What is the difference in the application of the article before choosing the side? Or not at all (in what cases)?
a left
or
the left
Well, for example, such an example: "this is a / the left eye". Why can't we use the article "a" here?
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Left is an adjective. It has no impact on the sort of article you want. Are you talking about an eye that wants a definite article, such as the abstract left eye, or when comparing the left to the right (such as on a single person)? Then use the definite article. If it's just any old left eye, use the indefinite.
Adding adjectives to a noun does not affect what article you use (unless it changes which form of the indefinite article is needed, naturally).
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Does this rule also work when choosing a side to which you can go or turn, etc.? – Boyep Feb 9 '19 at 20:43
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1In a sense. When you're saying "take a left", or "take the next right", there's an implicit "turn" after the direction. – SamBC Feb 9 '19 at 20:52
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2@Boyep For additional clarity, In turn left, left is an adverb, not an adjective. And left can also be a verb in other contexts. – Jason Bassford Feb 9 '19 at 21:35
