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Hela Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

use of the definite article

Hello,

Would you please tell me if this sentence is correct? If it is, could you please tell me why we use the definite article before the uncountable noun "art" here?

The main exhibitions at the fair were the art.

Thank you for your help.
  

Top answer

g. "I like the sculptures in the gallery, but the art is not to my taste". However, your sentence feels awkward.

— GPY

  • g.
  • "I like the sculptures in the gallery, but the art is not to my taste".
  • However, your sentence feels awkward.
  • If "the art" is meant to refer to some art works already mentioned, then you could say "The exhibitions at the fair consisted mostly of this art", for example.
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5 Answers
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"the art" is OK in itself, meaning certain specific art works identified within a context, e.g. "I like the sculptures in the gallery, but the art is not to my taste". However, your sentence feels awkward. If "the art" is meant to refer to some art works already mentioned, then you could say "The exhibitions at the fair consisted mostly of this art", for example.
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Good evening, GPY

It is not my sentence but one I found in a grammar exercise which was not dealing with articles. I didn't understand its meaning for that matter. Do you think that if we say "The main exhibitions at the fair were art" or "The main exhibitions at the fair were the arts" it would improve anything?
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HelaDo you think that if we say "The main exhibitions at the fair were art" or "The main exhibitions at the fair were the arts" it would improve anything?
These don't sound good to me either. At the expense of repeating a word, you could say "The main exhibitions at the fair were (the) art exhibitions."
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Good morning, GPY

Is it also possible to say: "The main exhibitions at the fair were about the arts OR about art"?

Have nice day.
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HelaIs it also possible to say: "The main exhibitions at the fair were about the arts OR about art"?
Yes. "about art" would likely be understood to refer to the kind of art that you put in a frame and hang on the wall. "about the arts" is more general; "the arts" being creative endeavours contrasted with sciences, say.

Note that an exhibition about
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