Seanus
1 Jan 2009
Language / Use of A/An/The ...... Articles [186]
There are some cases where the matter is not so clear cut.
We don't use 'the' for liquids (as general nouns) unless we make reference to it or it is known.
For example, milk is white (bez the) whereas, the milk on the table is off.
Even one country can vary. Holland but, the Netherlands. This leads me on to another nice point, many Poles don't use 's' where/when they should. I hear things like 'the Budapest' or 'the Gliwice'. The reason? Their teacher told them that there was only one Gliwice or one Budapest. Still, we don't follow that logic when it comes to most place names. For example, The Vatican is an exception.
Anyway, back to the point about articles. With the Netherlands, we are specifically referring to certain, known lands as one collective. Holland exists as one unit.
The indefinite articles, though having apparently simple application as shown by Wrocław above, have complications.
Let's take the case of delict (tort in English and NOT tort in Polish). Some would say that delict is delict but others argue that a delict has been committed. Also, some crimes create complications. Is it a rape or just rape? This leads on to other points. Non-natives users of English often are very logical in their thinking. For example, 'I'm going to eat a dinner' can be heard. Native speakers, however, would prefer to either use no article (I'm going to eat dinner now) or use a personal pronoun (I'm going to eat my dinner now). However, a dinner seems to fit with the rules (one of something and dinner is a countable noun, e.g school dinners).
A proof is another classic one. We just say proof or a piece of proof. The same with evidence. Also, an advice is wrong. A piece of advice is correct. Or, more generally, just advice. Likewise, advices is also wrong.
I could say more but I'll wait for any responses or questions.
This goes out, not only to Poles (or others) wishing to learn English correctly, but also Polish teachers of English who think they know English article use correctly. Time and again, I've found that they need help too.
There are some cases where the matter is not so clear cut.
We don't use 'the' for liquids (as general nouns) unless we make reference to it or it is known.
For example, milk is white (bez the) whereas, the milk on the table is off.
Even one country can vary. Holland but, the Netherlands. This leads me on to another nice point, many Poles don't use 's' where/when they should. I hear things like 'the Budapest' or 'the Gliwice'. The reason? Their teacher told them that there was only one Gliwice or one Budapest. Still, we don't follow that logic when it comes to most place names. For example, The Vatican is an exception.
Anyway, back to the point about articles. With the Netherlands, we are specifically referring to certain, known lands as one collective. Holland exists as one unit.
The indefinite articles, though having apparently simple application as shown by Wrocław above, have complications.
Let's take the case of delict (tort in English and NOT tort in Polish). Some would say that delict is delict but others argue that a delict has been committed. Also, some crimes create complications. Is it a rape or just rape? This leads on to other points. Non-natives users of English often are very logical in their thinking. For example, 'I'm going to eat a dinner' can be heard. Native speakers, however, would prefer to either use no article (I'm going to eat dinner now) or use a personal pronoun (I'm going to eat my dinner now). However, a dinner seems to fit with the rules (one of something and dinner is a countable noun, e.g school dinners).
A proof is another classic one. We just say proof or a piece of proof. The same with evidence. Also, an advice is wrong. A piece of advice is correct. Or, more generally, just advice. Likewise, advices is also wrong.
I could say more but I'll wait for any responses or questions.
This goes out, not only to Poles (or others) wishing to learn English correctly, but also Polish teachers of English who think they know English article use correctly. Time and again, I've found that they need help too.