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AndyOrban Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Construction

Hi,

Construction started in 1700. The construction lasted fifteen years. When the construction was over, people celebrated.

Does 'construction' (and other nouns like it) work the same way as regular nouns? First, you introduce it (no article) and then it assumes the definite article since you've already identified it?

I ask for this reason: in one history book, the author kept on saying "construction" without "the" throughout. Why is that? Could you explain please?

Thanks.
  

Top answer

To your initial question, ‘Yes, the general rule is to give the definite article after identifying the noun’; however, without further text, your second example is harder to justify. For example, if the writer broke down the construction into identifiable projects, he might add ‘of the dam’ and drop ‘the’ from construction.

— Wilpeter

  • To your initial question, ‘Yes, the general rule is to give the definite article after identifying the noun’; however, without further text, your second example is harder to justify.
  • For example, if the writer broke down the construction into identifiable projects, he might add ‘of the dam’ and drop ‘the’ from construction.
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2 Answers
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To your initial question, ‘Yes, the general rule is to give the definite article after identifying the noun’; however, without further text, your second example is harder to justify. For example, if the writer broke down the construction into identifiable projects, he might add ‘of the dam’ and drop ‘the’ from construction.
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