英语专业语法书答案Lecture 7 Articles.docVIP

Lecture 7 Determiners (II) Articles In the previous lecture we touched upon the fact that articles are the most typical of determiners. Now we will1concentrate on this topic. English has two articles: the definite and the indefinite article. As we know, all English common nouns have article contrast, so with plural count nouns and noncount nouns, the absence of an article signals the presence of another kind of article -- the zero article. It is in this sense that we may also say that English has three articles - the definite, the indefinite, and the zero article. 7.1 Generic and specific reference In discussing the use of articles we must distinguish between generic and specific reference. 1) Generic reference When we say the reference is generic, we are talking about any member representative of a class of people or things. All the three forms of article (the, a ( n ), and zero) can be used generically to refer to the members of a class as a whole. 1n certain contexts, the definite article followed by a singular count noun often performs a generic function. The same function can also be performed by the definite article combining with certain adjectives or adjectival participles, eg: Galileo claimed that he had invented the telescope. The horse has been replaced by the railroad, the windship and the steamship The rich get richer, and the poor get children. The oppressed and the exploited wanted to free themselves from the oppressors. Generic reference can also be denoted by the indefinite article followed by a singular count noun. This is especially common in giving definitions. In so doing, we can also use plural and noncount nouns without the presence of any determiner. This may be referred to as the generic use of the zero article, eg : An ox is a useful animal. Carrots are my favourite vegetables. Knowledge is power. 2) Specific reference Specific reference is different from generic reference in that it does not refer to a class of people or things in gen