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]

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.

 

[okay19]

for gods sake what kind of teachers r u as not to know the meaning of definite article? if u really dont, question must be what kind of language is this?

 

[Anglika]

for gods sake what kind of teachers r u as not to know the meaning of definite article? if u really dont, question must be what kind of language is this?

You are rather hasty!

We are perfectly aware of the meaning of the definite article.

What we are finding a little difficult is understanding your exact question. Frankly, it really will help both you and us if you use capital letters at the start of sentences, spaces after punctuation, and "I", not "i". Your posts will become much more readable.

The use of articles - whether definite or indefinite - is flexible. There are times when they must be used, usually when something specific is cited:

I went to the shops yesterday
It was a dreadful mistake.

There are times when they are not needed, usually when talking about something in general:

Shops are open all week.
He gets all his information from books.


You could look here for more guidance: https://www.usingenglish.com/glossary/definite-article.html

 

[okay19]

Ok! İ Gİve Up!

 

[timothyb]

From :
http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/Determiners2a.cfm




See number 4.

DEFINITE ARTICLE

THE

Articles in English are invariable. That is, they do not change according to the gender or number of the noun they refer to, e.g. the boy, the woman, the children

'The'is used:
1. to refer to something which has already been mentioned.

Example: An elephant and a mouse fell in love.The mouselovedthe elephant'slong trunk,andthe elephantlovedthe mouse'stiny nose.
​

2. when both the speaker and listener know what is being talked about, even if it has not been mentioned before.

Example: 'Where's the bathroom?'
'It's on the first floor.'
​

3. in sentences or clauses where we define or identify a particular person or object:

Examples: The man who wrote this book is famous.
'Which car did you scratch?' 'The red one.
My house is the one with a blue door.'
​

4. to refer to objects we regard as unique:

Examples: the sun, the moon, the world
​

5. before superlatives and ordinal numbers: (see Adjectives)

Examples: the highest building, the first page, the last chapter.
​

6. with adjectives, to refer to a whole group of people:

Examples: the Japanese (see Nouns - Nationalities), the old
​

7. with names of geographical areas and oceans:

Examples: the Caribbean, the Sahara, the Atlantic
​

8. with decades, or groups of years:
Example: she grew up in the seventies

 

[IvanV]

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.

It's one and only! We use the definite article to refer to objects we regard as unique... :-D:-D:lol:

I'm off to bed...

 

[RonBee]

I am sure you are right , IvanV.

 

[JJM Ballantyne]

It might be useful to remember that there are in fact two definite articles in English just as there are two indefinite articles - and for much the same purpose.

Although spelled the same, there is a the (thuh) used before consonant sounds and a the (thee) used before vowel sounds and sometimes for emphasis:

THE (thuh)

she saw the man walking his dog

THE (thee)

she saw the old man walking his dog

They make THE best chili in Texas!

 

[ScotsMaggie]

The definite article 'the' is used when you are referring to one specific object. In the case of the sun and the moon, we have only one of each, therefore they are always referred to as the sun and the moon.

If you were referring to stars, for example, saying 'the star' would mean you meant one particular star, such as the Star of Bethlehem, or the star of the movie. In both of these cases, there are many other stars, both in the sky and in movies.

I cannot offer an explanation for The Hill Valley. Only the people who gave it that odd name could do that!

 

[David L.]

ok keep your help for yourself!
u anglikans!

Is this to pass with no comment by a moderator?

 

[RonBee]

ok keep your help for yourself!
u anglikans!

Is this to pass with no comment by a moderator?

Actually, I did comment (though not directly). See: https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/58651-please-patient.html

Sometimes the less said about something the better. (There have been numerous questions about the definite article ("the") and numerous responses to those questions.)

~R