The Indefinite article in collocations and set expressions

The indefinite article may be used before a des­criptive attribute either preceding or following the noun of any class. (E.g. He was a tall, good-looking man. This happened on a cold, rainy September day. The novel is a funny, intelligent social comedy. It is a novel of immense intelligence, disturbing and diverting.)

Any countable noun must be used with the indefinite article after the words half, rather, such, quite, most in the meaning 'very', what and formally or literally — many: (E.g. I have rather a headache. He is quite a young man. This is a most interesting film. What a nice day it is today. I have never met such a beautiful girl. Many a small business has failed. (=Many small businesses have failed.)

The indefinite article is used before few and little to denote «not many» or «much» (E.g. I would like to say a few words on the subject. If I have a little time, today I will come to see you).

The indefinite article may be used before a substan­tivized ordinal number: (E.g. At first, he offered me a book, then a second (book), and a third (book).

Besides, the indefinite article is entered into nume­rous preposition + noun set phrases, which function as adverbial modifier and verb + noun set phrases func­tioning as one verb.

a) Preposition + noun set phrases: as a result, at a glance, at a stroke, at a loss, in a hurry, in a low/loud voice, in a whisper, in a minute/second, in an hour, in a sense in a word, on a par with, to an extent.

b) Verb + noun set phrases: break a fall, cast/throw a glance, catch a train, catch a cold, do a favour, get in a fury, give a start, have a good time, have a meal, have a swim, have a ride, have a look, have a mind, make a will, make a living, take a fancy.

§ 4. The use of the Definite Article

The definite article whose function is that of iden­tification or individualization of living beings, things, or notions, may refer to any noun of any class both in the singular and plural. The individual description of co­untable/uncountable, animate/inanimate and human/ non-human nouns with reference to the definite article is unnecessary because they are either common or proper, and either concrete or abstract.

The Definite article before common nouns

The definite article is used in the following cases:

a) Before concrete nouns either in the singular or plural that mention a particular person or thing, because it is already known, or talked about: (E.g. I have a daughter and a son, the daughter is ten, the son is three years younger. This is a book; the book is on the table. Please take the letters to the post office). (It is understood that you know which letters and which post office. Compare: You can pay your phone bills at a post office. (=any post office)).

b) Before concrete nouns denoting objects unique in a given situation or at large: (E.g. The sun is shining. The sky is blue).

c) In the generic sense before concrete nouns in the singular: (E.g. My favorite flower is the lilac. The ostrich is the largest living bird. The computer has totally changed office work).

d) In the meaning «one's» before concrete nouns. (E.g. How is the leg today? (your leg) The car broke down again today, (my car).

e) Before concrete nouns denoting materials in a certain amount or a particular context. (E.g. The water is cold today. Where is the salt? Pass me the pepper, please).

f) Before nouns denoting human activities, especially musical, but not including sports: (E.g. She is studying the law. He plays the violin. (Compare: She plays tennis).

g) Before nouns denoting directions, such as north, south, west, and east: (E.g. A strange light appeared in the south. They moved to the north of the country.)

h) Before adjectives as part of their substantivized forms. (E.g. The rich must help the poor. The library offers a special service for the blind. The following is the summary of the article.)

i) Before nouns or the substitutional one, attributed by adjectives in the superlative degree. (E.g. This is the most interesting film I ever saw. The Louvre is the most famous French museum of art.)

j) Before abstract nouns denoting particular notions: The life of a writer is difficult. We study the history of the English language.

k) When there is only one of something. (E.g. The President, the manager, the director. Paris is the capital of France. The president is elected every 4 years.)

l) When the speaker uses an attribute pointing out a particular object- a particularizing attribute. (E.g. This is the house that Jack built.)

m) We use the with the words: The country, the mountains, the seaside, the weekend, the cinema, the theatre, the radio, the police, the fire brigade, the army, the post office, the bank, the doctor, the dentist, though we don’t necessarily mean something in particular: I must go to the bank to change some money. He went to the doctor. But: We watch television (without the).

n) Before the names of documents and different historical events. (E.g. the Constitution, the French Revolution).