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Ticce Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

Articles??

Could you explain why the following articles are used as they are used...

If you get the (why is A not used here) chance to visit London you really should take the time to visit Greenwich. You can get there by train, bus, taxi or even walk if you have the (why do we need an article here, energy is uncountable, shouldn't we leave it blank?) energy. Personally, though I recommend taking a boat. The one I took was from (why don't we use THE here but put it in the next case) Tower Bridge, which is next to the Tower of London.

My comments are in brackets.
  

Top answer

the chance to visit London -- A chance is OK too. With ' the ', the writer has thought ahead to the specific chance (visiting London). if you have the energy.

  • the chance to visit London -- A chance is OK too.
  • With ' the ', the writer has thought ahead to the specific chance (visiting London).
  • if you have the energy.
  • -- You don't need the article here, but uncountables easily become countables when they take on varying qualities: 'a formal beauty', 'the energy to walk'.
  • -- Proper nouns are on an almost case-by-case basis, though there are groups that tend to take or not take an article: London Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge, Tokyo Bay, the Pacific Ocean.
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1 Answers
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the chance to visit London -- A chance is OK too. With 'the', the writer has thought ahead to the specific chance (visiting London).

if you have the energy. -- You don't need the article here, but uncountables easily become countables when they take on varying qualities: 'a formal beauty', 'the energy to walk'.

Tower Bridge, whi

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