Articles

Question 1

Member of the group

Answer 1

Remember, too, that in English, the indefinite articles are used to indicate membership in a group:

Question 2

Count and Noncount Nouns

Answer 2

The can be used with noncount nouns, or the article can be omitted entirely.

“I love to sail over the water” (some specific body of water) or “I love to sail over water” (any water).
“He spilled the milk all over the floor” (some specific milk, perhaps the milk you bought earlier that day) or “He spilled milk all over the floor” (any milk).
“A/an” can be used only with count nouns.

“I need a bottle of water.”
“I need a new glass of milk.”
Most of the time, you can’t say, “She wants a water,” unless you’re implying, say, a bottle of water.

Question 3

Countries

Answer 3

names of most countries/territories: Italy, Mexico, Bolivia; however, the Netherlands, the Dominican Republic, the Philippines, the United States

Question 4

Cities

Answer 4

names of cities, towns, or states: Seoul, Manitoba, Miami

Question 5

Streets

Answer 5

names of streets: Washington Blvd., Main St.

Question 6

Lakes

Answer 6

names of lakes and bays: Lake Titicaca, Lake Erie except with a group of lakes like the Great Lakes

Question 7

Mountains

Answer 7

names of mountains: Mount Everest, Mount Fuji except with ranges of mountains like the Andes or the Rockies or unusual names like the Matterhorn

Question 8

Continents

Answer 8

names of continents (Asia, Europe)

Question 9

Islands

Answer 9

names of islands (Easter Island, Maui, Key West) except with island chains like the Aleutians, the Hebrides, or the Canary Islands

Question 10

Rivers

Answer 10

names of rivers, oceans and seas: the Nile, the Pacific

Question 11

Globe

Answer 11

points on the globe: the Equator, the North Pole

Question 12

Geographical areas

Answer 12

geographical areas: the Middle East, the West

Question 13

Deserts

Answer 13

deserts, forests, gulfs, and peninsulas: the Sahara, the Persian Gulf, the Black Forest, the Iberian Peninsula

Question 14

Languages and nationalities

Answer 14

Names of languages and nationalities: Chinese, English, Spanish, Russian (unless you are referring to the population of the nation: “The Spanish are known for their warm hospitality.”)

Question 15

Sports

Answer 15

Names of sports: volleyball, hockey, baseball

Question 16

Academic subjects

Answer 16

Names of academic subjects: mathematics, biology, history, computer science

Question 17

Seasons

Answer 17

They are also used with the article (definite/indefinite) according to the general rule.
a/an: 1. When they are modified by a descriptive attribute. E.g. It was a bitter, cold winter with long, hard frosts.
2. When we mean “one of many” (= какой-то, один из…) E.g. Robinson Crusoe found his servant on a Friday.
Note: a/an is not used with names of seasons modified by “early” and “late”. E.g. It was ∅ early spring.
the: 1. When they are modified by a particularizing attribute. E.g. The summer of 1980 was unusually cold. I recollect the Monday we met.
2. When the situation makes them definite (= “this” / “that”) E.g. In March came the first break in the winter.