Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[fw]

Hello everyone.

I looked in some dictionaries for the definition of the word �astronomy.� I�m wondering whether the word �stars� in their definition sentences should have the article �the� in front of it.

For example, �Cambridge Dictionary of American English� defines it as:
the scientific study of the universe as a whole and of objects that exist naturally in space, such as the stars.

(1) If �the stars� above were �stars�, without �the�, would it be grammatically incorrect?

�Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary�, on the other hand, defines it as:
the scientific study of the universe and of objects which exist naturally in space, such as the moon, the sun, planets and stars.

(2) If �planets and stars� above were �the planets and stars�, without �the�, would it be grammatically incorrect?

Best regards,
Fw

[lotus]

Hi fw,

QUOTE:
I looked in some dictionaries for the definition of the word �astronomy.� I�m wondering whether the word �stars� in their definition sentences should have the article �the� in front of it.

For example, �Cambridge Dictionary of American English� defines it as: the scientific study of the universe as a whole and of objects that exist naturally in space, such as the stars.

(1) If �the stars� above were �stars�, without �the�, would it be grammatically incorrect?

- It would be grammatically correct, but not as clear. Stars are objects in the sky. But when we speak of them as types of objects, we say "the stars." This is usually in the context of describing different heavenly objects - such as the sun, the moon and the stars.

QUOTE:
�Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary�, on the other hand, defines it as: the scientific study of the universe and of objects which exist naturally in space, such as the moon, the sun, planets and stars.


(2) If �planets and stars� above were �the planets and stars�, without �the�, would it be grammatically incorrect?

- I would've re-written the definition (putting "the" in front of all heavenly objects):
"The scientific study of the universe and of objects which exist naturally in space such as the moon, the sun, the planets and the stars."
Just joining the planets and stars together and not the moon and sun doesn't make sense, since they�re attempting to list individual (types) of objects. If they had intended to put planets and stars together, it should have read "such as the moon, the sun, and the planets and stars (as you had suggested). It's possible (but not likely) that there was a typo and they meant to say "such as the moon (and) the sun, planets and stars.

When we speak of these four types of objects, we usually say:

"the sun and the moon"
"the planets and stars"
"the sun, the moon and the stars"

In the first phrase, the article �the� is used because they are large heavenly objects we see every day (and night). The sun and the moon are the most visible objects in our solar system.

In the second phrase, the planets and stars are conjoined together because they are the most remote visible objects in the night sky and do not appear to move (planets actually do move).

In the last (very common) phrase, they are all thought of as individual celestial objects which we notice every day and night.

�Stars� seem to hang at the end of these phrases because they are the only objects that twinkle and are immovable in the celestial sky. Their permanent positions create the constellations.

In Astrology, the moon and the planets are important; because it is their movement and proximity to each other, which are used to determine our fates.

A related area of study to Astronomy is Cosmology. This is the study of the history and origins of the Universe. It�s a very interesting field of study.


--lotus