Page 87 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

6
proper nouns (names)
7
We do not usually use the with singular proper nouns (there are some exceptions - see 70.17-18).
Mary lives in Switzerland. (NOT The MayY ntJ€8in the Swit:eerlantl.) But note the use of the (pronounced 10i:/) with a person's name to mean 'the well-known'.
My name's James Bond. - What, not the James Bond? things in general
We usually use no article, not the, to talk about things in general- the does not mean 'all'. (For details and exceptions, see 68.)
Books are expensive. (NOT The b66ks are aol'€ltsive.) Life is hard. (NOT The life is htt,Yi.)
8 pronunciation
The is normally pronounced 10i:1 before a vowel and 10ai before a consonant. Compare:
the ice IfJi: alsl the snow lOa snaul
The choice between 10i:1 and lOaI depends on pronunciation, not spelling. We pronounce 10i:1 before a vowel sound, even if it is written as a consonant.
the hour 10i: 'aua(r)1 the MP 10i: em 'ptl
And we pronounce 10ai before a consonant sound, even if it is written as a vowel.
the university lOa ju:ru'v3:satil
the one-pound coin lOa 'WAD 'paund 'komi
We sometimes pronounce a stressed 10i:1 before a hesitation, or when we want to stress the following word, even if it begins with a consonant.
He's the 10i:1 - just a moment - deputy assistant vice-president. I've found the 10i:1 present for Angela!
For rite rOllin, rite Calmny, rite sea, rile moumains, etc, see 69.4. For on cite bllS, ac rite Itairdresser's, etc, see 69.5.
For other advanced points, see 69.
65 articles (5): more about alan 1 countable and uncountable nouns
Countable nouns are the names of separate objects, people, ideas etc which we can count.
a cat - three cats
a secretary - four secretaries a plan - two plans
Uncountable nouns are the names of materials, liquids and other things which we do not usually see as separate objects.
wool (BUT NOT a W66i, tW6 W661s)
water (BUT NOT a ftHlter, three ftHlters) weather (BUT NOT a weaH.er, fof:tr weathers) energy (BUT NOT aff energy, several energies)
For more detailed information, see 148-149.
articles (5): more about alan 65
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