A - Revision history

Sashi: /* syntax */

2020-03-13T18:10:01Z

‎syntax

2020-03-13T18:08:11Z

‎indefinite article

2013-05-15T20:38:49Z

‎syntax

2013-02-02T04:15:06Z

‎indefinite article

2013-02-02T04:14:15Z

‎syntax

2013-02-02T04:13:57Z

‎syntax

2013-02-02T04:13:13Z

‎syntax

2013-02-02T04:12:58Z

‎syntax

2013-02-02T04:12:33Z

‎syntax

2013-02-02T04:10:42Z

‎syntax

@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
 It likewise contrasts with cardinal numbers  followed by a plural noun and <span style="color:maroon;">no</span>) followed by a singular noun (uncountables: no <span style="color:#660066;">software</span>) or a plural noun (countables:  <span style="color:#660066;">no problem(s)</span>).
-It also contrasts with the definite article [[the]].</p>
+It also contrasts with the definite article ''[[the]]''.</p>
 It can be pre-modified by a number of pre-determiners:
@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
 *Ironing is <u>such</u> a waste of time.
 *(There's) <u>Never</u> a dull moment with them.
-*<u>Many</u> a man said <u>nary</u> a word.  (in "literary" language: "nary" = "not" (perhaps from '''ne'er''' + '''-y'''))
+*<u>Many</u> a man said <u>nary</u> a word.  (in "literary" language: "nary" = "not" (perhaps from ''ne'er'' + ''-y''))
 *That's <u>quite</u> a story!

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 =indefinite article=
-<span style="color:maroon;">a</span> is called an indefinite article or indefinite determiner<sup>1</sup> because in a noun phrase (NP) like "a solution", no definite solution is necessarily referred to:
+<span style="color:maroon;">a</span> is called an indefinite article or indefinite determiner<sup style="font-size:72%;">1</sup> because in a noun phrase (NP) like "a solution", no definite solution is necessarily referred to:
 *I'm sure we'll be able to find <u>a solution</u>.  I have no idea what it will look like, but we'll find <u>one</u>.
@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 ==syntax==
 <hr>
-<sup>1</sup>In modern grammar, articles are said to "determine" nouns, along with other words once considered to be adjectives, but which are now considered to be determiners (possessives for example:  your, her, our, his, their, my; quantifiers: any, many, no, some...).
+<sup style="font-size:72%;">1</sup> <span style="font-size:72%;">In modern grammar, articles are said to "determine" nouns, along with other words once considered to be adjectives, but which are now considered to be determiners (possessives for example:  your, her, our, his, their, my; quantifiers: any, many, no, some...).</span>
 =indefinite determiner=
 [[Category: 100-en]]

@@ Line 57: / Line 57: @@
 <hr>
-<sup>1</sup>In modern grammar, articles are said to "determine" nouns, along with other words once considered to be adjectives, but now are considered to be determiners (possessives for example:  your, her, our, his, their, my; quantifiers: any, many, no, some...).
+<sup>1</sup>In modern grammar, articles are said to "determine" nouns, along with other words once considered to be adjectives, but which are now considered to be determiners (possessives for example:  your, her, our, his, their, my; quantifiers: any, many, no, some...).
 =indefinite determiner=
 [[Category: 100-en]]

@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 <p>It can be pre-modified by a number of pre-determiners:
-<ul style="color:#660066;">
+<ul type="examples">
 <li><u>What</u> a mess!</li>
 <li>Ironing is <u>such</u> a waste of time.</li>

@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
 <p>It also contrasts with the definite article [[the]].</p>
-<p style="color:#660066;">It can be pre-modified by a number of pre-determiners:
+<p>It can be pre-modified by a number of pre-determiners:
-<ul>
+<ul style="color:#660066;">
 <li><u>What</u> a mess!</li>
 <li>Ironing is <u>such</u> a waste of time.</li>

@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 <p>It likewise contrasts with cardinal numbers  followed by a plural noun and <span style="color:maroon;">no</span>) followed by a singular noun (uncountables: no <span style="color:#660066;">software</span>) or a plural noun (countables:  <span style="color:#660066;">no problem(s)</span>).</p>
-<p>It also contrasts with the definite article [the].</p>
+<p>It also contrasts with the definite article [[the]].</p>
 <p>It can be pre-modified by a number of pre-determiners:

@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 <p>It can be pre-modified by a number of pre-determiners:
 <ul>
-<li>What a mess!</li>
+<li><u>What</u> a mess!</li>
-<li>Ironing is such a waste of time.</li>
+<li>Ironing is <u>such</u> a waste of time.</li>
-<li>(There's) Never a dull moment with them.</li>
+<li>(There's) <u>Never</u> a dull moment with them.</li>
-<li>Many a man said nary a word.</li>  (langue marquée littéraire, "nary" = "not" (perhaps from <i>ne'er</i> + -<i>y</i>))</li>
+<li><u>Many</u> a man said <u>nary</u> a word.  (langue marquée littéraire, "nary" = "not" (perhaps from <i>ne'er</i> + -<i>y</i>))</li>
 </ul>

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 <p>
 <span style="color:maroon;">a</span> or <span style="color:maroon;">an</span> can only precede a singular common noun (which itself can be preceded by adjectives).  It can precede some present participles, particularly those which have been reanalyzed as nouns:  A drubbing, a reading, etc.  These cases remain quite rare, contrary to the way in which these participles are used in French:  un footing, un jogging, un pressing, etc.  All of these borrowings represent French syntax, not English syntax. </p>
-<p>It contrasts with the zero article which precedes indefinite plural nouns:  <span style="color:#660066;">There are __ problems with the contract</span>.  </p>
+<p>It contrasts with the <u>zero</u> article which precedes indefinite plural nouns:  <span style="color:#660066;">There are __ problems with the contract</span>.  </p>
 <p>It likewise contrasts with cardinal numbers  followed by a plural noun and <span style="color:maroon;">no</span>) followed by a singular noun (uncountables: no <span style="color:#660066;">software</span>) or a plural noun (countables:  <span style="color:#660066;">no problem(s)</span>).</p>