Grammar
A quick recap for those who don't know, indefinite articles in English are used when you are referring to an object in general (not a particular one). Here are some example of the indefinite articles a and an in use
In English the word the is a definite article, use it when you are referring to something specific (sometimes something you have previously mentioned).
Foreign learners often get confused over which ones to use. Or maybe in their native languages definite and indefinite articles aren't used and they simply omit them in speech. This can have the effect of making them sound rather abrupt/surly in conversation. To complicate matters further, there are occasions when it is quite correct to drop the articles.
When talking about abstract concepts such as feelings the article is often dropped.
Sometimes the word "the" is emphasised slightly.
(this implies that this person is the one that you want to spend the rest of your life with)
Mr Right turns into Mr Angry when he is having problems at work and confides in his girlfriend "My boss is driving me crazy, sometimes I want to hit him". Apart from advising him to go on an anger management course here are a couple of pieces of advice she may offer.
The difference between these two is quite subtle. The first sort of implies that out of all the possible answers violence is one of the possible answers (albeit inadvisable). The second answer suggests that violence shouldn't even be included in the list of possible options.
You will often see definite articles used in sayings and idioms, e.g.
Consider the following (grammatically correct) alternatives
The original version is best, we're talking metaphorically here. The pen is a symbol of language and rhetoric, the sword is a symbol of weapons and violence in general
Hopefully the examples I have given have helped to clarify the matter. Ultimately, practice makes perfect.
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Grammar
The definitive article?
A quick recap for those who don't know, indefinite articles in English are used when you are referring to an object in general (not a particular one). Here are some example of the indefinite articles a and an in use
I'm reading a book
I'm eating an apple
I'm eating an apple
The book I'm reading is very interesting
I like reading books (no article needed here)
Love is a many-splendoured thing (here the a is the indefinite article attached to the word thing)
Hate is a destructive emotion
I can feel the love in the room (here we are talking about specific warm feelings in a specific room)
Hate is a destructive emotion
I can feel the love in the room (here we are talking about specific warm feelings in a specific room)
Sometimes the word "the" is emphasised slightly.
I met a great guy at the library, I think he may be the one.
Mr Right turns into Mr Angry when he is having problems at work and confides in his girlfriend "My boss is driving me crazy, sometimes I want to hit him". Apart from advising him to go on an anger management course here are a couple of pieces of advice she may offer.
Violence is never the answer
Violence is never an answer
Violence is never an answer
You will often see definite articles used in sayings and idioms, e.g.
The pen is mightier than the sword
A pen is mightier than a sword
Pens are mightier than swords
Pens are mightier than swords
Hopefully the examples I have given have helped to clarify the matter. Ultimately, practice makes perfect.
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- Using Present Indefinite Tense Through Dialogues
Contents → Grammar in Dialogues → Using Present Indefinite This page shows different ways of using the Present Indefinite through dialogues from English literature. The Present Indefinite mainly expresses permanent or recurrent actions in the...
- Be Your Own Proofreader
A while back I was browsing the threads on my favourite internet forum. Some hapless fool had made the mistake of posting a thread advertising himself as a teacher of English. Needless to say, the post contained some mistakes, whether they were typos...
- Step By Step Grammar 4: Pronouns
A pronoun can replace a noun and refers to a specific person or thing. There are different types of pronouns but for now it’s enough for you to know that words such as I, you, he, she, it, we, they and variations of these e.g. mine, yours or myself,...
- Step By Step Grammar 1: Nouns
It was suggested to me that I should write more about basics of the English language, particularly the grammar as sadly, many of us, including native English speakers, struggle with terminology that is used in grammar books of various shapes and forms....
- Indefinite Articles - A Or An?
...