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From: jcf@world.std.com (Joseph C Fineman)
Subject: Re: Usage rules for articles "the" and "a"?
Message-ID: <DyMA6C.4pp@world.std.com>
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
References: <32507E78.3EA4680B@netcom.ca>
Date: Tue, 1 Oct 1996 21:54:11 GMT
Lines: 32

Ochlocrat <ocrat@netcom.ca> writes:

>Is there any grammatical rhyme or reason in the use of definite and
>indefinite articles?

Yes, but, as you document, the exceptions & subtleties are so many
that it is difficult for learners to notice what the rules are without
help.

Here are some more weirdnesses:

"I was on the bus to New York."
(There are many busses to New York.  "A bus" is possible but less
common.)

"It bit me on the finger."
("A finger" is logical but impossible.)

Here are the naked rules as I perceive them:

Proper nouns:  No article.
Common nouns:
  Definite nouns:  "the".
  Indefinite nouns:
    Mass nouns:  No article.
    Count nouns:
      Plural:  No article.
      Singular:  "a(n)"
-- 
        Joe Fineman             jcf@world.std.com
        495 Pleasant St., #1    (617) 324-6899
        Malden, MA 02148
