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Believer Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

Why suddenly an article?

Hi,

Whenever I see sentences with the word "class" or for that matter "school," instinctively (automatically) I am thinking of putting no article unless it deviates from the normal usage. How about this? How an inclusion of one more adjective that is secondary or college make the difference as it did?

in English classs

in a secondary/college English class

How about this? Can they be like these too?

... showed as an athlete in grade school.

... showed as an athlete in a secondary grade school.
  

Top answer

Hi Believer, In general, you don't use an article when the following noun is used in a general sense . For example: Prices have rocketed (general sense) But: The prices of these articles have risen sharply. , no article is used when you refer to the use .

— Vince

  • Hi Believer, In general, you don't use an article when the following noun is used in a general sense .
  • For example: Prices have rocketed (general sense) But: The prices of these articles have risen sharply.
  • , no article is used when you refer to the use .
  • 30 She goes to university He was taken to hospital In your example, a 'grade school' is still a general sense, while 'secondary' makes it specific.
  • This is quite complex because now two rules contradict: you do refer to the use of, but you are talking about something in specific.
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1 Answers
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Hi Believer,

In general, you don't use an article when the following noun is used in a general sense.
For example:

  • Prices have rocketed (general sense)
    But: The prices of these articles have risen sharply. (not used in a general sense)
When you talk about words like 'school', 'church', etc., no article is used when you refer to the use
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