Lecture 6 Articles Objectives: Let students know about the following points: 1. use of article...

Lecture 6 Articles

• Objectives:

• Let students know about the following points:

• 1. use of article generic and specific reference

• 2. anaphoric, cataphoric and situational reference

• 3. use of three forms of articles

Lecture 6 Articles • • The use of articles is often a headache for us

Chinese learners, because there are too many exceptions to the rules guiding the use of articles. As a matter of fact, the choice of an article in quite a few idiomatic expressions is a matter of usage which is difficult or even impossible to explain in terms of a few grammatical rules. The best way is to accumulate the usage of them and be careful in learning and using them. The following is a brief description of the use of three different kinds of articles.

Lecture 6 Articles

1. Use of article :Generic and Specific reference ( 类指和特指 ) Generic reference refers to any member representative of a class of people or things. All the three forms of articles (the, a/an, zero ) can be used generically to refer to the members of a class as a whole.

---A horse is a useful animal.---The horse is a useful animal.---Horses are useful animals.

1) Generic reference• (1) a/an + noun (especially for giving

definition)

---A teacher must love his students.

---The best way to learn a language is to live among its speakers.

(2) The+ singular count noun; the +adj. / v -ed:Such as : the rich, the poor, the deaf, the blind , the oppressed , the wounded etc.

---The burnt child dreads the fire.---The fox may grow grey, but never good.--- The true , the good and the beautiful would not exist without the false, the evil and the ugly.

1) Generic reference

•

1) Generic reference

• (3) plural noun/ uncountable noun without any determiners

• Prices are rising again.

• Knowledge is power.

2) Specific reference

Specific reference refers to a particular specimen

of the class. It falls into two types: definite and indefinite specific reference

Definite specific reference implies that a person or

an object can be identified uniquely in the context or

according to the common knowledge shared by thespeaker and hearer --- He bought a TV and a video recorder, but he returned the video recorder. (“the” refers to the thing mentioned above)

2) Specific reference

• Indefinite specific reference implies that the person or thing referred to is also a specific object but is not definitely identified, in certain context and situation the zero article and some other determiners such as some, a few can perform the same function.

• ---She picked a magazine and began to read.

• ---A professor from their university is coming to give us a talk.

Use of articles :Generic and Specific reference

• Definite specific reference Indefinite specific reference

• Give me the book. Give me a book• Take the medicine Take some medicine • Here are the records you want. He bought two records

How do you like the books? Books are his best friends.

3) Anaphoric, cataphoric and situational reference （后照应特指，前照应特指，语境照应特指）

• Definite specific reference can be anaphoric, cataphoric and situational reference.

• The word anaphoric means “pointing backward”. When what is referred to occurs in a previous context and the definite article has to pointing backward for its meaning, this is known as “anaphoric reference”.

---He ordered a book some time ago. The book has now arrived.

---His car struck a tree; you can still see the mark on the tree.

3) Anaphoric, cataphoric and situational reference （后照应特指，前照应特指，语境照应特指）

• Cataphoric reference is also a kind of definite specific reference. The word cataphoric ( 前照应 )means “pointing forward”.

• When the referential meaning of the definite article is determined by what follows the article and the head (with the post-modifiers), and the article has to point forward for its own interpretation, that is cataphoric reference.

• Is this the train for Shanghai ?• This is the place where I first met her.• Please tell us the story of Franklin.

3) Anaphoric, cataphoric and situational reference

• Situational reference is a kind of definite specific reference that depends on any referent that has occurred in the context but solely on the common knowledge shared by the speaker and hearer or on a specific situation in which the reference is made clear.

• Situational reference is most commonly denoted by the definite article, but in certain situations the same function can also be performed by “zero”:

• What’s on the radio?• How the cough today?• She asked, “Why is Father out of work?”• He was elected chairman of the students’ union.

2. Use of Three Forms of Articles

• 1) The use of the indefinite article • (1) “a” precedes a noun beginning with a co

nsonant sound ; while “an” precedes a noun with a vowel sound, eg:

• an island a university • an ounce a European• An honest man an hour•

1) The use of the indefinite article• (2) Indefinite article can be used with a count

able singular noun for generic reference, used with uncountable nouns or Proper nouns or used in some set phrases.

• “a/ an” means “one”, referring its Indefinite specific reference. ( 某类人或东西中的一个 .)

• ---Lend me a novel, will you ? ( 表 “一个” .) ---This is a good book. ( 表 “类别” .)

1) The use of the indefinite article

• Indefinite article can be used with uncountable nouns or proper nouns

--- Translation is an art.

--- It’s a pleasure to talk to you

--- ---Do you care for a smoke

---He did me a great kindness. ---A Mr. White came to see you this morning

2) The use of the definite article

• Definite article “the” is used in the following cases except the above-mentioned definite specific reference, generic reference (the +adjective / -ed), anaphoric, cataphoric ， situational reference

(1)The definite article is used of a phenomenon conceived of as “unique”:

(such as the sun, the moon, the world, the globe, the equator, the universe, the atmosphere, the outer

space)

---Make hay while the sun shines.---The sky is quite blue and cloudless.---On fine evenings, the milky Way is ever so bright.

--- Don’t build castles in the air.



• (2) The definite article is used with the nouns denoting a race, a class or a hierarchy :

• (the bourgeoisie, the intellectuals, the aristocracy, the Romans, the science circle , the public ect.)

• The Chinese are a great nation.• The laboring people are full of wisdom.

2)The use of the definite article

• (3) The name of musical instruments generally have the definite article, while the names of sports have the zero:

• ---Tom plays the accordion [ə'kɔ:djən] and I play the violin.

• ---I like to play football, but my wife prefers tennis.

• ---How about a game of chess?


• (4) The definite article is quite often used before names for weights and measures and the like, but in many cases both the definite and the indefinite article are possible:

• --- We are paid by the hour/ the piece.• --- These boots are 15 dollars the pair.• --- It sells at two dollars the pound/ a pound.


• (5) The definite article used before the names of some bodily organs or a part of the clothes can sometimes denote some actions on the body:

• ---He patted me on the shoulder.

• ---She seized him by the collar.

• ---The ball hit him in the face.


• (6) The definite article is quite often used before the superlative degree of adjectives and adverbs and the ordinal numerals; when the noun has such words as “ only, main, sole, same” as pre-modifiers

• He is the first man to arrive.

• He is the sole winner.

• The same causes produce the same effects.


• (7) The definite article is quite often used before the comparative degree of an adjective or an adverb which has the scope of comparison expressed by of phrase:

• ---Father is the older of my parents.• ---Of the two boys, John behaves the more

politely.


• (8) The definite article is quite often used in some set phrases:

• at the right time, at the expense of

• at the sight of beyond the sea

• by the hour by the day

• (9) Before some nouns that take the same form as the corresponding verb, the definite article can denote a state of movement or a motion.

• Don’t jump off the train when it is on the move.

• The criminal is on the run from the police.


1) The use of the definite article • (10) Before such nouns as ear, eye, nose, fo

ol etc, the definite article can denote function or other abstract ideas characteristic of the noun :

• ---The music is pleasant to the ear.• ---There is still much of the schoolboy in him.• ---He is a bit too fond of the bottle.• ---In the argument you ’ve hit it on the nose.

2)The proper noun with the definite article

• (1) Proper names with a restrictive premodifier , especially when preceded by a term denoting profession, usually have the definite article. but with the exception of some particular ones.

• the earliest London , the young Shakespeare• the poet Gray the publisher Collins • Southeast Asia( 东南亚 ) , ancient Greece ( 古希

腊） , little Tom• Modern English ( 现代英语 ) ， New England

( 新英格兰 ) 。


• (2) The names of mountain ranges, deserts, archipelagos( 群岛 ), and other plural names of regions generally have the definite article. eg:

• The Alps, the Himalayas, the Sahara

• the Americas

• Mount Qomolangma

• Mount Fuji


• Note The names of lakes have no article, but there are exceptions:

•

• Lake Baikal （贝加尔湖） Silver Lake( 银湖 )

•

• The West Lake the Great Salt Lake（大盐湖）


• Note Names of streets, squares, stations, airports, parks, bridges, buildings etc generally have no article, but there are exceptions.

•Times Square （时代广场）

• Oxford Circus （牛津广场） • but (the) Golden Gate Bridge ( 金门大桥 )• (the) Green Park


• (3) The names of organizations, offices and institutions, public buildings, ships and the like have the definite article:

• The labor Party the Democratic Party• The National Gallery( 国家美术馆 ) • The Military Museum ( 军事博物馆 ) • The People’s congress ( 人民代表大会 )• But Congress ( 美国国会 ) Parliament ( 英国国会 )


Note: Some such places take no article if their names begin with a proper noun:

Cambridge University Manchester Grammar School Qinhua University （清华大学） Yale University ( 耶鲁大学 ) California State University ( 加州州立大学 ) But the California Institute of Technology （加州工程学院）


• (4) The names of most newspapers and magazines have the definite article:

• The New York Times The People’s Daily • the No. 10 bus • But( China Daily , Time Life )• But The names of festivals and holidays most

ly have no article, eg:• Christmas Easter Mother’s Day • New Year’s Day

3) The use of the zero article

• As has been mentioned above, zero article is usually used with material nouns or abstract nouns, and plural noun/ uncountable nouns without any determiner can denote the generic reference:

• （复数名词或不带冠词的不可数名词可代表一类人或物）

• Prices are rising again.• Knowledge is power.


• There are some other uses:

• (1) The zero article is used before names of official posts, titles, and professions, esp. when they appear as complements in SVC/SVOC construction

• ---They elected him general manager of the company.

• ---He was awarded the title of Model Worker.

compare:

---Mary is secretary to the president. ( The zero article represents a unique tile) ---The girl has become an engineer. ( “a/an” refers to one of class members)

---This is Mr. Brown, a member of the trade union committee.( as an appositive] , “a/an” is needed)---No one except her turned musician. ( after linking-verb “turn” “a/an” should be omitted)



• (2) The names of seasons usually take zero when the nature of the season is referred to, but have the definite article when expressing a specific period of time in the year.

• Compare:

• --- If winter comes, can spring be far behind?• --- The summit conference was scheduled to take place in• the spring.• --- Night came; millions of bats were flying in the sky.• ---They have to work all day from morning till night.


• (3) The names of transport facilities usually take a zero article, especially in a by-phrase, but they take the definite or the indefinite article if a specific means of transport is referred to:

• ---I used to go to work by tube / on the tube, but now I travel by car.

• ---I hurried to the airport and caught the plane back to Hong Kong.


• (4) Most disease names, including those ending in –s, are non-count nouns. They usually have the zero article:

• ---The old man died of tuberculosis.( 肺结核 )

• ---Smoking can cause cancer in the lungs.


• Note: In the case of some common epidemics( 流行病 ), articles can take the zero or definite one:

• ---Mother has a mild attack of flu.

• ---He is coming down with the flu.

• ---I’m having a cold / a sore throat / a cough.

3)The use of the zero article Notice

• (5) Zero is present before the names of meals; if, however, a specific meal is referred to, it take the definite or the indefinite article :

• ---Dinner was already waiting for you • ---How did you enjoy the dinner last night?

• # The names of meals when combined with premodifiers take the indefinite article:

• ---I had a late supper last night.

3)The use of the zero article Notice

• (6) In the case of such nouns as bed, church, college. Court, hospital, market, office, prison, sea, table, etc, especially in prepositional phrase, it is possible to occur either with or without a definite/ indefinite article, the former having the association of locality, the latter of the function characteristic of the noun. Compare:

• ---Before the war there used to be a school in the village.

• ---The boy left school at an early age. • ---We went to the church to attend a wedding

ceremony.• ---He is now at church.


(7) Zero is commonly used before some idioms composed of two nouns in juxtaposition arm in arm, hand in hand, day after day, day by day, face to face, heart and soul, side by side, etc.

---He could hardly keep body and soul together.---They have lived as husband and wife for years.

zero article is used in some set phrases:P180-181

冠词 Exercise3– 一、选择题

– 1. Families like Rockefellers have become synonymous with wealth.

– A. a B. an C. / D. the

– 2. I want an assistant with little knowledge of French and ______experience of office routine.

– A. /…a B. the…/ C. a…/ D. a…an

– 3. Though she isn’t by birth, she’s an English citizen by virtue of her marriage to an Englishman.

– A. English B. a English – C. an English D. Englishman

• 4. The idea of traveling through space to other planets interests many people.

• A. a B. the C. / D. one

• 5. I have so much work to do that a holiday for me this year is .

• A. out of question B. out of the question • C. not the question D. in the question

• 6. birds can fly very high in sky.• A. An, the B. The, the C. The, a D. A, the

• 7. Johnson told me about his new flat day.• A. other B. another • C. the other D. any other

• 8. The human rights activist considered it honor to be nominated for the award.

• A. a B. an C. the D. this

• 9. As the sun’s rays pass through the atmosphere, ----is absorbed.

• A. much energy B. much of energy• C. much of the energies D. much of the

energy

• 10. In the early days of setting Australia, enterprising settlers unwisely introduced .

• A. an European rabbit B. the European rabbits

• C. the European rabbit D. European rabbit

• 11. The atmosphere contains about twenty-three percent of oxygen .

• A. in weight B. of weight • C. by a weight D. by weight

• 12. There is no healthier or more enjoyable activity than on ______horseback on fine morning.

• A. a … a B. / … /• C. / … a D. a … /

• 13. wants to sum up the past experience before going on.

• A. Many students B. Many a student• C. A many student D. A student many

• 14. Despite its lack of taste, color, and calories, water is _____powerful beverage. It is only substance necessary to all life.

• A. a, an B. the, the C. a, the D. the, an

• 15. Nobody can carry three watermelons under arm.• A. an B. one C. one’s D. a human

• 16. Without mastery of certain skills, it is difficult for people to make a living.

• A. the B. a C. / D. any

• 17. The professor is selfish person that he hasn’t ____least concern for others.

• A. such a, a B. a, the • C. such a, the D. such a, /

• 18. Have you ever received of what has happened to her? (TEM4---1998 )

• A. the word B. words • C. word D. the words • • 19. He is expert in Chinese history but he is aslo inte

rsted in ______history of India.• A. a … the B. an … the • C. an … a D. a … /

• 20. She will pursue her study in France soon. Now she is working hard, trying to acquire of French.

• A. speaking knowledge B. a speaking knowledge

• C. spoken knowledges D. spoken knowledge

– 二、改错题– 1. Mary is the tallest of all members in the Smith family.– A B C D

– 2. “Who is the woman over there?”– A B– “She is a poet and a novelist.” – C D

– 3. As the mayor of this city, it is my privilege to welcome you.

– A B C D

– 4. Day broke and the red sun was rising in the sky.– A B C D

• 5. He looked at me with a horror when I explained.• A B• that I was a double agent• C D• 6. “The girl is cleverer of the two”, said John’s• A B • mother, pointing to a girl in white.• C D• 7. Although adult education in China began in• A B • 1950s, its chief growth has taken place since the • C• open university on TV came into being.• D

• 8. A variety of rare shells are displayed at the annual• A B • shell show on the island, which draws attention of• C D• • thousands of shell collectors.

• 9. Great Lakes, between the US and Canada, contain• A B• enough water to cover the whole continental United • C• States to a depth of ten feet.• D

• 10. Some of the plants in this store require

• A

• very little care, but this one needs much

• B C more sunlight than other ones.

• D

一、选择题– 1. D 2. C 3. A 4. C 5. B 6. B

7. C – 8. B 9. D 10. C 11. D 12. C

13. B 14. C – 15. B 16. B 17. C 18. C 19. B 20. B

二、改错题– 1. C—all the members 2. D—novelist

– 3. B—mayor 4. B—a – 5. B—with horror 6. A—the cleverer – 7. B—in the 1950s 8. D—the attention – 9. A—The Great Lakes – 10. D—the other ones–

Lecture 6 Articles Objectives: Let students know about the following points: 1. use of article...

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