Articles in the noun group

There are a number of situations when it is possible or necessary to leave out articles in front of nouns or adjectives which normally would have them. This is not the same as having a zero article; it is usually possible to compare these examples with sentences where either a definite or an indefinite article is used. Articles can be left out:

Ø when two nouns (or adjectives), both acting as head of a noun group, are joined together with ‘and’ or ‘or’; the second head can be without its article. This happens with both the definite and the indefinite article.

· They had enhanced the reliability and quality of radio reception.

· ...a coffee cup and saucer.

· You can order traveller’s cheques through a local bank or travel agent.

You don’t have to leave out the second article; you can say ‘a coffee cup and a saucer’. But if you do leave it out, the two nouns must be closely related in meaning; you couldn’t say ‘There was a matchbox and jacket on the table’.

Ø in language which has to be shortened for reasons of space, such as telegrams, instructions, notes and newspaper headlines; a telegram message like ‘Send report immediately’ would mean ‘Send the report immediately’ or ‘Send a report immediately’ Here is a typical newspaper headline:

· Ukraine divisions deepened by Party's failure to condemn coup.

This could be read as ‘The divisions in (the) Ukraine have been deepened by the Party’s failure to condemn the coup’. As уоu can see, it is not only articles which are left out in this way.

Ø when nouns referring to two contrasting people or things are joined by ‘and’. Note that in this case both nouns have a zero article:

· The independent allowances for husband and wife will both be available.

· ...the natural relationship between father and son.

· ...as the distinctions between employer and employee are gradually eroded.

· There was a pause, and doctor and patient looked steadily at each other across the quiet room.

· ...with little gardens between river and road.

Ø in introductory phrases like ‘Fact is …’, ‘Thing is…’, ‘Trouble is…’, ‘Truth is…’: Fact is, it’s getting serious. This use is informal and occurs mainly in spoken English. These can all be matched to normal expressions beginning with the definite article: ‘The fact is …’ and so on.

Ø with countable nouns which are being used to address a person or animal (vocatives): Good grief, man, what are you doing here?

Exercise 1. The sentences below are correct as they are. However, some of the underlined articles can be left out. Put a ring around these optional articles.

1. It was a small family bakery owned by a husband and a wife. (S. Sheldon)

2. In some cases you can use a definite or an indefinite article.

3. It’s cold outside. Take a hat and a coat with you.

4. A man and a woman alone will inevitably engage in sexual intercourse. (H. Fielding)

5. We bought a television and a vacuum cleaner.

6. Storms affected the north and the west of the country.

7. He has a brother and a sister.

8. The mother and the baby are doing well.

9. We ought to clear up this mess. Give me a dustpan and a brush.

10. The path led across the hills and the valleys of the county.

11. We’ll need a knife and a fork to eat that.

12. This will affect the normal relationship between a husband and a wife.

13. Max stood near the door, and as a man and a woman approached him, he stepped in front of the woman. (S. Sheldon)

14. Instantly the husband and the wife were tense with annoyance.

15. They think we live together at Manderley as a husband and a wife, don’t they? (D. du Maurier)

16. Such readers as only like the plot and the dialogue can then skip every other chapter. (J. Steinbeck)

17. Thankfully, it has turned out all right for the mother and the baby.

18. This broadly relates to communications between the lawyer and the client.

19. When you go on holiday, take a raincoat and a camera.

Date: 2015-12-24; view: 1072