Lesson The article. The indefinite article. The absence and omission of the article

The use of articles with the noun town.
The noun town when used with prepositions does not take an article:
(a)when we mean the nearest town (if we live in the country) or the town we live in.
You cannot go to town tomorrow. (Austen)
What can you have to do in town...? (Austen)
(b)when the noun town is opposed to the noun country.
He was not used to country life, having spent twenty years in town.
Otherwise the noun town is used with the definite or indefinite article.
I want to go to the town where I was born.
The use of articles with the names of meals.
Names of meals are used without articles.
When did you have dinner?
Is dinner ready?
Mother is cooking dinner.
While they were at breakfast, the letters were brought in. (Austen)
I have finished breakfast, ring the bell. (Ch. Вrоntё)
The definite article is used when the nouns are modified by a par­ticularizing attribute or when the situation makes them definite.
The dinner we had today was very substantial.
The dinner was a success.
The indefinite article is used if the name of a meal is modified by a descriptive attribute.
After a hearty breakfast the four gentlemen sallied forth to walk to Gravesend. (Dickens)
The use of articles with names of languages.
Names of languages when they are not followed by the noun lan­guage are used without articles:
She knows English.
Note the use of the definite article in: What is the English (the French etc.)for 'сосна'?
The definite article is used if the noun is modified by a particular­izing attribute:
The English of America differs from the English of England.
When the noun language is mentioned the definite article is used: the English language, the German language.
Use of Articles with Nouns Modified by Certain Adjectives, Pronouns and Numerals
Most.
(a) Most + adjective.
The definite article is used when most serves to form the superlative degree of an adjective.
This is the most interesting chapter in the book.
The use of the indefinite article shows that a high degree of a quality is meant. Most has the same meaning as very, exceedingly.
Caroline found that the old maid had been a most devoted daugh­ter and sister. (Ch. Bronte)
Note. Occasionally the form of the superlative degree does not express comparison, but a high degree of a quality.
He listened with the most profound attention.
He listened with the deepest attention.
The same phenomenon is found in Russian: Он слушал с глубочайшим вниманием.
(в) Most + of + noun.
When definite people or things are meant the noun is used with the definite article and most is followed by the preposition of.
Most of the flowers in the garden were planted by the school­children.
Most of the gentlemen looked both angry and uncomfortable. (Voynich)
We say most, not most of the, when we do not mean definite people or things. The noun is used in a general sense.
Most flowers smell sweet.
Few, a few, the few; little, a little, the little.
Few means 'мало'.
A few means 'несколько'.
The few means 'те немногие (которые)'.
He was a very good man. There are few like him in the world today. (Abrahams)
He left after a few moments. (Dreiser)
You need not fear to hear the few remaining words we have to say. (Dickens)
Little means 'мало'.
A little means 'некоторое количество'.
The little means 'то небольшое количество (которое)'.
We can't go skiing today. There is too little snow.
We have a little time. Let us take a walk in the garden.
Don't waste the little time you have.
Two, the two; three, the three, etc.
Two means 'два'.
The two means 'оба, те два'.
Two students entered the room.
The two friends travelled together.
The two books you lent me proved very interesting.
The second, a second.
The second is an ordinal numeral meaning 'второй'.
The second attempt proved more successful than the first.
A second means 'another, one more'.
Having eaten the gruel, Oliver asked for a second portion.
In the third, a third, the fourth, a fourth etc. we see the same differ­ence in meaning.
He made an experiment which proved his theory. He made a second, a third, a fourth experiment with the same results.
A second time means 'once more'.
I rang the bell, but nobody answered it, so I had to ring a second time.
Another, the other.
The pronoun another has two meanings:
(а) 'какой-либо другой'.
Give me another pen, I don't like this one.
(b) 'еще один'.
I am thirsty; I should like another cup of tea.
The other means 'определенный другой'.
There are two books here, take one and I'll take the other.
Last, the last.
Nouns modified by the adjective last are always used with the defi­nite article except in the expressions last month, last year, last week, last summer (winter, autumn, spring).
The last word remained with George.
Last summer, in Switzerland, he was quite well. (Voynich)
Next, the next.
Next means 'будущий' when referring to time: next month, next week.
The next means 'следующий': the next room, at the next lesson. Next time means 'в следующий раз'.
We shall discuss this matter next time.
In reference to time viewed from the past both next and the next mean 'следующий'.
We spent a fortnight in Kiev. The next week was spent in Odessa
(or: Next week was spent in Odessa).
A number; the number.
A number of means 'many'. It is rendered in Russian by много, ряд. The number means 'число, количество'.
His father and a number of his cronies were in the dining-room. (Dreiser)
The number of mistakes he makes is startling.
Omission of the Article
Sometimes the article is not used where we naturally expect to find it in accordance with the rules. No change of meaning is observed in these cases.
The article is often omitted in newspaper headings, telegrams, in stage directions.
Gas Blast Kills Woman. (Daily Worker)
Girl Gymnast Keeps Title. (Moscow News)
The article is often omitted with homogeneous members closely connected with each other and joined by the conjunction and. In most cases they go in pairs.
The breakfast was taken away, and that meal over, it was the general custom of uncle and niece to separate. (Ch. Bronte)