Verona_82
Senior Member
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2010
- Member Type
- Other
- Native Language
- Russian
- Home Country
- Russian Federation
- Current Location
- Ukraine
Hello,
Struggling with the arcticles, I'm close to admitting defeat. I'd very much appreciate it if anyboby could explain the usage of the articles in the sentences below
1. The rivers of Britain are short. (There is no context. This is a sentence from an exercise book. There're lots of rivers in Britain, why 'the'?)
2. Rivers in Britain are short. (I see almost no difference if compared to N1. Just rivers in Britain; it's not important to identify which. Or should the sentence begin with 'the rivers'?)
3. John has a wife, a son and three daughters. So, John is the head of a big family. (here 'a big family' acts as a category, I understand that. But is it also okay to say "the head of the big family' - his family?)
It's almost incomprehensible.
I'd be very grateful for help.
Struggling with the arcticles, I'm close to admitting defeat. I'd very much appreciate it if anyboby could explain the usage of the articles in the sentences below
1. The rivers of Britain are short. (There is no context. This is a sentence from an exercise book. There're lots of rivers in Britain, why 'the'?)
2. Rivers in Britain are short. (I see almost no difference if compared to N1. Just rivers in Britain; it's not important to identify which. Or should the sentence begin with 'the rivers'?)
3. John has a wife, a son and three daughters. So, John is the head of a big family. (here 'a big family' acts as a category, I understand that. But is it also okay to say "the head of the big family' - his family?)
It's almost incomprehensible.
I'd be very grateful for help.