I have a question about articles

Question

''The extinction of the dinosaurs is still a matter of debate in the scientific community.''

in the sentence above I dont understand why' scientific community' takes 'the' instead of zero article

I will be very happy if somebody could explain this....

Arvsworld · Accepted Answer

"Scientific community" has the article the before it because it is a collective noun.

The extinction of the dinosaurs is still a matter of debate in the scientific community.

The use of monosodium glutamate is still a sensitive topic in the culinary arts.

Damlasozer · Answer

Thank for your interest.So you say in collective nouns we always use the article do you?Can you give me a few more collective noun names...

Arvsworld · Answer

You would use the, an or a depending on the noun.

A murder of crows

An army of ants

The International Olympic Committee

The World Health Organization

The music industry

Here's a nice reference: http://www.edufind.com/ENGLISH/grammar/Determiners2a.cfm

Damlasozer · Answer

thanks again Arvsworld  I glanced over it<img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

Believer · Answer

Thank you.

Can you give me some examples of sentences with collective nouns that take no articles?

Does this sentence look natural withthout the article? Are the usual rules of grammar in regard to articles still applicable for collective nouns? I think i saw it from somewhere that some collective nouns usually carry the in front.

The extinction of the dinasaurs is still a matter of debate in scientific community.

Damlasozer · Answer

Clive · Answer

Hi guys,

''The extinction of the dinosaurs is still a matter of debate in the scientific community.''

in the sentence above I dont understand why' scientific community' takes 'the' instead of zero article

I will be very happy if somebody could explain this....

I'd like to offer another opinion.

I'm dubious about trying to explain this in terms of collective nouns. I would simply say that there are many communities (eg artistic, sporting, scientific, literary) and the writer of the sentence is making a specific reference to the scientific community, hence the definite article.

It's the same as saying 'The cat sat on the blue chair' (eg not the green chair, not the red chair, etc.) I'm making a specific reference to the blue chair, hence the definite article.

You wouldn't say '. . . in scientific community' for the same reason that you wouldn't say 'The cat sat on blue chair'.

Best wishes, Clive

Anonymous · Answer

I agree that "scientific community" requires "the", because it is one specific community among many. But I don't think an article is necessary with "dinosaurs" in that sentance: "The extinction of dinosaurs is still a matter of debate in the scientific community." It's optional.

Damlasozer · Answer

hi CLIVE thanks, you must be right on explanation about it.I think its logical.and ANONYMOUS you are right too.I think dinosaurs cant take the.it must be about generic nouns I dont have enough knowledge about generic nouns.if there is somebody know could explain this part too???<img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/38.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/38.gif' alt='Emotion: rolleyes'/>

CalifJim · Answer

I dont understand why' scientific community' takes 'the' instead of zero article

Think about this: community is a singular noun. Other than proper nouns, what singular nouns can take the zero article?

CJ

I have a question about articles

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions