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Using English Articles (#12), by Dennis Oliver
Using English Articles
(#12)
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Because the English articles
(a,
an,
the) are often very
challenging for
learners of the language, the next several
Hints will
provide guidelines on their usage.
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When Not
to Use
Articles (#1)
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There are also situations
in which no articles are used:
| 1. |
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In general, do not
use articles before names
of
people:
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not this:
but this:
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*The Dave Sperling created
this website in 1995.
Dave Sperling created this
website in 1995.
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not this:
but this:
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*The Mary Seurat was
a well-known
painter.
Mary Seurat was a
well-known painter.
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| 2. |
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In general, do not
use articles before a title
and a
name:
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not this:
but this:
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*The Professor Schulte
will lecture at 11:00 AM.
Professor Schulte
will lecture at 11:00 AM.
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not this:
but this:
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*The Prince Philip is the
husband of the Queen Elizabeth.
Prince Philip is the husband
of Queen Elizabeth.
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| 3. |
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In general, do not
use articles before
one-word
names of countries):
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not this:
but this:
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*The Oman is a Gulf state.
Oman is a Gulf state.
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not this:
but this:
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*The Argentina is located
in South America.
Argentina is located
in South America.
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| 4. |
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Do not use
articles before the names of bodies
of water which
have Lake or Pond as part of
their names:
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not this:
but this:
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*The Lake Mweru is partly
in Zaire and partly in Zambia.
Lake Mweru is partly
in Zaire and partly in Zambia.
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not this:
but this:
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*Isn't the Lake Okeechobee
in Florida?
Isn't Lake Okeechobee
in Florida?
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not this:
but this:
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*How long did Thoreau live
at the Walden Pond?
How long did Thoreau live
at Walden Pond?
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| 5. |
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Do not use
articles before the names of
mountains
or volcanos which
have
Mt. (Mount) as part of their names:
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not this:
but this:
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*The Mt. Hood is visible
from Portland, Oregon.
Mt. Hood is visible
from Portland, Oregon.
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not this:
but this:
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*Pompeii was destroyed
when the Mt. Vesuvius erupted.
Pompeii was destroyed
when Mt. Vesuvius erupted.
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| 6. |
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In general, do not
use articles before the names
of
educational institutions when the names
begin with a proper noun:
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not this:
but this:
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*She attended the St. Olaf's
College in Minnesota.
She attended St. Olaf's
College in Minnesota.
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not this:
but this:
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*The Washington University
is in St. Louis, Missouri.
Washington University
is in St. Louis, Missouri.
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not this:
but this:
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*Her son graduated from
the Cholla High School.
Her son graduated from
Cholla High School.
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Note: There are exceptions to this general
rule:
The Ohio State University
(The usual pattern is without the.)
The George Washington University
(The usual pattern is without the.)
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Special Notes:
| 1. |
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If more than one person has
the same name,
and if one of these people is well-known,
the
well-known one might be referred to
with the:
Is that the Dave Sperling?
Is that the Dave Sperling who created "Dave's
ESL Cafe on the Web"?
Note: When only a name is used, the
is emphasized
(stressed).
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| 2. |
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The same is true for titles
plus names:
He's the grandson of the Dr. Smith.
He's the grandson of the Dr. Smith who won
a Nobel Prize.
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| 3. |
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In the past, the was commonly used with the
names of
a few countries:
The Lebanon
The Argentine
The Ukraine
Note: Today, Lebanon and
Ukraine are
preferred,
and Argentina is used instead of
The Argentine.
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Next: more on articles
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