Articles i need a an English native

Question

Hi! I have to do this exercise. I think it is ok, can you tell me? Thanks Articles: Insert a, an or the where necessary. Mark the zero article 0:

1. ……0….Vesuvius is……an…active volcano near…the……Bay of…0…..Naples.
2. …A…. buzzing of …0…. bees amongst …the… flowers in …0… summer is ..a…. pleasant sound.
3. You can travel by……0…..rail or…0…..road; you will find that….the.…former is less expensive but …the…..latter is quicker.
4. ……0….. men live in …0….. society and they must be prepared to sacrifice …a…. little personal freedom to …the…. need for…0…law and …0…..order, otherwise there would be…a……chaos and we should all live in……a…state of ……0…strife and…0……anarchy.
5. In …a…. fit of …0……despair, ……a….. poor man took …a….. razor and tried to commit …0…. suicide, but without ……….success. And ……the….next day……0… fate was kind to him for he received…0……..news that gave him………the…..courage to live and overcome……the…..adversity.

Answer 1

Hola Jorto - my these are not easy are they, great job - my idea is that you do not need anything for chaos and although the very last one sounds ok with 'the' I am thinking it does not need it. (Maybe it is a 'maybe') Wow! Wish that was me in Spanish.

Answer 2

I would say "the buzzing of the bees" - at least that sounds more natural to me.

I agree completely. - galsally, Oct 17, 2010

Me too. - lorenzo9, Oct 17, 2010

Answer 3

Everything is great, except two.

You do not need an article before "chaos" or "adversity."

Answer 4

Marrianne's comments are correct, as is revmaf's.
The lack of an article before "summer" is correct, but so is using the article "the."
You also need a '0' before "success."

Answer 5

Sometimes Spanish uses articles when English does not - and the other way round.

This may help you

La educación es muy necesaria. Education is very necessary.

Robert es ingeniero. Robert is an engineer.

El café tiene cafeina Coffee contains caffeine

Marta es mexicana. Marta is a Mexican.

Me duele la cabeza My head hurts.

¿Tienes novia? Do you have a girlfriend?

Me pongo los zapatos I put on my shoes.

Yo nunca uso sombrero. I never wear a hat.

Terminamos el próxima año We finish next year.

Tengo un sobrero azul. I have a blue hat.

La señors Soto no esta aquí Mrs Soto is not here.

Él le da el libro a Maria. He gives the book to Marta.

El español es fácil Spanish is easy. The Spanish Language is easy
Veno los lune a las cinco I go on Mondays at five
Los libros de Anna y los de Eva son aquí

Ana's books and those of Eva are here.

Examples

The USA has a powerful army. ( you know what the USA is )

The flowers you gave me are beautiful. ( you know which flowers )

Do you want the beer? (uncountable)

Do you want the apples? (countable)

The USA has a powerful army. ( a before a noun that starts with a consonant )

This is an example of the indefinite article. ( an before a noun that starts with a vowel sound)

Do you want some beer? (uncountable) Beer can make you drunk.

Do you want some apples? (countable) Apples are a type of fruit.

Dr. Johnson is a dentist. Not The Dr. Johnson is a dentist.

The dentist is Dr. Johnson. Dr. Johnson is the dentist. (there is only one dentist)

Both children like ice cream. or Both the children like ice cream.

All the eight students passed the final exam. or All eight students passed.

All day, all night, all week, all summer/winter, all year, can be used without THE

Examples: I worked all day. The sun shines all year .
The flowers bloom in spring. or The flowers bloom in the spring.

I ate half the cake. NOT I ate the half cake.

My sister is a doctor. NOT My sister is doctor

I'd like to learn to play the piano. or I'd like to learn to play piano.

President Bush is visiting Europe. BUT The President of the USA is visiting Europe.

They have a son and a daughter. The son is a doctor .
They are all good students, but Richard is the best. (THE is used with superlatives)

I hope this does not add to your confusion Jort

PS In English we always use the before plural place names.

The USA - The Maldive Islands - The UAE - The Great Lakes etc.

Answer 6

If you say 'the' adversity it would mean you are referring to that specific instance of adversity which caused him to try to commit suicide.

Without the definite article, you are saying the news will allow him, generally, to deal with life's 'ongoing' adversities.

That's my viewpoint, therefore I think in this case you are correct whether you use the definite article or not.