Writing Improvement Corner (P. Ng):  Articles

 

1.5      Normally a singular count noun is preceded by either the indefinite article, the definite

              article, or some other determiner (e.g., any, this, another, each, every, etc.), but there are

              some exceptions.  Certain nouns in expressions involving time, place, and

              movement are used without articles:

              at night   finish school   enter university   in class   at work   out of town  

              by train   go home after school  by phone

 

2.   Particular meaning

     

2.1      Particular meaning is expressed when we talk about particular, or specific, individual entities (objects, persons, ideas, etc.) rather than things in general or classes of things.

 

      2.2   In talking about particular entities, we need to distinguish between definite reference

              and indefinite reference.  Definite referene is used when the reader or hearer can identify

              the things or persons referred to (as in sentence (a) below).  That is, the reader or hearer

              can tell which thing or person is referred to.  By contrast, indefinite reference is used if

              the reader or hearer cannot identify them (as in sentence (b)).

 

(a)  This is the student who has surpassed all others in the test. (The who clause indicates the identity of the student.)

(b)  Some students have failed the test. (Although we know that certain individual students have failed the test, we cannot tell who they are.)

 

      2.3  Particular meaning with definite reference

             

            2.3.1     Use the to indicate which one(s) we mean:

 

                        (a) Back-pointing use of the (to refer to things or persons mentioned before)

                        First you select a destination and a travel agency; then you go to the agency to ask

                        for information about the destination.

                        Sometimes you start with a good idea, but later find that the idea is really too

                        complex to write about in a short paper.

 

                        (b) Forward-pointing use of the

                        This is the document that has caused so much controversy.

                        We are disappointed by the response the legislator gave to our query.

                        Nobody is interested in the story about how he came to power.

                        What is the main feature of the sociological imagination that Mills discusses?

                        The opinions of others can affect how we see ourselves.

                                 

            2.3.2     Use the to refer to the only one(s) in existence (assuming our reader or hear

understands what is referred to from general knowledge or from knowledge

of the situation concerned):

 

the digital age   the tourism industry   the arms race   the China market  

The world has become much smaller because of the convenience of communication.

After encountering so much criticism from citizens, the Government has to consider adopting new and better policies.

The Chief Executive is keen on improving the image of Hong Kong.

Sociologists are in a very good position to study the social impact of the Internet.

Relations between the United States and Russia have improved greatly after the end of the cold war.