Theme : The Stylistic power of the Noun

2.2.The usage of article with nouns
Class nouns are used with the definite article:1. When the noun denotes an object or objects which the speaker singles out from all the objects of a given class. An object is singled out in the following cases:

1. 
   when the speaker and the hearer know what particular object is meant. No special indication is necessary. How did you like the play? I have got the magazine. N о t e. — It should be borne in mind that there is a difference between knowing what object is spoken about and knowing the object itself[8;70].
   
2. 
   When an object is singled out from all the objects of a given class the definite article retains its demonstrative meaning, and the English use the definite article much oftener than the demonstrative pronouns this or that. Thus the Russian sentence Дайте мне эту книгу should be rendered in English by Let me have the book. As a rule the definite article is not translated into Russian. However, there are cases when it must be rendered by этот. You told me before you wished to be a governess; but, my dear, if you remember, I did not encourage the idea. (Ch. Bronte) ...я не одобрила эту мысль[9;5].
   

2. When the noun denotes a thing unique (the sun, the moon, the universe) or a class. The sun was getting warmer. (Abrahams) The indefinite article can be used when we mean a certain aspect in which the sun, moon and sky appear to us, a certain state of the sun, the moon, the sky. In this case an attribute is used. A pearl-white moon smiles through the green trees. (Ch. Bronte)
3. With nouns used in a generic sense. A noun used in a generic sense denotes a genus taken as a whole, a thing taken as a type, a genre. The tiger has always had the reputation of being a man-eater. The telephone was invented in the 19th century. The tragedy and the comedy first appeared in Greece. When the noun man is used in a generic sense no article is used. When the noun woman is used in a generic sense it is used with the definite article or occasionally without an article. He had always been interested, in that mysterious being — the woman. A noun use in a generic sense should not be confused with a noun used in a general sense. A noun used in a general sense denotes an object regarded as an individual representative of a class. A detective story helps to while away the time.(Every or any detective story is meant here.) A noun in a generic sense denotes the whole class. Conan Doyle is a master of the detective story.
(The detective story is regarded here as a certain genre.
The definite article is used:(1) with nouns modified by adjectives in the superlative degree. Miss Tox had the 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 of the 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 with the same courteous and positive refusal[10;567].
I do wish we had not opened the door of the wrong room. (Jerome)
“Ah! Mr. Burton!” exclaimed the Director, “the very person I wanted.”(Voynich)
«...именно тот (как раз тот) человек, который мне нужен».
Signora Grassini hated Gemma for the very expression of her face.
Синьора Грассини ненавидела Джемму за самое выражение ее лица.
(4) with substantivized adjectives and participles.
Only the simple and the humble were abroad at that early hour. (Bennett)
Grey conveyed some of his love of the beautiful to Cowperwood. (Dreiser)
The listeners noted something beyond the usual in his voice. (Galsworthy)
N o t e. — With countable abstract nouns the use of the articles is the same as
with class nouns. It is a capital idea if only one could carry it out. (Voynich)
Use of articles with proper nouns
• Articles never come with the names of any person or place.
Example: Ram was an obedient son.
Exceptions:
In the following cases, article A/An is used before proper nouns. (Read Articles A, an, the uses complete concept.)
Example: A Mr. Saini has come to meet you. When a person or place is mentioned in a sentence for comparative purpose, ‘the’ comes before that proper noun[11;88].
Example: He is the Shyam of modern India.
‘The’ comes before the names of a few places.
Example:The Great Britain, The Netherlands, The Hague.
• ‘The’ does not come with the names of States. Exception – ‘The Punjab’.
• ‘The’ is not used with the name of any country.
Example: America, Russia, China etc.
However, If ‘Union’, United’, Republic’ or ‘Kingdom’ comes with the names of the country, ‘the’ is used. Example: The U.S.A., The Soviet Union, The Irish Republic.
• ‘The’ comes before the names of mountain ranges.
Example: ‘The Himalayas’, ‘The Alps’.
‘The’ doesn’t come before the names of the mountain peaks.
Example: Mt. Everest, Mt. Abu.
• ‘The’ Comes before ‘nationality’ but not with the name of any ‘language’.
Example: The English speak English. The English defeated the French.
• Article does not come before the name of any disease.
Exceptions: The Measles, The Rickets, The Mumps, The plague, The Flu.
When we use the with proper nouns?
Here, we have a list of 25 Examples[11;101].
1. Names of Rivers: The Yamuna, The Ganga, The Godawari, The Sutlej.
2. Names of Seas: The Arabian sea, The Caribbean sea.
3. Names of Oceans: The Indian Ocean, The Pacific Ocean, The Atlantic Ocean.
4. Names of Group of islands: The Lakshadweep, The Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
5. Names of Heavenly Objects: The Sun, The Venus,
6. Names of Bays: The Bay of Bengal.
7. Names of Deserts: The Sahara Desert.
8. Names of Canals: The Suez Canal.
9. Names of Newspaper: The Hindu, The Times of India.
10. Names of Movements: The Quit India Movement.
11. Names of Union: The U.N.
12. Names of Airways/Trains: The Jet Airways, The Intercity, The Rajdhani Express[12;67].
13. Names of Political Parties: The BJP, The congress.
14. Names of Statutes / Acts: The Indian Penal code, The Legislature.
15. Names of Religion: The Hindu, The Muslims, The Sikhs.
16. Names of Inventions: The telescope, The telephone.
17. Names of any Clubs: The Lions Club,
18. Names of Dynasty: The Marathas, The Peshwas
19. Names of body parts: Only when a possessive adjective is replaced by any article otherwise article don’t come before parts of the body. (Example: He was wounded in his/ the eye.)
20. Dates: The 15th of May.
21. Army/Police: The Army, The Police.
22. Names of Planets: The Venus, The Mars.
23. Names of hotels: The Taj Hotel.
24. Names of Era, Revolutions & Wars: The Middle Ages, The French Revolution.
25. Names of Things that are unique: The world, The universe, The environment. The atmosphere.
• Before the names of holy books: The Gita, The Bible.
• Before the names of monuments: The Taj Mahal, The Red fort.
Note: ‘The’ does not come before the names of buildings, monuments, and sacred Books if the name comprises two or more words out of which one is the name of a person or place[17;69].
Example: Delhi Airport, Victoria Place, London Zoo, Jai Singh Palace, indira Gandhi Airport, Valmikis’s Ramanayan, Banabhatta’s Kadmbiri.
• Names of movements: The Quit India Movement.
• Names of Posts: The Chairman, The director
Here A/an can also be used before the names of the posts if we are talking about one out of many similar posts.
Example: She is a director of the company.
• If an object is already known to both the speaker and the listener, article ‘The’ is used before it[12;72].
Example:
1. Kindly return the book (That I gave you)
2. Can you turn off the light. (The light in the room)
• If an article comes before a singular common noun, it can represents the entire species.
Example: A dog is a faithful animal.
Note: Man doesn’t come under this rule because the word ‘man’ means a human being.
Example: Man is mortal.
• When we talk about a personality present inside a person, article comes with the name of that personality.
Example:
1. The judge (moral of judge) in him, prevailed upon the father (Love of father for his son) and he sentenced his son to death.
2. A mother (feelings of motherhood) was born in her when she saw the baby.
• If Schools, colleges, Temple are denoted in reference to their primary purpose, article is not used.