Additional Notes on the Use of the Definite Article.

The definite article is used:

1. with nouns modified by adjectives in the superlative degree.

Ex.: Miss Tox had the softest voice that ever was heard. (Dickens)

2. with nouns in word-groups the first component of which is some, many, none, most and the second component is a noun with the preposition of.

Ex.: Most of the gentlemen looked both angry and uncomfortable.(Voynich)

3. with nouns modified by the pronoun same, and the adjective wrong, right, very

Ex.: I do wish we had not opened the door of the wrong room. (Jerome)

Ex.: ‘Ah! Mr. Burton!’ exclaimed the Director, ‘the very person I wanted’(Voynich) … именно тот, человек, который мне нужен.

4. with substantivized adjectives and particle.

Ex.: The wicked always think other people are as bad as themselves.(Scott)

The Use of Article with Class-nouns Modified by Attributes.

The definite article is used when a noun is modified by an attribute which shows that a particular object is meant, i.e. by an attribute which might be called a particularizing attribute. A particularizing attribute is used to single out an object from all the objects of the class, to point out one particular object or group of objects. It can be expressed by an of-phrase or an attribute clause.

Ex.: He knocked at the door of a very neat house. (Marryat)

Ex.: The letters that I have here have come to me quite by accident. (Dreiser)

The particularizing attribute should not be confused with a descriptive attribute.

A descriptive attribute is used to describe an object or to give some additional information about it.

Ex.: In a fortnight I got a long letter, which I considered odd. (E. Bronte)

Nouns of Material

1. With nouns of material used in a general sense, when a certain material as such meant, no article is used.

Ex.: Honey is wholesome.

2. When a definite part of the substance is meant, the definite article is used.

Ex.: Pettinger gulped down a glass of the sherry which Cornelius had finally brought. (Heym)

3. When an indefinite part of the substance is meant, some is used.

Ex.: We took some bread and cheese with us, and some goat’s milk up there on the pasture. (Voynich)

Abstract Nouns

1. When abstract nouns are used in a general sense, no article is used.

Ex.: While there is life there is hope.

2. When abstract nouns are modified by a particularizing attribute or when the situation makes the idea definite, they are used with the definite article.

Ex.: Cowperwood was the courage and force his father, the spirit and opportunity of his brothers, the hope of his children. (Dreiser)

3. Abstract nouns can be used with the indefinite article. In this case the abstract noun denotes a certain kind (оттенок) of a quality, feeling, state.

Ex.: In her eyes there was an eagerness, which could hardly be seen without delight. (Austen)

The indefinite article is used with the nouns period, population, distance, height, salary, etc. followed by of+ numeral+ noun.

Ex.: Simpson was out of the city for a period of ten days.(Dreiser)