Subj : Wall
To   : Gleb Hlebov
From : Ardith Hinton
Date : Sat Dec 28 2024 19:42:35

Hi, Gleb!  Recently you wrote in a message to Alexander Koryagin:

GH>  Again, as you may surmise, using articles is tricky.

           Yes, I've noticed over the years that my Russian correspondents tend to have difficulty with articles in English.  Based on what little I understand of the Russian language I figure I'd have a very similar problem there....  :-)


GH>  I'd say that you rely too much on dictionaries and try
GH>  to over-formalise your approach to language learning

           !?  I conclude your preferred learning styles differ.  Alexander has been actively involved here for a long time & what he's doing seems to work for him.  I probably own more dictionaries & refer to them more often than a lot of other people do.  I'd like to think I help my readers use them more efficiently
.... but you may not have been here long enough to notice I say on occasion "Did you continue reading as far as definition #12, where I found the answer?"  :-))


GH>  in real life, in fiction, newspapers/magazines, talk
GH>  shows etc., it may at times look a bit different.

           If you want to see & hear native speakers saying "would of never" in our local news or some advertiser telling you the XYZ Company is best qualified to update your windows because they are "real perfessionals" it certainly does. I don't rely on these sources for examples of good English usage...


GH>  In our case I'd say it's an "object vs. substance" thing.

           (which any dictionary I'd give house room to will probably tell you)


GH>  Here are some instances from a website I find suitable:

GH>        "Brick" as substance/material:

GH>        "Drilling into brick is a key DIY skill, needed for
GH>  all kinds of home improvement projects."

           ... but I understand & appreciate that native speakers tend to learn by example while dictionaries cut these things short.  We all have our talents. If you know how how to find material such as the above, I'm most grateful.  :-)


AK>  The Great Chinese wall is "wall" or "a wall" if I approach
AK>  to it?

GH>  It can only be referred to as THE Wall, given its singular and
GH>  unique nature (the same as the Moon, the Earth's only natural
GH>  satellite). No other options here. :-)

           To Alexander I'd say "I were to approach it" or "I approached it"... to you I'd say something more like "You've never heard of Hadrian's Wall?"  :-Q




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