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VO Grammatik im Kontext Englisch

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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)

an old house


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.


INFORMAL ENGLISH (grammatically wrong, only spoken – Global English, not use in test)

-          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


Indefinite article referred to religion, job, nationality, political parties,…

-          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.


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.

-          Jim does very poorly this winter. He always has earache or sore throat (Er hat immer Ohrenweh oder Halsweh.).


when other parts of the body hurt à “to ache”

-          My legs ache (NOT I’ve got legache.).


-          heartache: kind of condition, not disease or illness


Indefinite article in connection with the word “own” (eigen – in German this can be used in combination with the indefinite article à ein eigenes Auto). In English we use a possessive pronoun.

-          Sony Ericsson has its own research centre (Sony Ericsson hat ein eigenes Forschungszentrum.).

-          It could take years before you got your own office (Es könnte Jahre dauern bevor du ein eigenes Büro bekommst.).


There is another possibility as well.

indefinite article (a/an) + noun + sentence of ”ones own”

-          Sony Ericsson has a research centre of its own.

-          It could take years before you get an office of your own.


2 exceptions: * an own goal (NOT gaol)

* an own child (reference sentence nr. 3)

otherwise always use own + possessive pronoun


Use of quite and rather

-          It’s quite (approx. “fairly”) good, but it could be better.

-          It’s quite (“completely”) impossible.


quite + indefinite article + noun

-          It’s quite a nice day.


gradable adjective à important for word order


“quite” before the indefinite article if there is a gradable adjective or no adjective

-          We watched quite an interesting film last night.



gradable, therefore quite + indefinite article + noun


-          She’s quite a woman.

-          He’s quite a hero.

-          The party was quite a success.


non-gradable adjectives:

-          It’s quite impossible (=non-grad.)


“quite” comes after the indefinite article in BrE

-          It was a (quite) perfect day.

AmE: It was quite a perfect day.

In spoken English: intonation – stress – emphasize

-          I heard quite an interesting story.

-          I heard a quite interesting story (a very interesting story).


“quite” is sometimes used INFORMALLY before the definite article meaning “exactly” or “completely”

-          He’s going quite the wrong way.

-          He’s going the wrong way (better, not informal).

-          You’re telling me quite the opposite of what John told me.


4. VO / Thursday, April 23, 2009


In both cases “quite” can be left out, because it’s not necessary


“quite a bit”, “quite a few”

Informally they mean “quite a lot”

-          We are having quite a bit of trouble with the kids.

-          We thought nobody would be there but actually quite a few people came.


“rather” is also an adverb (more than usual, more than suspected) – meaning is similar to “quite” and “fairly”; it generally comes before articles.

-          He’s rather a fool.

-          It was rather a disappointment.

-          That’s rather the impression I wanted to give.

-          John has had rather a good idea.


However, the “rather” comes after indef. articles if there is an adjective.

-          I had intended the money for a rather different purpose.

-          This is a rather complicated matter.


differences (in regard of the indef. article) between English/German


preposition of phrases

preposition and noun

-          You are not in a very good mood this morning.

-          Suddenly they both were in an immensely humor (bei äußerst gutter Laune).

-          The sound of shooting threw the crowd into a panic (versetzte die Menge in Panik).

-          She flew into a temper when he told her that she was wrong (Sie geriet in Wut).

-          His insults made her fly into a passion … (führten dazu, dass sie in Wut geriet)

-          To a grade extend he is himself to blame for his misfortune (In hohem Maße).

-          I can’t stay any longer because I am in a hurry (da ich in Eile bin).

-          It’s absolutely necessary to bring this affair to an end (zu Ende bringen).

-          By the time the grammar lecture had come to an end he was fast asleep (Als die Lesung zu Ende war).

-          Our full supplies are at an end (sind zu Ende).

-          He has been the boss of this firm for a long time (Er ist schon lange Zeit Chef dieser Firma).

-          On Sundays we usually go for a walk (machen wir für gewöhnlich einen Spaziergang).

-          He has been writing for three hours without a break (ohne Unterbrechung).

-          Why don’t we go to Majorca for a change (Warum fahren wir zur Abwechslung nicht einmal nach Mallorca)?

-          As a child I often had nightmares (Als Kind hatte ich).

-          As a result of the accident he had to undergo four painful operations (Als Folge des Unfalls).

-          As a rule there are three performances every day (In der Regel gibt es).

-          He has made it a rule to keep this sub… at a distance (Er hatte es zur Regel gemacht).

-          It is a pity that you have not applied for that position (Es ist schade, dass).

-          My friend has a feeling that everything will change for the better (Mein Freund hat das Gefühl, dass sich alles zum Besseren wenden wird.).

-          You’ve still got a temperature, and getting up is out of the question (Du hast noch immer Fieber…kommt nicht in Frage).

-          He’s got a birthday today (Er hat heute Geburtstag.).

-          He is a man with a voracious appetite (mit unersättlichem Appetit).

-          The boy shows an interest in sports (Er zeigt Interesse an Sport.).

-          She takes a great interest in everything he does (Sie zeigt großes Interesse an allem.).

-          The long walk gave me a good appetite.

-          She ate with appetite but he not (Sie aß mit Appetit, er hingegen nicht.).

-          He was glad to get the soup, and he fell to with appetite (Er machte sich mit Appetit darüber).

-          What you’re telling us is old hat (Was du uns erzählst ist ein alter Hut.).

-          I’ve never had such nonsense (noch nie so einen Unsinn).

And similarly phrases with “what kind of”, ”what sort of” and related phrases are usually used without the indef. article

-          What sort of person is he?

-          What sort of man is he? (Was für ein Mann ist er?)

-          Have you got a cheaper sort of radio?

-          What kind of suit was the susp…wearing?

-          What line of business are you in? (In welcher Branche)

-          What brand of cigarette do you prefer?

-          They’ve developed a new variety of sheep.

-          That species of bird is extremely rare around here.


exclamations

In exclamations after “what” we use the indef. article with singular countable nouns.

-          What a lovely day! (day is singular, also countable)


However, the indef. art. cannot be used in exclamations with uncountable nouns.

-          What nonsense! (Was für ein Unsinn!)

-          What luck!

________________

DEFINITE ARTICLE

There is only a definite article. à THE

Pronunciation: before a consonant/a vow

-          the (i) ice

-          the (ä) snow


We use “the” before a vow sound even it is written as a consonant

hour (h is consonant, but we don’t prounounce it) – the (i) hour


abbreviation:

The Royal Society for Prevention… (RSPCA)

the (ä) university

a one-pound-coin à the (ä) one-pound-coin

the (ä) USA

the (ä)UNESCO


before a hesitation. If something doesn’t come into my mind immediately – after a long pause;

He’s the (i) deputy …. of…


Use of def. art.

We use the def. art. before a noun when the reader/listener knows or understands what we are talking about.

-          I’ve been to the dentist. (reader knows which dentist I know – my dentist, where I always go to).

-          When did you water the flowers? (not any flowers – my flowers or the flowers in the room)

-          Could you pass the salt please? (uncountable noun; the salt on the table)


“You know what I mean” à def. art.

When I cannot say “You know what I mean” à indef. art.


-          There is a huge spider in our bedroom.

-          I need an article from this week’s Time Magazine.


-          Yesterday I only had a yoghurt and a salad.

-          The yoghurt wasn’t so good but the salad was good.

(In the second sentence the reader already knows which yoghurt – from yesterday – therefore the def. art.; in the first sentence à introduction, I don’t know anything about the yoghurt)


-          I’m going to the post office. (there is only one post office here)

-          Is there a post office near here? (No idea about the post office)


-          She arrived on the 8:15 train. (def. art. because it says which train.)

-          She arrived in an old taxi. (speaker doesn’t say which taxi)


-          Last week I took the bus to the airport but it was really overcrowded. (airport is clear)

-          So next week I’m going to take a taxi. (any taxi, not specific taxi)


-          She’s got 2 children. A boy and a girl.

-          The boy is 14 and the girl is 8. (def. art. because we already know which boy/girl they are talking about)


-          Who are the girls over there with John? (I’m pointing to this girls)

-          Tell Peter the story about John and Suzan. (I say, what I mean)

-          Could you please close the door? (Sometimes some students are late for the course…it is clear from the situation which door).

-          Could you turn on the lights please? (in winter when it is still dark outside…clear from the situation which lights one)


typical nouns: the moon, the sun, the earth, the world, the universe, the future, …

-          I haven’t seen the sun for days.


def. art. when there is only one such thing

-          Washington DC is the capital of the United States.

-          Do you trust the government? (One American might ask another American)


superlatives:

first, next, last

same, only (adj. but similar to superlatives)

-          I’m the oldest in my family.

-          Can I have the next pancake?

-          We went to the same school.


the def. art. is also used in the sense of “the well-known”

-          She married R. B., the actor. (the well-known person; not any R.B. – there is only one R.B.) à identifying phrase with “the”

-          I’d like you to meet Peter the actor.


5. VO / Thursday, May 07, 2009


plural nouns or uncountable nouns do not use the def. article to talk about things in general

-          Elephants can swim very well. (not the elephants…)

-          Nowadays petrol is expensive. (uncountable noun)


When we talk about people or things in general à we do not use normally the def. art. with uncountable nouns or plural nouns

-          My brother loves horses but he is afraid of rats.

-          Economists have a problem with self-control.

-          Prices could plumed.

-          Wages in call centers tend to be low.

-          I need help.


most in the sense of “the majority of” is also used without the def. art.

-          Politicians are paid more than university professors.

-          Most politicians are paid more than most university professors.

-          Most birds can fly.

-          Most students usually get very tired during the 8 o’clock class.


def. art. + singular countable noun

-          Schools should concentrate more on the child and less on exams.


common with names of scientific instruments, musical instruments,…

-          Life would be quieter without the telephone.

-          Life would be quieter without telephones.

-          The violin is more difficult than the piano.


When a noun modifies other nouns à the article of the first noun is dropped

-          Lessons in how to play the guitar…

-          A spot on the sun


Sometimes the def. art. is dropped when talking about jazz and pop music and classical music

-          This recording was made with M. Davis on trumpet.

-          She studied Oboe and Saxophone at the Royal Academy of Music.


We can also generalize by using the indefinite article + singular countable noun

-          A child needs plenty of love.


However, we cannot say: A tiger is in danger of becoming instinct.


def. article or no article (zero article)

zero article

def. art.: if the reader/listener knows which things we are talking about


When we generalize by members of a group we do not generally use the article

-          Nurses mostly work very hard. (generalization, therefore no def. article)

-          The nurses have never gone on strike. (refer to all nurses all over the world)

-          Stars vary greatly in size.

-          Farmers often vote conservative.

-          What has the government done for the farmers?

-          It’s difficult for railways to make a profit.

-          The railways are getting more and more unreliable. (the railways in that country)

-          Austrians don’t like to be mistaken for Australians.

-          The Austrians suffered heavy losses in the First World War


Normally we cannot leave out a noun after an adjective


-          The most important thing in life is to be happy.


However, we can use art. + adj. if we want to refer to certain group of people in particular social/physical condition (well-known groups); adj. becomes a noun

-          He is collecting money for the blind.

-          The unemployed are losing hope.

-          The dead

-          The handicapped

-          The jobless

-          The mentally ill

-          The old

-          The poor

-          The rich

-          The young

-         

-          à this expressions are plural! if we want to use it as a singular, we would have to add a word – die Kranke = the sick woman


limited group

-          After the accident the injured were taken to hospital


4. VO / Thursday, April 23, 2009


In both cases “quite” can be left out, because it’s not necessary


Informally they mean “quite a lot”

-          We are having quite a bit of trouble with the kids.

-          We thought nobody would be there but actually quite a few people came.


“rather” is also an adverb (more than usual, more than suspected) – meaning is similar to “quite” and “fairly”; it generally comes before articles.

-          He’s rather a fool.

-          It was rather a disappointment.

-          That’s rather the impression I wanted to give.

-          John has had rather a good idea.


However, the “rather” comes after indef. articles if there is an adjective.

-          I had intended the money for a rather different purpose.

-          This is a rather complicated matter.


differences (in regard of the indef. article) between English/German


preposition of phrases

preposition and noun

-          You are not in a very good mood this morning.

-          Suddenly they both were in an immensely humor (bei äußerst gutter Laune).

-          The sound of shooting threw the crowd into a panic (versetzte die Menge in Panik).

-          She flew into a temper when he told her that she was wrong (Sie geriet in Wut).

-          His insults made her fly into a passion … (führten dazu, dass sie in Wut geriet)

-          We are in a position to supply you with the goods require (Wir sind in der Lage).

-          To a grade extend he is himself to blame for his misfortune (In hohem Maße).

-          I can’t stay any longer because I am in a hurry (da ich in Eile bin).

-          It’s absolutely necessary to bring this affair to an end (zu Ende bringen).

-          By the time the grammar lecture had come to an end he was fast asleep (Als die Lesung zu Ende war).

-          Our full supplies are at an end (sind zu Ende).

-          He has been the boss of this firm for a long time (Er ist schon lange Zeit Chef dieser Firma).

-          On Sundays we usually go for a walk (machen wir für gewöhnlich einen Spaziergang).

-          He has been writing for three hours without a break (ohne Unterbrechung).

-          Why don’t we go to Majorca for a change (Warum fahren wir zur Abwechslung nicht einmal nach Mallorca)?

-          As a child I often had nightmares (Als Kind hatte ich).

-          As a result of the accident he had to undergo four painful operations (Als Folge des Unfalls).

-          He has made it a rule to keep this sub… at a distance (Er hatte es zur Regel gemacht).

-          It is a pity that you have not applied for that position (Es ist schade, dass).

-          My friend has a feeling that everything will change for the better (Mein Freund hat das Gefühl, dass sich alles zum Besseren wenden wird.).

-          You’ve still got a temperature, and getting up is out of the question (Du hast noch immer Fieber…kommt nicht in Frage).

-          He’s got a birthday today (Er hat heute Geburtstag.).

-          He is a man with a voracious appetite (mit unersättlichem Appetit).

-          The boy shows an interest in sports (Er zeigt Interesse an Sport.).

-          She takes a great interest in everything he does (Sie zeigt großes Interesse an allem.).

-          The long walk gave me a good appetite.

-          She ate with appetite but he not (Sie aß mit Appetit, er hingegen nicht.).

-          He was glad to get the soup, and he fell to with appetite (Er machte sich mit Appetit darüber).

-          What you’re telling us is old hat (Was du uns erzählst ist ein alter Hut.).

And similarly phrases with “what kind of”, ”what sort of” and related phrases are usually used without the indef. article

-          What sort of person is he?

-          What sort of man is he? (Was für ein Mann ist er?)

-          Have you got a cheaper sort of radio?

-          What kind of suit was the susp…wearing?

-          What line of business are you in? (In welcher Branche)

-          What brand of cigarette do you prefer?

-          They’ve developed a new variety of sheep.

-          That species of bird is extremely rare around here.


exclamations

In exclamations after “what” we use the indef. article with singular countable nouns.

-          What a lovely day! (day is singular, also countable)


However, the indef. art. cannot be used in exclamations with uncountable nouns.

-          What nonsense! (Was für ein Unsinn!)

-          What luck!

________________

DEFINITE ARTICLE

There is only a definite article. à THE

Pronunciation: before a consonant/a vow

-          the (i) ice

-          the (ä) snow


We use “the” before a vow sound even it is written as a consonant

hour (h is consonant, but we don’t prounounce it) – the (i) hour


The Royal Society for Prevention… (RSPCA)

the (ä) university

a one-pound-coin à the (ä) one-pound-coin

the (ä) USA

the (ä)UNESCO


before a hesitation. If something doesn’t come into my mind immediately – after a long pause;

He’s the (i) deputy …. of…


Use of def. art.

We use the def. art. before a noun when the reader/listener knows or understands what we are talking about.

-          I’ve been to the dentist. (reader knows which dentist I know – my dentist, where I always go to).

-          When did you water the flowers? (not any flowers – my flowers or the flowers in the room)

-          Could you pass the salt please? (uncountable noun; the salt on the table)


“You know what I mean” à def. art.

When I cannot say “You know what I mean” à indef. art.


-          There is a huge spider in our bedroom.

-          I need an article from this week’s Time Magazine.


-          Yesterday I only had a yoghurt and a salad.

-          The yoghurt wasn’t so good but the salad was good.

(In the second sentence the reader already knows which yoghurt – from yesterday – therefore the def. art.; in the first sentence à introduction, I don’t know anything about the yoghurt)


-          Is there a post office near here? (No idea about the post office)


-          She arrived on the 8:15 train. (def. art. because it says which train.)

-          She arrived in an old taxi. (speaker doesn’t say which taxi)


-          Last week I took the bus to the airport but it was really overcrowded. (airport is clear)

-          So next week I’m going to take a taxi. (any taxi, not specific taxi)


-          She’s got 2 children. A boy and a girl.

-          The boy is 14 and the girl is 8. (def. art. because we already know which boy/girl they are talking about)


-          Who are the girls over there with John? (I’m pointing to this girls)

-          Tell Peter the story about John and Suzan. (I say, what I mean)

-          Could you please close the door? (Sometimes some students are late for the course…it is clear from the situation which door).

-          Could you turn on the lights please? (in winter when it is still dark outside…clear from the situation which lights one)


typical nouns: the moon, the sun, the earth, the world, the universe, the future, …

-          I haven’t seen the sun for days.


def. art. when there is only one such thing

-          Washington DC is the capital of the United States.

-          Do you trust the government? (One American might ask another American)


superlatives:

first, next, last

same, only (adj. but similar to superlatives)

-          I’m the oldest in my family.

-          Can I have the next pancake?

-          We went to the same school.


the def. art. is also used in the sense of “the well-known”

-          She married R. B., the actor. (the well-known person; not any R.B. – there is only one R.B.) à identifying phrase with “the”

-          I’d like you to meet Peter the actor.


6.VO / Thursday, May 14, 2009


Prüfung am Fr., 19. Juni 2009 um 15 – 17 Uhr im Audi Max

common words of common expressions without articles; sometimes with or without art. depending on the meaning


-          business (das Geschäftsleben, die Wirtschaft) = abstract term

-          the economy (Volkswirtschaft)

-          In business honestly is not always the best policy. (Im Geschäftsleben …)


-          business as a concrete term (in the meaning of Firma)

-          She wants to set up her own business.


-          the mobile phone business


other examples:

-          democracy (die Demokratie)

-          globalization (die Globalisierung)

-          sentence Nr. 4


abstract nouns can be used with articles when there are some kind of modifiers

-          sentence Nr. 5

-          In the language of French politics. (“French” is the modifier therefore “the language”)


general social phenomenal

-          Language is constantly evolving. (Die Sprache entwickelt sich schnell.)

-          history

-          life

-          Life is complicated and hard. (Das Leben…)

-          I’m studying the life of Beethoven. (particular therefore “the”)

-          Life has changed a lot in the last few years. (abstract)

-          The life of a university teacher is hard. (modifying word)


-          love (die Liebe)

-          nature

-          She’s very interested in nature. (refers to trees, grass,…)

-          I never really understood the nature of my father’s work.


-          society (die Gesellschaft)

-          It’s not always easy to fit in with society. (general concept)

-          I’ve join the local dramatic society. (concrete)


-          space (Weltraum)

-          Would you like to travel into space? (here space means the universe)

-          Fill in the spaces.


-          politics (die Politik)

-          sentence Nr. 4 (even with a modifier no article)

-          production (die Produktion): also with modifier, no article

-          sentence 6


-          research

-          retailing (Einzelhandel)

-          world trade (Welthandel)

-          Consolidation among European banks has quickened of late.

-          The market in which Amazon and BOL are vying (wettstreiten um etwas) for supremacy is increasingly crowded.

-          In its early days taxation did not always involve…money.

-          The taxation of electronic commerce faces technological …


Sometimes common fix expressions referring to place, time or movement are treated as uncountables and therefore do not take the def. article

-          school

-          to school, at school, in school, from school (school with a couple of prepositions)

-          university

-          college

-          class

-          These are words which are usually countable


with such expressions there is no article if you refer to the original inherent purpose of the institution

-          Katy is a 10-year-old girl who goes to school 5 days a week. (school is treated as uncountable because it is used as its original inherent purpose à for learning there)


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