english articles

[sebayanpendam]

Hi,

When we begin a sentence with 'titles' like 'teamwork', facebook etc, do we need to put 'a' before them?

For example,

(A) Facebook is popular today among youngsters.'

(A)Teamwork is very important.

It is called as (a) group work.

thanks.

 

[bhaisahab]

Hi,

When we begin a sentence with 'titles' like 'teamwork', facebook etc, do we need to put 'a' before them?

For example,

(A) Facebook is popular today among youngsters.'

(A)Teamwork is very important.

It is called as (a) group work.

thanks.

No, if you put the indefinite article in front of "Facebook", you are implying that there are several "Facebooks" and one of them is popular. "Teamwork" is uncountable and doesn't take an article.

 

[sebayanpendam]

No, if you put the indefinite article in front of "Facebook", you are implying that there are several "Facebooks" and one of them is popular. "Teamwork" is uncountable and doesn't take an article.

Thanks for the reply.

Could you explain the indefinite article + 'Facebook' a bit more, please? I heard some people say "I have a facebook". Why not 'the Facebook' like the horse has four legs or horses have four legs.

Sorry if my questions bother you.

Thanks.

 

[emsr2d2]

Thanks for the reply.

Could you explain the indefinite article + 'Facebook' a bit more, please? I heard some people say "I have a facebook". Why not 'the Facebook' like the horse has four legs or horses have four legs.

Sorry if my questions bother you.

Thanks.

What people should be saying is "I am on Facebook" or "I have a Facebook page", or even "I have Facebook". In the second example, you need to use the indefinite article because you are talking about "a page". However, as the previous responder said, there is only one Facebook, therefore you would not use "a Facebook". Whoever you have heard saying "I have a Facebook" may be using it colloquially but it is not grammatically correct.

 

[sebayanpendam]

Hi,

When you mention about only Facebook being the one and only, is it not the same like the sun and internet. Both require 'the' to precede them, right? What about Facebook? Does it not require 'the' simply because it is like a proper name such as Daniel or something?

Thanks.

 

[bhaisahab]

Hi,

Does it not require 'the' simply because it is like a proper name such as Daniel or something?

Thanks.

Yes, that's right.

 

[emsr2d2]

Hi,

When you mention about only Facebook being the one and only, is it not the same like the sun and internet. Both require 'the' to precede them, right? What about Facebook? Does it not require 'the' simply because it is like a proper name such as Daniel or something?

Thanks.

Facebook is, indeed, a proper noun. The sun and the internet are not, they do not require a capital letter and therefore can take a definite article.