Blog about English
Articles with meals, languages, academic subjects and games.
Do not use an article before the names of meals when referring to them generally.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper and brunch normally take the zero article. Use an article when referring to a particular meal or when the meal is modified.
We usually have breakfast at seven.
Обычно мы завтракаем в семь.
Breakfast is used without an article when referring to the meal generally.
I usually eat lunch at work.
Обычно я обедаю на работе.
Lunch has a general meaning and takes the zero article.
We have dinner around six.
Мы ужинаем около шести.
Dinner is used without an article for the normal evening meal.
She often skips breakfast on busy mornings.
Она часто пропускает завтрак по напряженным утрам.
Breakfast refers to the meal in general.
We had brunch after the farmers market.
Мы позавтракали и пообедали после фермерского рынка.
Brunch normally takes no article when referring to the meal generally.
The kids usually eat dinner before they start their homework.
Дети обычно ужинают до того, как начинают делать домашнее задание.
Dinner has a general, habitual meaning.
After lunch, I usually take a short walk around the neighborhood.
После обеда я обычно немного гуляю по району.
Lunch is used as a general meal reference.
We often have dinner together on weekdays, even when everyone is busy.
По будням мы часто ужинаем вместе, даже когда все заняты.
Dinner is used generally rather than for one specific meal.
Use the or a/an when referring to a particular meal rather than meals in general.
Compare "We had breakfast at eight." and "The breakfast served at the hotel was excellent."
The breakfast at the hotel was excellent.
Завтрак в отеле был превосходным.
The identifies a particular breakfast by the phrase at the hotel.
We enjoyed a big breakfast before the long drive.
Мы плотно позавтракали перед долгой поездкой.
A is used because big breakfast refers to one particular meal.
The dinner served at the wedding was amazing.
Ужин, поданный на свадьбе, был потрясающим.
The makes dinner specific because it is identified by the following phrase.
We had a late lunch after the meeting.
Мы поздно пообедали после собрания.
A is possible because late lunch refers to one particular meal or occasion.
The lunch we ordered arrived twenty minutes late.
Обед, который мы заказали, доставили на двадцать минут позже.
The relative clause identifies a specific lunch.
They prepared a special dinner for their anniversary.
Они приготовили особенный ужин на годовщину.
A refers to one particular planned meal.
The brunch we had in Brooklyn included fresh fruit and pancakes.
Бранч, который мы ели в Бруклине, включал свежие фрукты и блинчики.
The identifies one specific brunch by the relative clause.
The dinner prepared by the chef was the highlight of the evening.
Ужин, приготовленный шеф-поваром, был главным событием вечера.
The is used because the meal is made specific by the participial phrase.
Do not use an article before the names of languages.
Examples include English, Spanish, Chinese and Arabic. Language names normally take the zero article.
I speak English.
Я говорю по-английски.
English is a language name and normally takes no article.
She is learning Spanish.
Она учит испанский язык.
Spanish is used without an article as a language name.
He speaks Chinese at home.
Он говорит по-китайски дома.
Chinese takes the zero article when referring to the language.
We studied French in high school.
Мы изучали французский в старшей школе.
French is used without an article as the name of a language.
My parents speak Arabic.
Мои родители говорят по-арабски.
Arabic is used without an article.
She became fluent in Portuguese after living in Brazil.
Она свободно заговорила по-португальски после жизни в Бразилии.
Portuguese takes no article as a language name.
The students were encouraged to use English during class.
Студентам рекомендовали использовать английский язык во время занятия.
English remains zero article when referring simply to the language.
English is widely used in international business and higher education.
Английский широко используется в международном бизнесе и высшем образовании.
The language name is used in a general statement without an article.
Use the when a language name is followed by a noun such as language.
Compare "She speaks English." and "She is studying the English language."
She speaks English.
Она говорит по-английски.
The language name is used alone and takes no article.
She is studying the English language.
Она изучает английский язык.
The is used because English modifies the countable noun language.
He speaks Spanish fluently.
Он свободно говорит по-испански.
Spanish is used alone as a language name.
The Spanish language has influenced many varieties of American English.
Испанский язык повлиял на многие разновидности американского английского.
The is used before the noun language in the specific noun phrase.
They are learning Japanese.
Они изучают японский язык.
Japanese alone does not take an article.
The Japanese language has several levels of politeness.
В японском языке существует несколько уровней вежливости.
The is used because Japanese modifies the noun language.
English is difficult for some learners.
Английский труден для некоторых учащихся.
English is the language name itself and has zero article.
The English language used in legal documents can be very formal.
Английский язык, используемый в юридических документах, может быть очень формальным.
The identifies a particular form or use of the language.
Do not use an article before the names of academic subjects.
Examples include mathematics, history, chemistry, biology and economics.
I study mathematics.
Я изучаю математику.
Mathematics is an academic subject and takes no article.
She likes history.
Она любит историю.
History is used without an article as a school subject.
My daughter is taking chemistry this semester.
Моя дочь изучает химию в этом семестре.
Chemistry is used without an article as an academic subject.
He studied biology in college.
Он изучал биологию в колледже.
Biology is a subject name and normally takes no article.
She majored in economics at a university in California.
Она специализировалась на экономике в университете в Калифорнии.
Economics is used without an article as the name of a field of study.
Computer science is popular among students interested in technology.
Информатика популярна среди студентов, интересующихся технологиями.
Computer science is used without an article as an academic field.
She decided to study environmental science after taking a biology course.
Она решила изучать экологические науки после курса биологии.
Environmental science is a subject name and takes no article.
He combines economics with computer science in his graduate research.
Он сочетает экономику с информатикой в своем исследовании в магистратуре.
Both subject names are used without articles.
Use the when referring to a particular course, field of study or subject made specific by context.
Compare "History is my favourite subject." and "The history we studied this semester focused on ancient Rome."
History is my favorite subject.
История — мой любимый предмет.
History is general here and refers to the subject as a whole.
The history we studied this semester focused on ancient Rome.
История, которую мы изучали в этом семестре, была сосредоточена на Древнем Риме.
The is used because the relative clause identifies a specific body of history studied.
I enjoy biology.
Мне нравится биология.
Biology is general and takes no article.
The biology we covered in class was more difficult than I expected.
Биология, которую мы проходили на занятиях, была сложнее, чем я ожидал.
The identifies the particular material studied in class.
She is taking chemistry this year.
В этом году она изучает химию.
Chemistry is the general name of the subject.
The chemistry of these compounds is surprisingly complex.
Химия этих соединений на удивление сложна.
The makes chemistry specific by the of-phrase.
She is studying economics.
Она изучает экономику.
Economics is a general academic field.
The economics of the proposed policy are being debated in Congress.
Экономические аспекты предложенной политики обсуждаются в Конгрессе.
The identifies a specific body or aspect of economic analysis.
Use an article when a language or subject name is modified and functions as a countable noun phrase.
Examples include "a difficult English course", "the mathematics of probability" and "the French spoken in Canada".
She is taking a difficult English course this semester.
В этом семестре она изучает сложный курс английского языка.
English modifies the countable noun course, so the noun phrase takes a.
The English spoken in this part of the country has some regional features.
Английский язык, на котором говорят в этой части страны, имеет некоторые региональные особенности.
The makes English specific because it is modified by a participial phrase.
I enrolled in an advanced mathematics course.
Я записался на продвинутый курс математики.
A is used because mathematics modifies the countable noun course.
The mathematics of probability can be challenging.
Математика теории вероятностей может быть сложной.
The makes mathematics specific through the of-phrase.
She is studying a French course designed for beginners.
Она изучает курс французского языка для начинающих.
A is used with the countable noun course, which is modified by French.
The French spoken in parts of Canada differs from the French taught in many U.S. schools.
Французский язык, на котором говорят в некоторых районах Канады, отличается от французского, которому учат во многих школах США.
The identifies particular varieties of French.
He took a biology course at a community college in Texas.
Он прошел курс биологии в муниципальном колледже в Техасе.
Biology modifies the countable noun course, so a is used.
The history of the American Civil War was the focus of the course.
История Гражданской войны в США была центральной темой курса.
The makes history specific through the following of-phrase.
Meals, languages and academic subjects normally take the zero article unless they refer to a specific instance or are made definite by context.
Learners often add unnecessary articles before these nouns. Always decide whether the reference is general or specific.
We had breakfast at seven.
Мы позавтракали в семь.
Do not add an article when referring to breakfast generally.
The breakfast at the hotel was excellent.
Завтрак в отеле был превосходным.
The is correct because a particular breakfast is identified.
She speaks English.
Она говорит по-английски.
Language names normally take the zero article.
She is studying the English language.
Она изучает английский язык.
The is used because English modifies the countable noun language.
I study chemistry.
Я изучаю химию.
Academic subjects generally take no article.
The chemistry we studied was difficult.
Химия, которую мы изучали, была сложной.
The is required because a modifier identifies specific chemistry.
She took a difficult English course.
Она прошла сложный курс английского языка.
A is required with the singular countable noun course.
The English spoken in her hometown is different from the English she learned in school.
Английский язык, на котором говорят в ее родном городе, отличается от английского, которому она училась в школе.
The is appropriate because each language variety is made specific by additional information.