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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

definite article?

On this day in History, East Germany begins construction of the Berlin Wall on Aug 12, 1961.

Why is there no definite artcile before "construction"? Would the meaning of the sentence change if I added it?
  

Top answer

Anonymous Why is there no definite artcile before "construction"? it is uncountable. Anonymous Would the meaning of the sentence change if I added it?

— Mister Micawber

  • Anonymous Why is there no definite artcile before "construction"?
  • it is uncountable.
  • Anonymous Would the meaning of the sentence change if I added it?
  • No.
  • 'History' should not be capitalized.
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4 Answers
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AnonymousWhy is there no definite artcile before "construction"?
it is uncountable.
AnonymousWould the meaning of the sentence change if I added it?
No.

'History' should not be capitalized.
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Mister Micawber[Why ... no definite artcile before "construction"?] ... it is uncountable.
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CalifJim It seems like the right answer to a different question
Right you are. I'm often like that when I first get up in the morning. So what's the answer? It's just unnecessary?
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Mister MicawberSo what's the answer?
I was afraid someone would ask that.

To my ear it sounds like journalistic, almost "telegraphic", style ("this day in history"), in which articles are treated rather cavalierly. Even slightly more formally, "the" would most likely be used. My (unproven) guess is that "the" + deverbal + "of" rarely omits "the".
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