Grammatik im Kontext
Englisch (Moravec)
2. VO / Thursday,
March 26, 2009
Content words (meaning
words): nouns, verbs, objectives, adverbs
-
Good students listen attentively. (=entirely
content words)
Function words
(structure words): help the structure of the sentence
-
The nice teacher speaks .. (grammar function in a
sentence)
Function words include determiners, prepositions,
conjunctions, interjections, auxiliary verbs such as “to do”
determiners are:
1. articles
2. pronouns
Indefinite/definite
articles
basics
definite article à the (refers
to a definite/specific noun)
-
the woman (specific woman)
indefinite article à a/an
-
a woman (any woman, indefinite noun, no specific
woman, is more general, example of..)
-
!! spaghetti is not countable, therefore no
indefinite article
limiting adjectives:
because they are used as adjectives à nice teacher
the dog à specific
a child à not specific
In addition to the definite/indefinite article we have
a third article as well à zero article (many nouns don’t take an article)
Articles aren’t content words. They are function
words. When articles aren’t necessary they are left out.
Indefinite article
a an
a rabbit (consonant) an
elephant (vowel)
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The a/an depend on the pronunciation, not on the
spelling!
a uniform à because of the pronunciation (it’s not a
uniform)
-
Jane wore a uniform of blue.
a one .. à pronounced as a consonant
abbreviations: a NASA
engineer, a FIFA referee, an IMF meeting, an OPEC meeting
words beginning with “h”
In most cases the article is “a”: a hotel, a history
exception:
when “h” is not pronounced: an hour, an honest man, an
heir (ein Erbe)
-
Please remain in this room for an hour.
-
.. an honor system
-
A history of the United States.
before hesitation
if we want to emphasize something
-
He bought a Honda.
-
.. a real effort (emphasized)
USE OF THE INDEFINITE ARTICLE
To refer to a particular but unspecified person,
thing, event,..
a child à particular being but unspecific
-
After this long and boring lecture I definitely
need a glass of beer. (particular but unspecific thing)
 a = one
Im Deutschen “ein” ist sowohl Artikel als auch
Zahlwort (Numeral)
numerical and quantity expressions
-
XY weighed a hundred and twenty kilograms.
-
XY weighed one hundred and twenty kilograms.
Im Deutschen: Er wog 120 kg.
Im Englischen: entweder indef. article oder nummeral
-
The firm founds a/one hundred new jobs.
Ind. article for numbers or percentages which is
modified (noun like “teacher” – any teacher – bad teacher) by an adjective.
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-
We’ll need an extra 10 pounds. (Combination
between the indefinite article and the plural form of the noun)
-
He’s been waiting for a good 2 hours.
-
She spent a happy ten minutes looking through
the photos.
-
I’ve had a very busy three days (We need the
adjective here! Otherwise it doesn’t work, we can’t say: a three days)
-
The inflation rate sank to a surprising low 4
percentage.
-
A good few + plural à extremely informal
-
I bet that house could tell a good few stories.
Ind. article in expressions of price, speed, time,
ratios (Verhältniszahl; 2 of 4), etc.
-
The flour is 70 penny a pound.
-
You went along with a speed of 50 miles an hour.
-
This contract expires after half a year.
-
To the town it’s only half a mile. (BrE)
-
To the town it’s only a half-mile. (AmE)
-
They talked for a quarter of an hour.
-
He washes four times a day.
-
This door is open 24/7. (24 hours a day, 7 days
a week)
-
I attend evening classes twice a week.
-
He ran up the steps taking two at a time.
-
I’ll be back in a moment/in a minute.
one evening (not a evening) – eines Abends
one day (not a day) – eines Tages
-
One evening, while I was relaxing at home, I
heard a strange noise.
-
One day I’ll be a famous writer.
3. VO / Thursday,
April 2, 2009
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-
She was a company director when she retired.
(Because she is not the only
director; this is not a unique position)
-
Mr. Smith who might got to know to the
exhibition..
-
His wife has been a Euro MP (Member of
Parliament) for two years.
-
Mr. Stuart was a catholic while Luther was a
protestant.
-
As a catholic, an economist and an expert in
social policy I cannot condemn these policies.
-
..as a manager and a ..
-
I didn’t realize that Roy Black was a German.
-
Later in his life he became a socialist.
-
Later in his life he turned socialist (zero
article after “to turn”)
-
He will never turn traitor.
For unique positions we use no article.
-
Arnold Schwarzenegger has been appointed
Governor of California.
-
They chose Mr. M. chairman of the..
-
His duties as head of the institute..
-
She’s been president..
In sentences with position of, post of, role of à zero
article before the job title
-
Professor Will Smith has taken on the position
of head of department.
Zero article also for uncountable nouns
-
advice
-
information
-
news
-
progress
-
experience
-
..
-
You’ve made very good progress.
-
The doctor said that he had considerable
experience in midwifery.
-
This is excellent news.
-
Such information can create a competitive
advantage.
-
I’ll give you a piece of/some advice (Ich werde
dir einen Rat geben.).
-
I have interesting news for you (Ich habe eine
interessante Neuigkeit für dich.).
-
I’ve an interesting piece of news for you.
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a/an not with weather and English
-
We’re heaving terrible weather (Wir haben ein
furchtbares Wetter.).
-
She speaks very good Englisch (Sie spricht sehr
gutes Englisch.).
zero article is also used for nouns consisting of 2
parts
-
scissors
-
trousers
-
To cut this material you need very good
scissors.
-
To cut this material you need a pair of
scissors.
-
Why should I pay a $ 100 for a pair of trousers
(Warum sollte ich 100 Dollar für eine Hose bezahlen?).
Illnesses and pains are usually uncountable.
Therefore no article à but only in BrE
-
I think I’ve got measles.
-
He has had got a appendicitis.
-
I’ve got toothache again.
INFORMALLY the definite article “the” can be used
with less common diseases.
-
She’s never had the measles.
-
I think I got the flue.
BUT
-
I’ve got a terrible cold.
the word “catch”:
-
I only catch a cold/cold in the draft.
-
He hoped he wasn’t catching cold.
-
a headache
(because we cannot count headache)
-
I’ve got a splitting headache (Ich habe
Kopfweh.).
-
I often get headaches.
-
The grammar tests usually give students
headaches.
stomach-ache, back-ache, toothache,..are uncountable
at least in BrE
-
I’ve got bad toothache.
In AmE these words are countable
-
Certain problems are like a toothache.
-
He’s suffering from a stomach-ache.
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