| Definite Article
indicates:
| Indefinite Article
indicates:
| Zero Article
indicates:
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| the whole family as a unit
· The Forsytes usually gathered for weddings and funerals.
· My visit was a surprise for the Kellogans.
Note: the proper name is used in the plural.
| one member of the family
· Fleur acted like a real Forsyte.
· You just look at him and immediately understand that he is a Weasley.
| a person’s name or surname
· One of the wings in the Tate Gallery houses hundreds of William Turner’s pictures.
· Bill’s younger sister, Penny, was in Henry’s new class.
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| a member of somebody else’s family
The mother asked the son to be more polite to his grandparents.
| an unknown person
· Robert, here is a Mr. Blake to see you.
Note: the name of the person can be preceded by the attribute ‘certain’= ‘некий’,
· Father, there is a certain Mr. Butler waiting for you in the hall.
| a member of one’s own family
· Mother has some definite plans for the coming Sunday.
· It’s up to Aunt to decide what to do in this situation.
Note the word combinations like ‘mother and daughter’, ‘father and son’, e.g.
· Father and daughter looked at each other with affection.
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| that the name is clear from the situation
(often with a limiting attribute)
· The Gloria of 26 was still the Gloria of 20.
· You are not the Andrew Manson I married
| that a proper name is used as a common noun
· This man doesn’t know a Rembrandt from a Rubens. (pictures belonging to the brush of Rembrandt or Rubens)
· He behaves like a modern Monte Christo.
| a person’s position, rank, family relationship or title
· It’s elementary, Doctor Watson!
· Colonel FitsPatrick never hesitated either on the battle field or in the ballroom.
· Aunt Polly was very strict with Tom.
· Mr. Hardy will be very pleased with you, John.
President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963.
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| a person’s profession
The painterWilliam Turner is one of the most honoured artists in England.
Note:
| an unusual aspect of a person’s character, emotional state or behaviour,
It was a very different John Mary had known seven years before.
| age or personal qualities
modified by the adjectivesyoung, old, poor, dear, honest, lazy, little, ugly, silly, pretty
· Little Charles was made to start work when he was twelve.
· Honest Abe was the name many American people used to refer to Abraham Lincoln.
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5
| a person’s permanent feature of character or quality
· Paul understood that he would miss the beautiful Sonya.
· You can always rely on the cautious George.
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