Additional notes on the use of the definite article

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ADDITIONAL NOTES ON THE USE OF THE DEFINITE ARTICLE

The definite article is used:

(1)with nouns modified by adjectives in the superlative degree.

Miss Tox hadthe softest voice that ever was heard. (Dickens)

(2)with nouns in word-groups the first component of which is some, many, none, most and the second a noun with the preposition of.

Most ofthe gentlemen looked both angry and uncomfortable. (Voynich)

(3)with nouns modified by the pronoun same and the adjectives wrong (не тот), right (тот), very (именно тот, тот самый).

То all invitations he replied withthe same courteous and positive refusal. (Voynich)

I do wish we had not opened the door ofthe wrong room. (Je­rome)

"Ah! Mr. Burton!" exclaimed the Director,"the very personIwanted." (Voynich) — «... именно тот (как раз тот) человек, который мне нужен».

Signora Grassini hated Gemma forthe very expression of her face. — Синьора Грассини ненавидела Джемму за самое выражение ее лица.

(4)with substantivized adjectives and participles.

Onlythe simple andthe humble were abroad at that early hour. (Bennett)

Grey conveyed some of his love ofthe beautiful to Cowperwood. (Dreiser)

The listeners noted something beyondthe usual in his voice. (Galsworthy)

Note. With countable abstract nouns the use of the articles is the same as with class nouns.

It isa capital idea if only one could carry it out. (Voynich)

§ 4. The use of articles with class nouns modified by attributes.

The definite article is used when a noun is modified by an attri­bute which shows that a particular object is meant, i. e. by an attribute which might be called a particularizing attribute. Aparticularizing attribute is used to single out an object from all the objects of the class, to point out one particular object or group of objects. The use of a particularizing attribute implies the idea of 'тот, который'; 'именно тот, этот'.

A particularizing attribute can be expressed by an of-phrase or an attributive clause. It is always used in post-position.

He knocked atthe door of a very neat house. (Marryat)

The letters that I have here have come to me quite by accident. (Dreiser)

A particularizing attribute should not be confused with a descrip­tive attribute.

Adescriptive attribute is used to describe an object or to give some additional information about it.

In a fortnight I gota long letter, which I considered odd. (E. Bronte)

The post on her left was occupied by Mr. Erskine of Treadley,anold gentleman of considerable charm and culture. (Wilde)

The use of a descriptive attribute does not affect the use of the article. The same articles would be used if there were no attribute whatever.

One day in January he called at the seminary to returna book which he had borrowed. (Voynich)

I have just spoken tothe woman, who seems to have changed her mind. (Bennett)

They went side by side, hand in hand, silently towardthe hedge, where the May flower, both pink and white, was in full bloom. (Galsworthy)

In the first example the indefinite article is used with the noun book because the object denoted by it is presented as belonging to a class. The noun woman is used with the definite article because the speaker and the hearer know what particular person is meant. The noun hedge is used with the definite article because the situation makes the object definite.

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