What should be used in front of abbreviations?

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 680.

Are the demonstratives (“this”, “that”, “these”, “those”) used correctly?

Which article, if any, should be used?

a. The expression “a number of” means “several” or “many” and takes a plural verb.

The expression “the number of” refers to a group and takes a singular verb.

A large number of producers suffer a loss when goods
go bad.

The number of producers has fallen because of the
economic crisis.

b. Sometimes an article is used to show a specific meaning.

A knowledge of economics is important to everyone now.

If the demonstrative is followed by an adjective, “one”, or “ones” must be used.

I need a job. I'll get this part-time one.

But: We do not say my one(s), your one(s), etc. Instead we say mine, yours, ... etc.

Your car isn't fast enough. Let's take mine.

But one(s) can be used with a possessive if there is an adjective.

Let's take your new one.

a. We make abbreviations with the first letters of the most important words. We then treat these abbreviations like ordinary nouns and use them with a/an, the or zero.

I've just bought a DVD. (= digital videodisc or digital versatile disc)

We use an + vowel sound (an E.D.P. = Electronic Data
Processing) and a + consonant sound (a VW = a Volkswagen).

b. We use a/an and full stops with titles: She is an M.A. (= Master of Arts).

c. We use the in front of institutions when we can't say them as single words. We don't use full stops:

I listen to the news on the BBC

(=the British Broadcasting Corporation).

We are members of UNESCO