour Party.
• Public bodies: the Army, the Police.
• Beliefs: the angels, the saints, the gods.

•    We usually use “the” with superlatives because there is normally only one best, biggest etc individual or group. For the same reason, we usually use “the” with first, next, last, same and only.

•    We normally use the definite article in expressions like play the guitar, learn the piano. The is often omitted in referenced to jazz and rock:

            e.g This is a 1979 recording with Ellison on bass guitar.

Fixed phrases with the … the (the sooner the better) and fixed expressions: do the shopping, make the bed

• Measurement. Note the use of “the” in measuring expressions beginning with “by”.

     e.g.  Do you sell eggs by the kilo or by the dozen?

    e.g.  She drinks cough medicine by the liter[4; 10-53].

• We use the indefinite article with the geographic names

           e.g. the Mississippi, the Urals, the Pacific, the Red Sea etc.

• The use of “the” with names of families

           e.g. the Simpson, the Bradley etc.

• The use of “the” with nationalities ending in –sh, - ch or -ese

e.g. The Dutch, the Welsh, the Chinese etc.

• The use of “the” with adjectives used as plural nouns

e.g. the old, the sick, the deaf etc.

• The use of “the” with superlative degree of adjectives/ adverbs

e.g. She is the best girl in the world.

• We use the article “the” with the words: station, shop, cinema, pub, library, city, village etc.

e.g. She went to the library to turn some books.

• The use of “the” with title

e.g. the Pope, the Duke of Northfolk etc.

• The use of “the” with the musical instruments, dances

                    e.g. the guitar, the waltz[25; 171].

Thus, the definite article is used before singular and plural nouns when the noun is specific or particular. The signals that the noun is definite, that it refers to a particular member of a group.

3. The indefinite article: “a/an”