a/the and prepositions

Question

Hello ladies and gentelmen,I need some advices mostly about a/the/any articles and prepositions in my draft. And what is about general clarity of my sentences. So, I’ll give you a couple of sentences. It’s kind of long-term Chornobyl (Chernobyl) effects discussion. Thanks a lot in advance.By the way, this question again, what is worse, to omit a proper article (a/the) or use it incorrectly (yes, I know better to use it correctly )So, my sentences: A comparison of the findings of animal research and human (public) health effects following the Chornobyl accident displays some similarities, but it requires utmost care. (It’s one of a top sentence and I did not discuss the findings yet)We review the well-documented human health effects detected the years after the Chornobyl catastrophe.Research/Studies on test animals and wild animals (I mean lab rats and wild birds, yes, birds are animals too)(The) Extremely important findings on long-term biological effects of Chornobyl radiation were received in studies on wild inhabitants of the Chornobyl area. (wild inhabitants are birds)Test animals were fed by special forage contaminated of (the) Chornobyl fallout.Thanks once more.

Enoon · Accepted Answer

Pretty often you can use the article or not with no difference. To use a wrong one or leave a needed one off is equally bad, sometimes worse than other times in either case. By the way, I've only ever seen "Chernobyl" here, not "Chornobyl", and it is pronounced here accordingly.

A comparison of the findings of animal research and human (public) health effects following the Chernobyl accident displays some similarities, but it requires utmost care.

We need to know what "it" is that requires care, maybe analysis. I would reverse the order of the two things compared because the reader thinks at first that there will be two kinds of findings. "Display" seems wrong—"reveal", maybe. The articles are correct and necessary. "A comparison of human (public) health effects and the findings of animal research following the Chornobyl accident reveals some similarities, but analysis of data from two such disparate groups requires utmost care.

We review the well-documented human health effects detected the years after the Chernobyl catastrophe.

I'm not sure what you mean, but "the" is wrong before "years". If you mean that the effects were detected only after many years had passed, it's "detected years after the Chernobyl ...". If you mean that the effects were detected all along, it's "detected in the years following the Chernobyl ...". The other article is correct.

Research/Studies on test animals and wild animals

I don't see a problem.

(The) Extremely important findings on long-term biological effects of Chornobyl radiation were received in studies on wild inhabitants of the Chornobyl area.

Findings are "made". An initial article would be wrong, as far as I can tell. I figured you were talking about wildlife (have you played "S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat"?), which might actually be better, but "wild inhabitants" is not at all wrong. Extremely important findings on long-term biological effects of Chornobyl radiation were made in studies of the wildlife in the Chernobyl area.

Test animals were fed by special forage contaminated of (the) Chornobyl fallout.

Test animals were fed special forage contaminated with Chernobyl fallout. I don't know how to explain it. I usually get wrapped around the axle when I try to explain articles. They are instinctive, and there are a million different cases. That said, it's fallout of the Chernobyl variety; "Chernobyl" is attributive.

Ivanhr · Answer

enoonTest animals were fed special forage contaminated with Chernobyl fallout.

It depends on whether you mean all of it or just some of it. Since it's evident that you mean "some of it", "the" is not necessary.

Another example of this kind
People absorb radiation from the Sun. (people absorb just some of (all) the radiation from the Sun)

Thyme · Answer

Thank you so much, enoon. Your explanations are great. Chornobyl is just Ukrainian spelling of russian Chernobyl, we try to use it now. No, I didn't play Stalker, but it's rather sad to see some real pictures of abandoned Pripyat.
Thanks a lot, Ivan, I catch.
My best, Thyme

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