Writing Improvement Corner (P. Ng):  Articles

 

 

      2.4   Particular meaning with indefinite reference

 

              Use a/an or an indefinite determiner (e.g., some, several, many, most, no) to refer to

              certain individual entities without really identifying which one(s):

 

              I came across an interesting study of tourism in a locally published journal.

              Everyone is looking for a satisfactory solution to this problem.

              You need to include some discussion of related issues toward the conclusion of your essay.

              Some political leaders speak of promoting a society of caring citizens.

              He had several happy surprises after joining the company.

              No sensible person would believe that the media can really print anything they want.

 

3.   General meaning  (All forms of the article may be used.)

     

      3.1   When we write not about particular or individual entities but about entities in general

              or about whole classes, we are expressing general meaning.  Since the emphasis is on

              generalities or whole classes, the distinction between definite meaning (identifying which

              ones) and indefinite meaning (not identifying which ones) becomes unimportant. 

 

                            (a) the:        The university is a place of higher learning.

                                (b) a:          A university is a place of higher learning.

                            (c) zero article:        Universities are places of higher learning.

             

              Essentially the same general meaning is expressed in the above three sentences.  Please

              note, however, that reference is to all universities generally as a kind of institution in (a)

              the university and in (c) universities, whereas reference is to any university in (b) a

              university.    

 

3.2   Use zero article with an uncount noun or a plural count noun.  This is the most natural

  way of expressing general or generic meaning.

 

        Cooperation between management and workers is necessary to minimize industrial

        disputes.   (Cooperation and management are uncount nouns; workers and disputes are

        plural count nouns.)    

 

        Both employers and employees are equally concerned about the MPF scheme.

 

3.3   Less commonly, we can use the with a singular count noun to indicate a generic class:

 

The primary group is the most basic kind of collectivity.

 

As a statement that defines or classifies something, it is about the same in meaning as:

Primary groups are the most basic kind of collectivity.

A primary group is the most basic kind of collectivity.

 

Similarly, the following three sentences are similar in meaning:

              The church is an organization.

Churches are organizations.

A church is an organization.