definite article!

[okay19]

hi,
i have problems about the usage of definite article!
first one is this sentence:'the discovery of elementary particles'. shouldnt it be like 'the discovery of the elementry particals?' which one is right?
second question is about the word earth.i see this word taking definite article like 'plastic materials buried in the earth' and not taking any article in 'radio waves transmitted from earth'. what is the differance?
any help?
regards;
okay19

[buggles]

An explorer would discover new plants or animals. He wouldn't discover the new plants - that would imply the plants had already been found and he had merely come across them again. Same with "elementary particles".

"....buried in the earth (ground)"
"....transmitted from Earth (the planet)

If "earth" is used it usually means "ground" and needs "the".
If "Earth", it's usually the planet, so doesn't need "the".
We plant seeds in the earth, but we launch rockets into space from Earth.

Hope this helps,

Buggles

[okay19]

what about walking on the water or on water which one is right?
secondly as we say listen to the rain,storm snow etc. we use definite article but it isnot so definite which rain or which storm. why we use definite artical in such stuations?

[Anglika]

Originally Posted by okay19

What about walking on the water or on water - which one is right?

Secondly, as we say listen to the rain, storm, snow etc. we use the definite article but it is not so definite which rain or which storm. Why do we use the definite article in such situations?

The only example of walking on the water that I know is Jesus walking on the Lake of Galilee, so very specifically "the water".

When saying "Listen to the rain" we are talking about the rain that is happening now, which is very specific, not rain in a general sense.

You can omit the article in a sentence like "Do you ever listen to the sound of rain falling?" OR "Rain is forecast for tomorrow" where it is rain in general that is referred to.

[okay19]

thank u for your intrest !
finally can u give me any explanation how we use definite article with the words sun and moon these things r single in the nature but we use the to specify them. i m confused.can u give it by example of both used with definite article and witH out D.A.
by the way,as i know proper names used with definite article quite little but recently i saw such a town name the Hill Valley what is the meaning of the here? i really wonder the meaning of the when they r used with proper names they r already single what kind of spesification is this?
i thank u for your answer already.
regards,
okay19

[Anglika]

Before I try and reply, could you rewrite your query with punctuation, capitalization and sentences? It is really hard to read otherwise.

[okay19]

Sorry if i am not so comprehensible. I know i am so.And that is why i am here:)
Here is my new version hope will be ok.


Thank u for your intrest !
Finally, can you give me any explanation how we use definite article with the words sun and moon. These things are single in nature but we use "the" to specify them.I am confused.Can you give an example that both of these words used with definite article and with out definite article.
By the way,as i know, proper names used with definite article quite little but recently i saw such a town name "The Hill Valley". What is the meaning of "the" here? i really wonder the meaning of "the" when it is used with proper names. Proper names are already single what kind of spesification is this?
I thank you for your answer already.
regards,
okay19

[okay19]

????!

[okay19]

ok keep your help for yourself!
u anglikans!

[RonBee]

I am not sure why we use the definite article ("the") with the sun and the moon. Maybe because it is a particular sun (ours) and a particular moon (ours), but I am not sure.