English language in all it's simplicity.

[Aahz]

All general conversation about English language should take place here.

[--Zap--]

We must write down it this theme some grammar???

[Aahz]

Very good question. I would've preffer to make it in the form of conversation. This is much simplier way to learn foreign language.

[Алексей++]

Aahz, I ready to hear u like i am a schoolboy listening Englisn for the thirst time

beat me for my mistakes

[Aahz]

Well... let's begin with simple stuff. Should anyone have questions, don't hesitate to post them here.

The subject of today's discussion is : "Articles, what are those, and how to eat them..."

Sometimes there are needs to describe certain object or subject, without mentioning him directly... Sometimes there are needs to describe something without specifying an object... How to do it? Simple answer -- use an article. There are only 2 of them in English, and they are easy to learn and remember. Meet them :
"The" and "A".
As you're probably know by now, The is definitive (определенный) article, and, A is tentative (неопределенный) article.
It's good, but how can we remember when to use them???
To answer this question let's take some look into the history of each of them.
When kids are growing, they become to be so-called "Why-kids"... but no one ever pays attention to another word, they've using very often (as much as "why")... The word is That or it's sister This or their brothers Those.... "what's that?" or "why is this?", "how are those?"
That, this ,those.... That, this, those.... there should be some way to point to object without a finger... RIGHT! YES! Nice to meet you, "The"...

So, now we know the history of "The"... But how can "A" appear in the language (english)??.

Let's try to remember a situation, when you were saying something, then suddenly forgot a word for something... you start to remember, to search for it... but time goes... how do you fill up the pause??? Right, with "Aaaaaaaa" sound (звук "Ээээээ...."). Repeated many times, this sound become to be tentative arcticle in the language.

Just remember this small history fact. It will help you a lot while learning an articles.

Any questions? No? So here is some homework to you. Try to figure out why there is "an" form of the "a". [/b]

[Алексей++]

as i've undestood, to tell "a apple" is a some troubling

an apple sounds softly...

[MOPO3]

This is a very good story with good examples

[Aahz]

as i've undestood, to tell "a apple" is a some troubling

an apple sounds softly...

Well.... No. Any other attempt?

[x77]

as far as i remember, before open syllables or consonant "h".

[Aahz]

I haven't asked "when", i've asked "why".

[npak]

I haven't asked "when", i've asked "why".

Rumors are, the article 'a' is a decendant of the numeral "one".  May be it is there where the origin of the questionable 'n' resides?

It is omitted before consonants but is still there between 'a' and following vocals.

Is this a proper answer?

[Aahz]

Almost right. Except that initial for of 'A' was 'An', and even 'Aand' (6th century) (That's right, double a!!!).

[x77]

Aahz, do other questions supposed?

[Алёна]

I ready to hear u like

I am sorry!

How translate word - u. I did not see this word  earlier.

[x77]

Алёна, actually, it's not a word. it's transcription: you

u r welcome == you are welcome - sounds similar.

[baldr]

Did you ever see how some nations, Indians, for example, speaks English? They have English as a second official language and they think they can do all they want with it.
Not only "U" and other abbreviations they're use.
Unfortunately, I have a big correspondence with Indians, Chinas, French, Brasilian and other colleguaes. It became too difficult to understand what they're want if they use these words...

[Алексей++]

im tryig to correct
Correct me too if i'll correct incorrectly  

Did you ever see

"have you ever seen" imho...

what they're want if they use these words...

what they want ...

[npak]

baldr, you use abbreviation 're followed by verb in indefinite form.

too difficult to understand what they're want

If you use 're then put the following verb into -ing from (present continious)

Still I would suggest you using present simple here because you describe a regular action that takes place in the present and may happen in the future as well.

[baldr]

npak, as far as I know, "want" does not used with "ing". Am I right?

[Алёна]

actually, it's not a word. it's transcription: you

So, I can employ in text U for YOU. Will it correctly. Or, it will not correctly.

[Алексей++]

baldr, i think u don't right

for example i can say:

1) "a man wanting to live forever"

2) "wanting strongly always getting he wants"  (sorry for possible associations )

[Алексей++]

Алёна, it is like our "чё" instead "что"
or "слива!" instead "счастливо!"

[npak]

baldr, you are right (to some extent).  Using "want" in continious times is not allowed in high quality English.  Neveretheless, try the queries "is wanting" or "are wanting" in Google.  The results are oppressive ...  

Passive voice is another issue in your posting:

"want" does not used with ...

It should sound like: "want" is not used with ...

Алексей1153,

i think u don't right

"don't" must be followed by a verb in the indefinite form.  In this particular case you'd better use "I think you are not right" and better "I suppose your statement is not correct".  English is a more sensitive language than Russian is (at least British English in high society) and they prefer using mild statements.

As for "wanting", I suppose baldr was talking about using "want" in continious times.  Taking his question this way it is a correct (almost) statement.  Your examples show other grammer features.  

The first "wanting",

"a man wanting to live forever"

is a participle 1, very close to Russian причастие -- "человек, желающий жить вечно".

The second "wanting",

"wanting strongly always getting he wants"

is a gerund. (well, this phrase seems to be gramatically incorrect; may be "wanting strongly is getting always of one wants" is a better choice).  Gerund serves as a noun here, the subject. The sentence might be roughly expressed in Russian as "сильное хотение -- обязательное обретение желаемого".

In other words, where is the will, there is the way  

[npak]

Алексей1153, instead of

stead ~ place, therefore "instead of" ~ "in place of"

[Алексей++]

8)

[spiage]

It was realy nice idea to create this forum
And using language is not hard to understand
Thanx for the topic  
And now I can say "I know enough about it"  
And I hope to learn english with your help better
And an idea for you - may be it is possible to make chat to talk "live"?

[Гром]

spiage,

And an idea for you - may be it is possible to make chat to talk "live"?

Where?

[--Zap--]

spiage,

And an idea for you - may be it is possible to make chat to talk "live"?

Where?

I think it will be good, if we will have got  chat on this site!!!!

[Sashok]

Я, конечно, дико извиняюсь, но я уж лучше по-русски.
Итак, несколько комментариев:

I would've preffer...

То, что сокращение would've малоупотребительно - черт с ним. Но уж preffer должно быть с одним f, а в упомянутой конструкции - непременно с окончанием -ed

This is much simplier way to learn foreign language.

А правильно "This is a much simpler way to learn a foreign language". Кстати, simpler, а не simplier, поскольку сравнительная форма образована от прилагательного simple, а не от наречия simply.

...schoolboy listening Englisn for the thirst time...

Есть такое слово "thirst". Означает "жажда".

Ну, и так далее. В основном - неправильное употребление артиклей и времен.

Пожалуйста, только не воспринимайте этот комментарий как попытку кого-либо задеть. Тему подняли, на мой взгляд, очень полезную. Если будет время - постараюсь тоже поучаствовать, хотя большим специалистом в языке себя не считаю.

[Алексей++]

Sashok,   это я ступил (это я насчёт "first")

i was in very dark mind - правильно?