Article
Definition: Article is the formal indicator of the meaning of the noun. The noun can be used either in specific (concrete) or general nominating meaning.
Note: Nouns denoting unique objects (the sun, the moon) are neither countable nor uncountable.
Use: Whenever we use a noun in the concrete meaning, we use the definite article, while to simply nominate an object we use either the indefinite or zero article. The idefinite article can be used only with countables in the singular, the zero article is used with all other nouns to show the general nominating meaning.
THE USE OF
The indefinite article “a (an)”
1). With a noun in the singular when the object expressed by this noun is presented as belonging to certain class. It has the meaning of “какой-нибудь, какой-то один”.
This is a sofa.
2). When the noun is used in a general sense. What is said of one representative of a class can be applied to all representative of the class. The article has the meaning of “every.”
A ball is round.
3). When the indefinite article preserves its original meaning of “one”.
A week or two passed.
4). With the numerals hundred, thousand, million and the nouns dozen, score, if one hundred, one thousand is meant.
Our school library has a hundred of books.
5). With the nouns sun, moon, sky modified by an attribute.
A bright sun seemed to indicate late morning.
6). With nouns in the singular when modified by a descriptive attribute.
She was a pretty woman.
7). With material noun when modified by a descriptive attribute which expresses a certain kind of quality.
A good juice is naturally prefered to beer after dinner.
8). With abstract nouns modified by attributes.
It was a cold, bleak weather.
9). With the nouns period, population, distance, height, salary, when they are followed by the construction of + numeral + noun.
London has a population of about 11 million people.
Suddenly I saw him at a distance of 10 metres.
10). With names of persons (used in the singular) if they denote a representative of a family.
I know he couldn’t love a Linton.
11). With names of days and months when they are modified by a descriptive attribute.
I saw her on a hot Saturday.
12). If the person or the work of art is not widely known the idefinite article is used with the noun in apposition.
Nikitin, a Russian poet, wrote poems about nature.
13). With nouns modified by the constructions so + adjective, too + adjective, as + adjective.
This is to short a string.
It was as black a house inside as outside.
14). After the words quite, such, what (what in exclamatory sentences).
She is quite a child.
What a good friend he is!
15). Before and after the word rather.
It is a rather puzzling question.
He told us rather a long story.
16). With the nouns day, night, morning, afternoon when modified by a descriptive attribute.
I spent a sleepless night.
17) With names of seasons when they are modified by a descriptive attribute.
It was a cold spring.
18). With the nouns breakfast, dinner, lunch, supper when modified by a descriptive attribute.
It was a good dinner.
19). With the words few, little, in the meaning of “несколько, в некоторой мере”.
a few употребляется с исчисляемыми существительными
a little употребляется с неисчисляемыми существительными
He left after a few minutes.
We have a little time.
20). Before ordinal numerals in the meaning of “другой, ещё один” (another, one more).
He fired a fourth shot.