The children, the mother, the park.

[Rachel Adams]

When describing what you see in a picture which article should be used before these words: "park", "the mother", "the beach", "sea" and "the children"?

"I see a family. The children are skating in the park. The mother is laughing."

And when talking about the sea. "I see a beach in the distance. The man is swimming in the sea."

 

[emsr2d2]

When describing what you see in a picture, which article should be used before these words: "park", "the mother" and "the children"?

"I see a family. The children are skating in the park. The mother is laughing."

You've got the article right before "children" and "mother". I would open with "I see a family in a park".

 

[Rachel Adams]

You've got the article right before "children" and "mother". I would open with "I see a family in a park".

I edited my question and added another sentence. Is "the" required before "mother" and "children" because they are mentioned as "a family" and then they are mentioned again?

 

[emsr2d2]

We generally understand a family to be at least one adult, possibly two, and a couple of kids so saying "I see a family" does, in effect, mention those people. On that basis, the definite article can be used for the members of that family from then on.

In this picture, there's a family of four. The mum is tall and blonde. The dad is short and has one leg. The kids look about 4 years old and are twins.

It doesn't work with your new example about the sea.

I see a beach in the distance. A man is swimming in the sea.

You need to use "A man" because he hasn't been mentioned previously. Use "the sea" for two reasons: "in the sea" is a set phrase, and the fact that you've used "beach" means we already know there's probably a sea involved.

 

[Rachel Adams]

I thought "in the park" is a set phrase too. Even if I know that there is only one park where I live and if I tell my friend about it: "I met my future husband in a park when we were both students." Should I still use "a"? And if I am talking about an airport and there is again only one airport should I still use "a/an"? "She works in an airport." Or it doesn't matter if there is only one airport, park, boulevard," port, etc?

 

[emsr2d2]

You might know there's only one park near where you live but you have to assume that your listener doesn't. If you were telling a friend about meeting your husband, yes, you would have to say "I met him in a park when we were students".

With the airport example, again it depends on whether or not your listener knows which airport you could be referring to. If you both live within a few miles of a particular airport, saying "Helen works at the airport" would be taken to mean the local airport.

Some of the set phrases we've talked about are only set phrases in context. Sometimes, "in the park", "in the sea", "at the shops", "at the pub" etc are set phrases and sometimes they can be altered. It's far too wide a subject to explain in the way this forum works. You are just going to have to continue to read extensively and spot the uses.

 

[GoesStation]

You are just going to have to continue to read extensively and spot the uses.

Time spent reading >> time spent asking for help on this forum.

 

[Rachel Adams]

You might know there's only one park near where you live but you have to assume that your listener doesn't. If you were telling a friend about meeting your husband, yes, you would have to say "I met him in a park when we were students".

With the airport example, again it depends on whether or not your listener knows which airport you could be referring to. If you both live within a few miles of a particular airport, saying "Helen works at the airport" would be taken to mean the local airport.

Some of the set phrases we've talked about are only set phrases in context. Sometimes, "in the park", "in the sea", "at the shops", "at the pub" etc are set phrases and sometimes they can be altered. It's far too wide a subject to explain in the way this forum works. You are just going to have to continue to read extensively and spot the uses.

Is "In the ocean" used in the same way as "the sea" in my example? I am not sure my intuition is right, but I would use "in the sea" but "in a river/lake".
"I see a beach in the distance. A man is swimming in the ocean."