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§ 190. There are a number of set expressions with the indefinite article. In most of them the main functions
of the indefinite article can be seen.
at a time
at a glance
as a result (of)
as a whole
to be (to feel) at a loss
to have a mind (to do something)
to have a good time
to have a headache (a toothache, a sore throat)
in a good (evil) hour
in a hurry (but: in haste)
in a fury
in a low voice
in a whisper
It is a pity
It is a pleasure
It is a shame
What a shame!
What a pity!
at a distance of...
(but: in the distance)
at a depth (but: in the depth)
at a speed of...
They were much of a size
Birds of a feather flock together.
many a time (not once, on many occasions)
many a man (not one)
The use of the definite article
§ 191. The definite article implies that the speaker or the writer presents a person, a thing or an abstract
notion as known to the listener or the reader, either from his general knowledge, or from the situation, or from
the context. Hence, the two main functions of the definite article are specifying and generic.
§ 192. The definite article in its specifying function serves to single out an object or a group of objects from
all the other objects (things, persons, animals, abstract notions) of the same kind. The specification is carried
out by means of (1) a restrictive attribute, of (2) the preceding context, (3) the situation or (4) the meaning of
the noun.
1) A restrictive attribute is most useful in singling out or individualizing an object (such attributes are also
called specifying or limiting). It may be expressed by a single word, a prepositional phrase, a participial phrase,
or by a clause, all functioning as postmodifiers.
Somebody moved in the room above.
I’m convinced Davis is the man we are looking for (the very man).
The students in the next room are taking an examination.
That was the end of my first journey into the enchantment of the past.
The man standing by the window is my uncle.
I said nothing to Mr Smith. I think he was already rehearsing the story he would fell to Mrs Smith.
There are also postmodifying attributes which refer the object they modify to a class of similar objects, and
in this case they require the indefinite article before the modified noun.
A letter written in pencil is difficult to read.
A letter which is written in pencil is difficult to read.
In like fashion premodifying attributes, especially expressed by adjectives, have either descriptive force in
which case they do not influence the use of articles, or a restrictive force due to their meaning. Those are the
limiting adjectives very, right, left, wrong, only, one, opposite, last, next (following), the pronominal adjective
same, ordinal numerals. Their meaning specifies the object well enough to exclude a possibility of choice or
change within a class.
We got into the wrong train.