0
Juliette1997 Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
Dawn, sunrise (articles)
Hi,
I've noticed that in English article usage varies greatly with "dawn", "dusk", "sunset", "sunrise". Often no article is used, because these are abstract nouns.
"We waited for dawn".
"This happened at sunrise."
"Dusk came at 8pm".
Etc.
But articles are also used in many situations.
My 2 questions:
1. "We waited for dawn. (The) dawn finally came 3 hours later."
Do I use the definite article in the second sentence now that dawn has been mentioned? Or not? Or it's up to me?
2. I watched (a) sunrise in New York the other day.
Is the indefinite article correct? Or not? Or up to me? It was one instance of sunrise, so I think "a" is okay. But maybe I can drop it as well?
Thanks!!
I've noticed that in English article usage varies greatly with "dawn", "dusk", "sunset", "sunrise". Often no article is used, because these are abstract nouns.
"We waited for dawn".
"This happened at sunrise."
"Dusk came at 8pm".
Etc.
But articles are also used in many situations.
My 2 questions:
1. "We waited for dawn. (The) dawn finally came 3 hours later."
Do I use the definite article in the second sentence now that dawn has been mentioned? Or not? Or it's up to me?
2. I watched (a) sunrise in New York the other day.
Is the indefinite article correct? Or not? Or up to me? It was one instance of sunrise, so I think "a" is okay. But maybe I can drop it as well?
Thanks!!
Top answer
Juliette1997 1. "We waited for dawn. "Do I use the definite article in the second sentence now that dawn has been mentioned?
- Juliette1997 1.
- "We waited for dawn.
- "Do I use the definite article in the second sentence now that dawn has been mentioned?
- Or not?
- Or it's up to me?
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
4 Answers
0
Juliette19971. "We waited for dawn. (The) dawn finally came 3 hours later."Do I use the definite article in the second sentence now that dawn has been mentioned? Or not? Or it's up to me?You can include or omit the definite article in both sentences, in any combination.
Juliette19972. I watched (a) sunrise in New York the other day.Is
00
0
Juliette1997(The) dawn finally came 3 hours later.Both versions work for me.
Juliette1997I watched (a) sunrise in New York the other day.Both "a" and "the" seem all right, but I much prefer "the". There could only have been one sunrise in New York that day. It's not like you had a choice of which one of several sunrises
00
CJ, thank you for your help as well, this is very helpful!
Best,
J
Best,
J
0
Related Questions