Use of articles in English.
Hi all,

Could anyone please help me on below sentence:
"I’d like to describe picture #3." - There is no article in this sentence and it's absolutely acceptable. I know that, because it was an example from an English exam, and because grammarly.com shows there is no mistake.
But when I use the same without "#3" part or by adding there something else, some words, not signs, grammarly shows that "an" or "the" article is needed.

Does anyone know why?

Thanks a ton!

Question

Use of articles in English.
Hi all,

Could anyone please help me on below sentence:
"I’d like to describe picture #3." - There is no article in this sentence and it's absolutely acceptable. I know that, because it was an example from an English exam, and because grammarly.com shows there is no mistake.
But when I use the same without "#3" part or by adding there something else, some words, not signs, grammarly shows that "an" or "the" article is needed.

Does anyone know why?

Thanks a ton!

Answer

It is a convention in English to use a number to describe a thing and put it after the noun it describes, when normally an adjective would precede a noun, although there are many exceptions. When describing a specific thing, the article would be required. When an unspecified thing is described, an indefinite article would be required. In some cases, there are articles used when describing a noun with a number, ie. The Third Man. The 24 Steps.

In this case, you are specifying, modifying or identifying the picture by saying it is #3. (# is a placeholder for the word 'number', which is the normal English construction).

Without specifying the number, you need an article.
to describe a picture (to describe a bright picture)
to describe the picture (to describe the black and white picture)

In the same way, giving the picture a number is also giving it a definite or indefinite article.

...to describe the third picture.
...to describe a third picture.

...describe man number 2 (...describe the second man)
...describe building number 1 (...describe the first building)

Great question.

Answer

An article is used to signify which object you are referring to. When it says #3 it is clear which picture the speaker is referring. When you don’t say #3 you must use an article to show which picture you are talking about.

‘I would like to describe a picture’ focuses on the fact that you want to DESCRIBE a picture (any picture)

‘I would like to describe the picture’ refers to a picture known to both you and the listener, for example the picture in front of you.

Answer

"picture #3"  is one thing, treated more of a name.  the #3 modifies picture.
"I'ld like you to describe picture number three."
"I'ld like you to describe John."       "I'ld like you to describe Alla."
"I'ld like you to describe a table."   "I'ld like to you describe the box." 
"I'ld like you to describe sign #3."

Answers · 4

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