UNNECESSARY WORDS - UNNECESSARY ARTICLES 01

Dialog

Alright, you. Let's get this English lesson over with. No dawdling, understand?

Yes, I understand. I'll try my best not to mess up too much.

You better not. Right, first one. Listen carefully. I'll say a sentence and you tell me if it's correct or not.

Okay.

Here it is: The George will go to the England. Is that correct English?

Oh, um... no. I don't think so. It sounds a bit wrong.

Why not? Explain yourself.

Well, we don't say The George, do we? Just George. And for countries, most of the time it's just England, not The England. Unless it's like, The United States, I think?

Hmm, not bad. You're actually right. Generally, you don't use the with names of people or most countries. It's "George" and "England". But you're smart to remember there are exceptions, like "the Nile" for rivers or "the United States" for certain country names. Good memory, I suppose.

Thank you.

Don't get ahead of yourself. Next. The Euripides' tragedies are famous. Correct?

That also sounds wrong. "The Euripides'"... no, you wouldn't say "the" there either, would you?

Spot on. You don't use the before proper nouns that are in the possessive. So it's just "Euripides' tragedies". See? Not so hard.

I think I'm starting to get the hang of it.

Don't jinx it. Okay, listen to this: The bravery is a great virtue. Is that correct?

No, that's definitely wrong. We would just say "Bravery is a great virtue."

Why? Be specific.

Because "bravery" is a general idea. You don't put "the" in front of it when you're talking generally.

Exactly. You only use the with abstract nouns like "bravery" if you're talking about a *particular* instance of it, like "The bravery of the Spartans was renowned." But generally, no the. You're... doing alright so far. Keep it up.

I will.

Right, next. The gold is a precious metal. Is that sentence correct?

No, it should be "Gold is a precious metal." You don't use "the" for general materials, do you?

That's the rule. Just like with abstract nouns, you only use the if you're talking about a specific type, like "The gold of South Africa". Otherwise, just "gold". Another point for you.

I think these rules are quite similar.

They are if you actually pay attention. Try this one: The dogs are faithful animals. Is that correct?

No, it's "Dogs are faithful animals." If you mean all dogs in general.

Correct. When you're talking about plural common nouns in a general sense, you don't use the. It's really not that difficult.

I suppose not.

Good. Now, this one: He speaks the English very well. Correct?

No, you just say "He speaks English very well." You don't put "the" before a language.

Excellent. You absolutely never use the before the name of a language. Unless you say "the English language," but that's different. You're proving to be somewhat competent, I guess.

I'm trying hard.

See that you do. How about this: We shall start after the breakfast. Is that right?

No, it's just "after breakfast." We don't say "the breakfast."

Exactly. No the before the names of meals. So it's "breakfast," "lunch," "dinner." Good.

Okay, I think I've got that one.

You’d better. My favourite game is the football. Correct or incorrect?

Oh, um... I think that sounds okay? "The football"...

Wrong! Honestly, you were doing so well. You don't use the before the names of games! It's "My favourite game is football." No "the"! How could you miss that?

Oh, sorry. I got confused. I play football, so I just thought...

Never mind what you thought. Just remember the rule! No article before games. Right?

Right. No "the" for games.

Good. Next. The cholera is a dreadful disease. Is that sentence correct?

No. It should be "Cholera is a dreadful disease." We don't use "the" for diseases.

Most diseases, yes. You don't use the. But sometimes for common illnesses, you do say "a cold" or "a headache." But for diseases like cholera, no the. You got that one right despite your previous blunder.

Phew.

Don't act so relieved. Here. The green is a beautiful colour. Is that right?

No. Just "Green is a beautiful colour." No "the."

Why no "the"?

Because it's a general colour, like we said about other general things.

Correct. You don't use the with names of colours when they're used as nouns in a general sense. You're actually learning, aren't you?

I think so.

Good. Now listen: The smell is one of the five senses. Correct?

No, it's just "Smell is one of the five senses."

And why is that?

Because you don't put "the" before the names of the senses, like sight, smell, hearing...

Precisely. You remembered the others too. Impressive for you.

I try to pay attention.

See that you do. The Sunday is a day of prayer. Is that sentence correct?

No. Just "Sunday is a day of prayer."

And why is that?

Because it's a day of the week, and you don't use "the" for days or months.

Correct again. No the for days and months. You're on a roll now. Don't ruin it.

I'll try not to.

Here. The man is born a sinner. Correct or incorrect?

Oh, um... that sounds okay, doesn't it? "The man..."

Incorrect! Oh for goodness sake. When you mean all of humanity, the human race, you just say "Man" or "Mankind" without the. So, "Man is born a sinner." Not "The man." You fell for that one, didn't you?

I did. I thought it sounded normal.

Well, it's not. Pay more attention! Last one. My brother goes to the school. Is that correct?

Yes, that sounds right. "To the school."

Wrong again! You really do manage to mess up the important ones. If your brother is a student, you say "My brother goes to school." Without "the."

Oh. So "go to school" means you're a student?

Exactly! If you say "go to the school," it means you're just visiting the building, not attending as a student. Like, if my mum went to the school to talk to a teacher. It's a small but important difference.

I see. That's a bit tricky.

It is. But you'll get it. You just need to listen to me more often. We're done for today. You didn't do terribly, for you.

Summary

• 308. Wrong use of "the' with proper nouns. Don't say: The George will go to the England. Say: George will go to England. As a rule, the definite article is not used with proper nouns. NOTE. But "the"' is generally placed before the names of (1) rivers (2) seas (3) oceans,(4) bays, (5) gulfs, (6) mountain ranges, (7) groups of islands, and (8) countries or provinces consisting of an adjective and a noun. Thus we say: "the Nile,' Persian Gulf," "the Alps," "the Dodecanese," "the' United States," the Central Provinces (of India)."
• 309.Wrong use of "the" with proper nouns in the possessive. Don't say: The Euripides' tragedies are famous. Say: Euripides' tragedies are famous. The definite article must not be used with proper nouns in the possessive case. NOTE. With foreign names the extra syllable marking the possessive is often awkward to pronounce: the apostrophe only is then used, as in "Euripides' tragedies."
• 310. Wrong use of "the" with abstract nouns. Don't say: The bravery is a great virtue. Say: Bravery is a great virtue.. Abstract nouns, if used in a general sense, cannot take the article. NOTE. But if abstract nouns are used in a particular sense they require the use of the article: as, The bravery of the Spartans was renowned.
• 311. Wrong use of "the"' with material nouns. Don't say: The gold is a precious metal.. Say: Gold is a precious metal.. Material nouns, if used in a general sense, are used without any article. NOTE. If, however, material nouns are used in a particular sense, the definite article is required: as, "The gold' of South Africa is exported to many countries.".
• 312. Wrong use of the" with plural nouns used in a general sense. Don't say: The dogs are faithful animals. Say: Dogs are faithful animals. The definite article is omitted before common nouns in the plural if used in a general sense..
• 313. Wrong use of "the"' with names of languages. Don't say: He speaks the English very well. Say: He speaks English very well. The definite article is never used before the names of languages. NOTE. But we can say, "He speaks the English language very. well."
• 314. Wrong use of "the"' with names of meals. Don't say: We shall start after the breakfast. Say: We shall start after breakfast. The definite article should not be used before the names of the meals.
• 315. Wrong use of "the" with names of games.. Don't say: My favourite game is the football. Say: My favourite game is football. No article is used before the names of games like football,' "hockey," "tennis, "cricket," "yolley-ball," "basket-ball."
• 316. Wrong use of "the' with names of diseases.. Don't say: The cholera is a dreadful disease.. Say: Cholera is a dreadful disease. As a rule, the definite article is not used before the names of diseases. NOTE. But the article is needed with common names of ill- nesses: as, "I was suffering from a cold (a fever, a cough, a headache)."
• 317. Wrong use of "the"' with names of colours. Don't say: The green is a beautiful colour. Say: Green is a beautiful colour. The definite article should not be used before the names of colours when used as nouns.
• 318. Wrong use of "the"' with the names of the senses.. Don't say: The smell is one of the five senses. Say: Smell is one of the five senses.. No article is used before the names of the five senses: "sight," "smell," "hearing," "taste," and "touch."
• 319.Wrong'use of "the"' with names of days and months. Don't say: The Sunday is a day of prayer. The December is the last month. Say: Sunday is a day of prayer. December is the last month. The definite article should not be used before the names of days and months.
• 320. Wrong use of "the"' with "man" denoting the human race. Don't say: The man is born a sinner.. Say: Man is born a sinner. "Man', denoting the human race, is used without the definite article. So also "mankind'" requires no article: as, "Disease is the enemy of mankind."
• 321. Wrong use of '"the"' with "school." Don't say: My brother goes to the school.. Say: My brother goes to school. "To go to school means to be a student while to go to the school" means to visit the school. NOTE. Similarly, "to leave school' means to stop being a student; and"to leave the school'means to go away from the school premises.

Reference: T. J. FITIKIDES, "COMMON MISTAKES IN ENGLISH" p68 - p70