Другие случаи употребления неопределенного артикля

- В некоторых случаях неопределенный артикль сохранил значение числительного one.

He did not say a word.

A complete vibration or oscillation means a round trip.

The velocity of light is 186,300 miles a second.

The case weighs a (one) hundred pounds.

A stitch in time saves nine.

- Неопределенный артикль обычно стоит перед существительным или его определением:

- в восклицательных предложениях типа: What a beautiful picture! What a clever man!

- перед исчисляемым существительным в единственном числе после such, quite и rather:

It is rather a long story. She is such a clever girl!

(В последних двух случаях перед исчисляемыми существительными во множественном числе и перед неисчисляемыми существительными артикль отсутствует.)

Однако, неопределенный артикль может стоять между прилагательным и существительным в единственном числе, если ему предшествуют усилительные частицы и местоимения, типа what, such, many, quite, rather, so и too:

It is not so simple a problem as it is seems.

It is too urgent a matter to postpone.

Only later was it discovered what fruitful a theory it was.

Однако: Such a laborious procedure is obviously not suitable for routine identifications.

- Неопределенный артикль используется также в ряде сочетаний и выражений:

обозначающих количество: a lot of, a great deal of, a good deal of, a great number of, a good many, a great many; a few, a little;

с предлогами: at a time when; at a time; for a long time; in a loud voice; on a large scale; as a result of; as a matter of fact;

в сочетании с глаголами: to be a success / in a hurry; it is a pity; to have a mind / a cold / a good time / a look / a headache; to take a seat; to go for a walk; to make a living и др.

Упр.1.1.2.a. Поставьте a/an, где необходимо.

a. It is ___ pleasure to do ___ business with such ___ efficient organization.

b. I have ___ headache.

c. I have ___ pain in my shoulder.

d. You must be strong in ___ mind and body.

e. If they had ___ mind to, they could easily get it published..

f. Oh, I know there’s no danger, but I’m ____ little frightened all the same.

g. ___ Little of the equipment was standardized.

h. It is possible to make ___ very good living from being a businessman.

i. The quality of ___ urban living has been damaged by excessive noise levels.

j. He was one of ___ few men of science who never terrified me, probably because he never behaved like ___ doctor.