The use of articles with uncountable abstract nouns

1. As a general rule, uncountable abstract nouns are used without any article. The absence of the article has the nominating meaning:

Indifference and pride look very much alike, and he probably thought I was proud.

I knew that generosity would have been wasted on him.

2. The definite article is used with uncountable nouns when they are modified by a particularizing attri­bute or when the situation makes the idea definite. The definite article is used here to denote a particular instance of the notion expressed by the noun. In this case the meaning of the article is restricting:

He was in a state of the greatest excitement.

They were surprised at the curious silence into which he had fallen.

It was very still in the house. Suddenly a faint sound could be heard in the stillness.

3. The definite article is also found with substantivized adjectives denoting abstract notions: the ordinary, the average, the beautiful, the unusual, the supernatural, the extravagant, the unknown, the regrettable, the normal, the grotesque, the unbearable, etc.:

" You shouldn't think you're something out of the ordinary, "she said.

"Do you believe in the supernatural?" he asked.

To this group also belong nouns always used with the definite article as the present, the past, the future, the singular, the plural:

He is certain nothing will happen in the near future.

He told strange stories of the past.

Note. Mark the difference in meaning between the expressions in future (надалі), i.e. from this time on, and in the future (у майбутньому), i.e. after a certain period of time passes. A future is possible when this noun is the focus of communication.

I hope in future you’ll be more careful.

Everybody knew an enviable position awaited him in the future.

It was an uncertain future, but she had nobody else to turn to for help.

4. Abstract nouns can be used with the indefinite article. In this case the abstract noun denotes a certain kind (відтінок) of a quality, feeling, state, etc. The noun nearly always has a descriptive attribute. The meaning of the indefinite article is called aspective:

A dull anger rose in his chest.

There seemed to be a wonderful excitement everywhere in the world.

There was a tenderness in his voice that moved her.

After a time a loneliness fell upon the two men.

There was a bitterness in her voice.

"A loneliness " means “a certain loneliness” and " a bitterness " means “a certain bitterness” here.

5. Sometimes an uncountable abstract noun is used with an at­tribute and yet has no article. In some cases the attribute does not bring out a special aspect of the notion expressed by the noun. The attribute may express:

· degree or extent (great, perfect, suf­ficient, huge, tremendous, immense, sheer, utter, complete, infinite, endless, major and some others): immense joy, sheer foolishness

· time and historical periods (modern, ancient, im­pending, eternal, daily, contemporary, further, final, original ): modern art, further discussion, ancient history

· national­ity (English, French, etc.): Italian music, French poetry

· position or locality (London, world,outside, inner, local, internal, etc. ): inner vision, inside information

· authenticity or reliability (real, genuine, authentic, symbolic, true, solid, false and some oth­ers): real freedom, true friendship

· social characteristic (Soviet, bour­geois, capitalist, racial, religious, etc.): racial segregation, feudal law

· genres or trends in art (dramatic, theatrical, classical, romantic, detective, etc.): romantic prose, detective literature

· man’s social and spiritual life (social, public, political, intellectual, spiritual, moral, mental, reasonable, personal, etc.): public recognition, human philosophy

· man’s manner or behaviour (polite, formal, nervous, serious, etc.): nervous attitude, formal behaviour

· recurrent or going on without stopping phenomena (continual, continuous, constant, incessant, etc.): incessant talk, constant displeasure

· there are also some other adjectives of different meaning (good, bad, free, critical, ordinary, plain, human, etc.): ordinary honesty, human psychology

As these attributes do not express a special aspect, the nouns modified by them are used without any article:

I have perfect confidence in him.

She has great experience in her work.

I'm sure your work will give you complete satisfaction.

They talked about modern poetry.

It's three o'clock by Kyiv time.

Ron was particularly interested in ancient sculpture.

Note. The definite article is used with the combinations French poetry, modern art, American literature, German philosophy if there is a descriptive attribute, as in the French poetry of the 19-th century.

6. Some nouns are never used with the indefinite article. They are nouns of verbal character denoting actions, activity, and process, such as advice, assistance, admiration, guidance, permission, progress, recognition, research, torture, work, information, approval, concern, trade ( торгівля ) and some others.

This rule applies also to the following nouns: weather, money, news, luck, fun, nature, health, nonsense, evidence, bliss, breeding, cunning and some others.

I am not sure whether it is good news or bad.

He was anxiously waiting for permission to begin his experiment.

As I knew, Mr March always expressed gloomy concern if one of his children had a sore throat.

He felt honest admiration for his colleague.

She was making great progress.

They promised Jackson further assistance.

Note. Although the above mentioned nouns are never used with the indefinite article, they can be used with the definite article:

He told me of the progress he was making.

The news was so upsetting that she said she would not see anyone that night.

What is the weather like today?

7. The nouns pity, shame, disgrace, pleasure, relief, comfort, disappointment are always used with the indefinite article in the following constructions:

· in sentences with the formal it as subject when they are used as predicative of the main clause: It’s a pity. It’s a shame.

· in exclamatory sentences after what: What a disgrace!

Practice

Exercise 1. Explain the use or the absence of the article before the nouns in bold type.

1. Andrew was the first to break the silence. 2. There was silence for a few moments. 3. There was a silence; Edward forgot all that he wished to say. 4. There was a reflective silence. 5. They walked a few more yards in silence. For more minutes there was again the silence of the open. 6. The silence in the room was oppressive. It was a silence that was alive. 7. Light was coming into the cellar from somewhere. With light there had returned hope. 8. Soon he saw a light in the distance and understood that he was on the right track. 9. He turned the handle and was in the room before he was seen. The light was shaded; his mother was sitting on the far side of the bed. 10. After a time, when they had walked a short distance and returned, they sat down beside a timber which they found half buried in the sand. 11. He looked up at Rita with a grin. "Have I ever told you about the time I worked on the Northern Pacific?" 12. Asking Dave to talk about Spain was time wasted. 13. Quiet settled over the little community of Stilleveld, a quiet that was in tune with the stillness of the night.

Exercise 2. Insert appropriate articles where necessary.

1. ____ dampness of this part of the country disagreed with the travellers. 2. ____ dampness in the air is called humidity. 3. There always was ____certain dampness about the room. The ceiling and walls were covered with wet patches. 4. She gazed steadily out of the window, with her back to the room, and ____ prolonged silence set in. 5. The breakfast proceeded in____ silence with nobody daring to look up from the plate. 6. ____ silence grew oppressive. 7. After all these hours of excitement and nervous strain they all relapsed into ____ silence of fatigue. 8. ____ greyish light came through the small window in the garret. 9. Hours passed. He could only see ____ faint light of the night through the dirty window. 10. No sooner had the nurse drawn the curtains aside when ____ light flooded the room. 11. When it had grown dark in the hall, the servant brought in ____ light. 12. Somebody asked for ____ light and I heard a match strike. 13. What ____ pleasure to see you again! 14. You will read the book with ____ pleasure. 15. I'm looking forward to____ pleasure of entertaining you and your wife. 16. He was silent for____ time and drew thoughtfully at the pipe. 17. He was silent all____ time. 18. ____ time flies when one is happy and creeps when one is in ____grief.

Exercise 3. Supply “a” where necessary. Remember that some nouns which are derived from verbs may have both a countable and an uncountable use. The uncountable word refers to the act itself and the countable word refers to the concrete product or the result of the act.

1. The electric light was _____ important invention. 2. _____ necessity is the mother of _____ invention. 3. That painting is _____ possession he dearly prized. 4. Meeting you has been _____ great pleasure. 5. Their landlord always gives them _____ receipt for the rent. 6. _____ growth and _____ maturation are important processes of _____ life. 7. Everyone would like to be free from _____ pain. 8. She told the doctor she had _____ pain in her back. 9. _____ variety is the spice of _____ life. 10. The salesman showed her _____ variety of shoes. 11. The Stoics felt we would calmly accept our fate without expressing _____ grief or _____ joy. 12. She checked with the doctor about _____ tiny growth on her chin. 13. The doctor told him he might need _____ operation on his leg. 14. Everyone who admires _____ democracy would like to live in _____ democracy. 15. The child learns through _____ imitation. 16. This picture is _____ good imitation.

Exercise 4. Use “a” or “the” with the abstract nouns. Remember that “a” means “a kind of” and has general reference and that “the” has specific reference.

1. He has _____ simplicity which is seldom met with these days. 2. They live in _____ atmosphere of never-ceasing anxiety. 3. _____ atmosphere he creates in his novels is of never-ceasing anxiety. 4. She enjoys _____ popularity which is well deserved. 5. He never told anyone about _____ loneliness he had experienced in the big city. 6. In the big city, he experienced _____ loneliness which he had never known before. 7. _____ of history gives us _____ sense of perspective. 8. He felt _____ awareness of _____ hopelessness of his situation. 9. _____ better understanding of the problem will help us to solve it. 10. Everyone was impressed by _____ sincerity with which he spoke. 11. She has never forgotten _____ advice she received from her father. 12. He has had _____ excellent education in one of the best universities. 13. He displayed _____ wisdom far beyond his years. 14. _____ wisdom he displayed was far beyond his years. 15. We encountered _____ unexpected friendliness wherever we went. 16. _____ unexpected friendliness that we encountered wherever we went was very gratifying. 17. He exhibited _____ courage that surprised me. 18. _____ courage that he exhibited surprised me.

Exercise 5. Insert articles where necessary.

1. We both appreciate ____ simplicity. 2. It is such ____ weary, weary work. 3. He had ____ comfortable feeling of working alone in ____ large empty building, ____ feeling of ____ peace and ____ complete privacy. 4. I’ve reason to believe she has never properly got over ____ feeling she used to have. 5. His footsteps were now heard striking upon ____ stony road at ____ distance of about twenty yards. 6. We had ____ wonderful weather. 7. May you be happy in ____ life you have chosen! 8. You must learn to face ____ life seriously. 9. His round blue eyes behind ____ spectacles were ghastly with ____ terror. 10. I think in some curious way ____ horror which she felt for him was ____ transference of ____ horror which she felt for herself because he so strangely troubled her. 11. She was brilliantly familiar with ____ literature, ____tongues, ____art, ____ history, ____physics, ____ philosophy, and ____ politics (in which I include ____ modern politics). 12. I can see ____ beauty and ____ peace of this home; I think I have never been more at ____ rest in my life than at this moment. 13. ____ art is ____ manifestation of ____ emotion, and ____ emotion speaks ____ language that all may understand. 14. John laughed, and ____ sound of ____ laugh was hard. 15. Then she gave ____ crisp, ironic, almost cheerful laugh…

Exercise 6. Express your surprise (anger, etc.) using exclamatory sentences.

Model: It is a shame you haven't come in time.

What a shame you haven't come in time!

1. It's a shame I have been taken for the daughter. 2. It would be a relief to put her head on his shoulder and cry. 3. It was a pleasure to see a laughing tenderness in his eyes. 4. It was a dis­appointment to witness a carefully restrained ferocity in his dark face. 5. It is a disgrace she tried to convey a confidence she was far from feeling. 6. It is a shame to fancy she had a fear that I would make the sort of gibe of it. 7. It was a relief that he reached the last tree and finally set his feet on the firm ground of the other side. 8. It was a pity the moon disappeared and there was darkness once more. 9. It was a pity John had not much affection for his moth­er and sisters. 10. It is a pleasure and a relief to see you again.

Exercise 7. Supply the required articles.

1. Everyone hates to have to go out in ­­­_____ rainy weather. 2. ­­­_____ work gave him ­­­_____ increasing pleasure. 3. ­­­_____ weather was so warm that we decided to go swimming. 4. He had ­­­_____ romantic affection for all ­­­_____ manifestations of ­­­_____ nature. 5. What ­­­_____ fine weather we're having today! 6. It would be ­­­_____ fun for George to be ­­­_____ Governor and for her to be ­­­_____ Governor's wife. 7. At first I found it difficult to understand ­­­_____ English money. 8. I turned the radio on and listened to ­­­_____ nine o'clock news. 9. In ­­­_____ warm weather I spent most of the afternoon reading out in ­­­_____ garden. 10. That morning ­­­_____ nature was at its loveliest. 11 I did not enjoy my holiday because ­­­_____ weather was very cold. 12. What's ­­­_____ news? 13. "Congratulations. That was ­­­_____ very smart work altogether," he said. 14. Have you heard ­­­_____ news? 15. We have been having _____frosty weather for ­_____ week. 16. I lent him five pounds last week. Do you think he will pay ­­­_____ money back? 17. ­­­_____ birds don't like this sort of _____weather. 18. "James is not coming tonight." "Oh, that is ­­­_____ bad news." 19. You ought to stay at home in ­­­_____ cold weather. 20. I know ­­­_____ work I've done is ­­­_____ good work, the best of my life. 21. He began to think of ­­­_____ fun he had planned for this day. 22. ­­­_____ weather is changing for the worse. 23. Your friend is ­­­_____ great fun. 24. I'm not the man to give you ­­­_____ advice. 25. He suddenly became aware that Mike had stopped ­_____ work. 26. That's ­­­_____ best news I've heard yet. 27. "I didn't work there long. I fell ill and had to give up the job." "That's _____ hard luck." 28. What ­­­_____ good luck that I found you in! 29. We hid his watch for _____ fun. 30. Uncle Nick made me feel that we had _____ tremendous work to do.

Exercise 8. Translate into English.

А) 1. Це дуже доцільна порада. 2. Порада доцільна. 3. Що нового? 4. Новини гарні? 5. Він привіз погані новини. 6. Такі відомості завжди потрібні. 7. Інформація вже надійшла? 8. Не варто вирушати у подорож за такої поганої погоди. 9. Ми не вирушимо, поки погода не зміниться. 10. Дай гроші мені. Ти такий неуважний, ти завжди їх губиш.

В) 1. Яка мудра порада! 2. Які корисні поради! 3. Яка жахлива була погода! 4. Був такий чудовий день! 5. Який неочікуваний візит! 6. Це така неочікувана новина! 7. Він знайшов таку чудову роботу! 8. Яка цікава робота! 9. Не забудь прочитати книгу! Це така цікава книга! 10. Група досягла такого успіху! 11. Який успіх мала п’єса! 12. Які цінні відомості! 13. Це така серйозна стаття! 14. Яку гарну статтю ви написали!

Exercise 9. Translate into English.

1. Міжнародні спортивні зустрічі сприяють зміцненню дружби між народами. 2. Я ще ніколи не бачив міцнішої дружби, ніж дружба цих двох людей. 3. Молодь із захопленням працювала над будівництвом клубу. 4. Молодість – найкраща пора життя. 5. Його фах – література. Він уже багато років займається англійською літературою. 6. В домі панувала атмосфера спокою та добробуту. 7. Повітря, що оточує землю, називається атмосферою. 8. Гурт веселих молодих людей з галасом вийшов на вулицю. 9. Мова слугує засобом спілкування між людьми. 10. Вивчаючи мову, необхідно глибоко вивчати граматику. 11. Нам його рекомендували як людину з гарним знанням мови. 12. Гостинність – характерна риса українців. 13. Іноземців, що приїжджають до нас, вражає гостинність нашого народу. 14. Вона, мабуть, була красунею в молодості. 15. Мартін Іден добре відчував красу.

Exercise 10. Translate into English.

1. У минулих століттях багато людей загинули в боротьбі за волю народу. 2. Усі народи землі бажають миру. 3. Ми ніколи не забудемо героїзм тих, хто загинув у боротьбі проти фашизму. 4. Я дуже ціную в людях скромність та простоту. 5. Природа відігравала важливу роль у творчості романтиків. 6. Музикант має знати історію опери. 7. З нею він міг розмовляти про літературу, мистецтво, про що завгодно, міг жалітися на життя, на людей. 8. Я хочу бути артисткою, хочу слави, успіху, свободи. 9. Він вивчає історію Англії. 10. Мене цікавить історія розвитку англійського роману. 11. Новий асистент ще не має досвіду такої роботи. 12. Вже багато років вчені працюють над проблемою виникнення життя на землі. 13. Ешлі не може більше дивитися вперед. Він не може бачити сьогодення, боїться майбутнього і тому весь час озирається в минуле. 14. Я знав, що в майбутньому на мене чекають страждання. 15. Надалі мені треба бути уважнішим.

Exercise 11. Translate into English.

1. Він прожив безгрішне життя. 2. Життя таке, яким ви його робите. 3. Це неминуче. Це лише питання часу. 4. То були дуже щасливі часи. 5. Наполеглива праця принесе вам успіх. 6. Якщо з її голови впаде хоч одна волосина, ти про це дуже пошкодуєш. 7. Батьки Петра задоволені успіхами, яких досяг їхній син. 8. Успіх поліпшує характер. 9. Мова має великий вплив та силу. 10. В мене немає досвіду роботи з молоддю. 11. Це був дуже сумний досвід. 12. В нього є воля та честолюбство. 13. Вона дуже вольова людина. 14. Вони почали працювати ще в ранньому віці. 15. Це книга для людей будь-якого віку. 16. Новини, так само як і чутки, мають крила (швидко поширюються). 17. Не можу зрозуміти, куди зникають мої гроші. Вони як вода. 18. Це дуже великі гроші, але вони твої, і ти можеш використовувати їх так, як вважаєш за потрібне. 19. Чи є в касі гроші? – Ні, ми відправили їх до банку ще годину тому. 20. Багато людей відчувають вплив погоди. 21. Відсутність новин – це вже гарна новина. 22. Яка сьогодні погода? – Погода сонячна. Така погода робить мене дуже щасливим. 23. Багато інформації в наш час надходить з інтернету. 24. Він каже, що хоче скласти заповіт. 25. Його слова мають дивну владу над людьми.

Exercise 12. Translate into English.

1. Мовчання дратувало його. 2. Це була його мати. Вона не могла приховати тривогу в голосі. 3. Йому не подобалась ввічливість, з якою вона ставилася до вас. 4. Необхідність змушувала його засвоювати мову скоріше, ніж це здавалося можливим. 5. Дивно, що ви очікуєте знайти тут підтримку. 6. У Кітті склалося враження, що він говорить звідкись здалеку. 7. Він був змушений поїхати з Бостона. Зневіра охопила його. 8. Відчай надав їй хоробрості, і вона виголосила промову, яку, мабуть, підготувала вдома. 9. Я був вражений спокоєм тієї жінки. 10. Він мав терпіння, яке дивувало всіх. 11. Це гірка правда, з якою більшість з нас повинна змиритися. 12. Він почувався ніяково у присутності тієї жінки. 13. В його голосі була ніжність, яка дуже зворушила її. 14. Будьте щасливі у житті, яке ви собі обрали! 15. ЇЇ обличчя виражало спокій, що був досить незвичним для неї. 16. ЇЇ ворожість виявлялася у холодності, з якою вона розмовляла, але Чарлі лише посміхався. 17. Його охопив страх. 18. Вона обернулася і подивилася на нього. Зараз її погляд був спокійнішим. Він виражав лише презирство. 18. Як же швидко неуявне стало реальною дійсністю! 19. Він пригнувся до землі і був напоготові, намагаючись уловити щось незвичайне. 20. Здавалося, що ніщо не дивувало його. Він дуже часто стикався з несподіваним.

Unit 8

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