Questions tagged [articles]
An Article is used before a noun to indicate if the noun is something particular (the) or a member of a class (a/an).
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questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
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“the execution of” vs “execution of”
Executing agency (also referred to as "executing entity") shall mean the entity responsible for execution of UN-Women programme activities as defined in regulation 27.2.
The funds generated ...
2
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1
answer
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Question on generic noun phrase
I was looking at the definition of definite article and it reads like this - "The definite article is used before singular and plural nouns when the noun is specific or particular".
Since this ...
2
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1
answer
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populous and politically important
The definite article the is used before a proper noun when it is qualified by an adjective.
example
The immortal Shakespeare.
The great Caesar.
But in the following sentence
Populous and ...
2
votes
1
answer
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"calotype, invented by an (the) Englishman William Henry Fox Talbot" - which article to use?
I'm uncertain which article to use in the following examples:
calotype, invented by an/the Englishman William Henry Fox Talbot
paper, written by a/the Scottish professor John Dudgeon
a studio ...
2
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2
answers
2k
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Definite article vs. no article in front of plant names used generically
There's a rule that when we use a noun generically, we either put the definite article in front of it or use the plural form:
The tiger is in danger of becoming extinct.
Tigers are in danger ...
2
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1
answer
275
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A/the fear of something
What is the reason for using a and the in the following sentences (taken from Wikipedia):
The fear of the dark is a common fear or phobia among children...
A fear of falling, along with a fear of ...
2
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3
answers
4k
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“A special interest” vs. “special interests”
I’m writing a short paragraph about myself. I find it hard to determine what article I should use in this following sentence:
I have a special interest in learning languages, computer programming, ...
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0
answers
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Correct words to use in a From certain date to certain date doing something
So this is what I could come up with, but for some reason, it sounds wrong to me, and it is bugging me
As of 29.05.2023. Through and including the 29.08.2023, we will have new regulations in ...
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vote
1
answer
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a/the/no article, A computer is a
I am struggling with English articles. Do these two sentences mean the same?
a) A computer is a useful machine in graphic design.
b) The computer is a useful machine in graphic design. (meaning all ...
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0
answers
24
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Generic reference and articles
I can say, "a backpack is a useful item" or "backpacks are useful items" and both are grammatical and are referring to backpacks generally.
I can say, "a boat is a slow way to ...
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vote
1
answer
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"(an) unusual flavor"
I thought we should use an article with the noun phrase "adjective + flavor", but I saw the phrase "a dish with unusual flavor" which has no article before "unusual flavor&...
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0
answers
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When do you say skin and when the skin?
According to my American friend, "you can have glowing skin" but "cream makes the skin softer" and "smth penetrates into the skin".
Is there some rule I can use to ...
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vote
1
answer
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"Letter 'y'," "a letter 'y'" or "the letter 'y'" in context
Can you please tell which one is correct: letter "y," a letter "y," or the letter "y" in the context below?
If you agree with the statements, just put letter "y&...
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1
answer
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Which one is correct: "do something via Google Meet video call" or "do something via a Google Meet video call"?
Can you please tell me which one is correct: do something via Google Meet video call or do something via a Google Meet video call? For example:
I can show you how to install the software via (a) ...
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2
answers
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Article, can you help me with more examples
If I want to talk about things that are the same, which articles should I use?
Eg1: A school has the same uniforms (only size is different) for boy students
Do I say:
Daily, a boy student wears the ...
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vote
1
answer
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Can I use the definite article 'the' in this sentence?
I've just read a scientific article. And I am wondering about the use of articles.
The given sentence is,
Now, three teams of researchers have demonstrated the ability to perform secure quantum ...
1
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0
answers
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The PUM project vs PUM project
I got stuck with the one very classic problems of English - articles. Don't get me wrong, I'm pretty decent and English and mostly use them automatically in the proper position (I hope so).
However, ...
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0
answers
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"movie" and articles
What are the differences between the four sentences below?
I'm interested in Japanese movies.
I'm interested in the Japanese movies.
I'm interested in a Japanese movie.
I'm interested in the Japanese ...
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0
answers
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Why is the article ommited in this context?
This is an extract from a book "Black Rednecks And White Liberals" by Thomas Sowell.
He is talking about behavioral patterns of peoples living in the south of the U.S in colonial times.
&...
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2
answers
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Definite and indefinite articles with uncountable and countable nouns
I am talking about using definite and indefinite articles with uncountable nouns and also in of-phrases. I would be very grateful if anyone could explain it to me.
These two examples I found on the ...
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2
answers
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a post or the post?
Which article should I use in the following sentence?
'I couldn't help but make A post about it'
or
'I couldnt' help but make THE post about it'
(It's the first sentence in the text.)
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vote
1
answer
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Should you use "the" here in this context?
I am a non-native speaker of English. I am confused about whether to use "the" in the following context:
Let's say there is a person preparing to submit a manuscript to a journal. That ...
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0
answers
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Difference between 'from the decay of' and 'from decays of'
Could you explain the difference in meaning between these two phrases?
charged leptons from decays of long-lived particles
charged leptons from the decay of long-lived particles
From the internet ...
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0
answers
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Grammar behind "a length of 2 meters"
I believe that
The length of [something] is 2 meters.
is basically equivalent to
[Something] has a length of 2 meters.
where the following is invalid:
[Something] has the length of 2 meters.
I'm ...
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0
answers
29
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in the (time) vs in (time)
I know "in the morning" is correct and "in morning" is not.
But why are "in the summer" and "in summer" both correct? How do you know when to use an article or ...
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1
answer
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Can I use 'a' after 'are' in a conjunction sentence?
'Black mold or toxic black molds are a hazardous health variety of micro fungus that usually grow in your buildings' damp areas—for example, bathroom, basement, kitchen, etc.'
Q1: In the above ...
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0
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29
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How do I use the word 'opposition' in political contexts?
If I talk about opposition in general, not with respect to any particular country, am I supposed to drop the article altogether or swap it for an indefinite one? Suppose
If a ruler forcefully ...
1
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0
answers
498
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"Have the chance of" or "have a chance of"
Which one is correct?
Once you have a chance of reviewing the document, let me know what
you think.
Once you have the chance of reviewing the document, let me know what
you think.
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0
answers
38
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a/the maximum speed of 100
I wonder in which context these two would be fitting.
The car was going at the maximum speed of 200 mph.
or
The car was going at a maximum speed of 200 mph.
Usually, it's "a" but I think ...
1
vote
1
answer
160
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Do I have to use "the" before the names of army branches when talking about serving in a particular army branch?
Could you tell me if I have to use the before the names of army branches when talking about serving in a particular army branch? For example:
John's dad served in (the) artillery, but John serves in (...
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0
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Why is "the pharmacy" supposed to be appropriate in the context? What about "a pharmacy", "pharmacies", or "pharmacy"?
I've been studying English for many years, but still struggling with learning the usage of English articles. Below is one example.
From a news article I read on this site.
How some drugs can turn ...
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0
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Articles in figure captions
Writing a paper I intend to preface all figures with giving common symbols used in many figures and I'm having trouble using articles. Help me please arrange them.
"The following symbols are used ...
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0
answers
60
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Why is there no "the" before this sentence?
I read a sentence from Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demand:
Demand for a specific item is a function of an item's perceived necessity, price, perceived quality, convenience, available ...
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0
answers
55
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The correct way of using articles in the example
Could you please explain how to correctly use articles in the following example?
Consider a situation in which you need to assign a task for someone:
Implement an/the ability to [here goes a ...
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1
answer
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"until next week" meaning
Does "Let's put X off until next week" mean dealing with X during next week or before next week starts?
"The" shouldn't follow "until" in the sentence, should it?
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"Life has meaning" vs. "life has a meaning"
Could you tell me what kind of meaning the use of a adds to the following sentence?
Life has meaning; it's just we can't it figure it out yet.
Life has a meaning; it's just we can't it figure it out ...
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0
answers
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"Notify authorities" Or "Notify the authorities"?
Could you tell me if I have to use 'the' before 'authorities' in the following context?
If you suspect that something illegal is going on, you are supposed to notify (the) authorities right away.
...
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0
answers
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The connotation difference between using "the" and the plural form of a word
Are both sentences below correct when I intend to talk about cotton swabs in general, not a particular one? If so, do they have different connotations?
I am going to introduce a new use of the cotton ...
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1
answer
153
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Definite article vs zero article
I have problems with definite and zero articles in the following sentences:
"I met a man you were talking about over THE telephone yesterday."
"The wounded were examined by THE doctor ...
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0
answers
37
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the evening news vs evening news
Are correct both examples? If it is so, what is the difference? If it is not correct, why?
Ann turned on the television to watch the evening news.
vs
Ann turned on the television to watch evening ...
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0
answers
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Article before "possible WHO pre-qualification of the vaccine"
I am having a bit of hard time pondering over why there is not an article before "Possible who pre-qualification of the vaccine" in the following sentence:
We are in close contact with ...
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0
answers
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At "a graduate level", "graduate level", or "the graduate level"?
Do you need to use an article either a or the before graduate level in the following sentence?
I understand that studying any course at graduate level requires a
tremendous amount of dedication and ...
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0
answers
63
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How to refer to a series of pairs?
To enumerate all the pairs of jeans I have, using commas and without repeating "pair", may I put it like this:
I have a pink, a black, a grey, two dark and a blue pairs of jeans.
Should I ...
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0
answers
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Articles used interchangeably?
As the definite article is used when we mention something for the second time or we mean the specific thing, would it be right to use the definite or indefinite article interchangeably before the noun ...
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2
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Usage of 'the' and no article
Should I use the in the following sentences or not?
Every colony of ants has worker ants. The worker ants/ worker ants protect their colony and the queen ant.
Colonies of ants have worker ants. The ...
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0
answers
28
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Using articles with proper nouns
I recently came upon these two curious sentences:
" I believe it was a young Barack Obama who said...."
"The young Joyce already showed signs of the genius that was to be fulfilled in Ulysses" ...
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Adventures of Huckleberry Finn / The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Is it correct that the book ''The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'' has a definite article because the author is referring to specific adventures and not because the sentence has a structure with 'OF' [...
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The use of English Article "the"
Can someone tell and explain to me which sentence uses the definite article correctly?
Force is denoted by the symbol F.
Force is denoted by symbol F.
When we talk about proper nouns like the name ...
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1
answer
47
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"oversight of genetic testing" or "the oversight of genetic testing"?
The following sentence is from Oxford dictionary:
Who has oversight of genetic testing?
Now, my question is why the article "the" hasn't been used here. In other words is it wrong to say
Who ...
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0
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'... is very good quality' VS '... is OF [a] very good quality' + article
I've got two questions regarding this sentence for a grammar book:
The jacket you bought is very good quality.
Would it be correct to say: 'This jacket is OF very good quality.'?
Would it be ...