Definite article versus zero article
My students, whose native language does not have articles, struggle with them. For my advanced students, the choice between 'the' and '-' is especially vexing. I have been trying find a pattern so they do not have to learn each word individually. Currently, we are talking about inventions.
the wheel
the plow/plough
the car
the telegraph
the sword
the bow and arrow
farming
telegraphy
agriculture
language
speech
speaking
warfare
the/- t.v.
th/- radio
It seems that activities generally take zero and objects 'the' - but we have run into some exceptions. Does any-one have any ideas?
Top answer
oneota It seems that activities generally take zero and objects 'the' Otherwise stated, uncountable nouns (activities, abstractions, non-objects) generally take the zero article and countable nouns (objects) take 'the' when used generically (as inventions). The reason 'television' and 'radio' allow both is that those words are used for both the object and the abstraction (for methods of communication). ] CJ
- oneota It seems that activities generally take zero and objects 'the' Otherwise stated, uncountable nouns (activities, abstractions, non-objects) generally take the zero article and countable nouns (objects) take 'the' when used generically (as inventions).
- The reason 'television' and 'radio' allow both is that those words are used for both the object and the abstraction (for methods of communication).
- ] CJ
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oneotaIt seems that activities generally take zero and objects 'the'
Otherwise stated, uncountable nouns (activities, abstractions, non-objects) generally take the zero article and countable nouns (objects) take 'the' when used generically (as inventions).
The reason 'television' and 'radio' allow both is that those words are used for both the object
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