Article with trees
Hi,
I would like to test my understanding of the definite article with plural nouns. Here an example:
I saw a plane take off. The plane flew over trees.
I omit the definite article before "trees" = no trees were mentioned, it means "some trees". Maybe there's no reason to suppose there should have been trees.
I saw a plane take off. The plane flew over the trees.
"the trees" = it's not uncommon for trees to be outside, so it's the trees that are naturally there. Or I may have already mentioned these trees, or the context that makes them possible (for example, I mentioned there was a forest near the airport).
Are these assumptions reasonable? Can either sentence (no article or with the article) be used, depending?
Thank you
Top answer
anonymous I saw a plane take off. The plane flew over trees. It is unusual.
- anonymous I saw a plane take off.
- The plane flew over trees.
- It is unusual.
- It contrasts with what other object(s) the pilot (or airport designers) might have chosen to put on the ascending flight path.
- The plane flew over water.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
anonymousI saw a plane take off. The plane flew over trees.
It is unusual. It contrasts with what other object(s) the pilot (or airport designers) might have chosen to put on the ascending flight path.
The plane flew over water.
The plane flew over buildings.
The plane flew over empty fields.
anonymousI saw a plane
0anonymousI saw a plane take off. The plane flew over trees.I omit the definite article before "trees" = no trees were mentioned, it means "some trees".
Correct.
anonymousI saw a plane take off. The plane flew over the trees.
This gives the impression that you are mentioning particular trees that are already known.
0
Related Questions