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Guest Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
The English articles
I am confused by the usage of the English articles in the following examples.
"It is recognition of the compassion's part that leads the upholders of capital punishment to accuse the abolitionists of sentimentality in being more sorry for the murderer than for his victim."
"...who urge the abolition of the death penalty."
Why does "the" not precede "recognition" and "capital punishment",while it precedes "abolition" and "death penalty"?
I appreciate your help.
"It is recognition of the compassion's part that leads the upholders of capital punishment to accuse the abolitionists of sentimentality in being more sorry for the murderer than for his victim."
"...who urge the abolition of the death penalty."
Why does "the" not precede "recognition" and "capital punishment",while it precedes "abolition" and "death penalty"?
I appreciate your help.
Top answer
recognition, capital punishment, abolition, death penalty-- of these four words, only the last, 'death penalty' could be considered a countable noun here, so assumes the article. The other three are more concepts than countable objects, and as such can be more freely treated: If they are being considered generally, as is 'capital punishment', normally no article is used. If they are being considered 'somewhat generally', as with 'recognition' (even though it is specified as that of compassion), an article is not needed.
- recognition, capital punishment, abolition, death penalty-- of these four words, only the last, 'death penalty' could be considered a countable noun here, so assumes the article.
- The other three are more concepts than countable objects, and as such can be more freely treated: If they are being considered generally, as is 'capital punishment', normally no article is used.
- If they are being considered 'somewhat generally', as with 'recognition' (even though it is specified as that of compassion), an article is not needed.
- However, articles are not proscribed, either, and the writer could as easily have written 'the recognition' and 'urge abolition', as you suggest.
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1 Answers
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recognition, capital punishment, abolition, death penalty-- of these four words, only the last, 'death penalty' could be considered a countable noun here, so assumes the article. The other three are more concepts than countable objects, and as such can be more freely treated:
If they are being considered generally, as is 'capital punishment', normally no article is used. If they are be
If they are being considered generally, as is 'capital punishment', normally no article is used. If they are be
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