Article after what/help

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Article after what/help
Message from a_limon posted on 02-05-2012 at 13:38:18 (D | E | F)
Hello,

Could you please tell me when it is necessary to put an article before a noun after "what" in questions.
Must it be an article "the" Or "a"? What a ...? What the ...?
I know only it is necessary to put the article "a" after "what" in exclamatory sentences.
What a nice day today!
But I'm not sure about interrogative sentences,(questions)
Thanks in advance.

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Edited by lucile83 on 02-05-2012 14:02

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Re: Article after what/help from notrepere, posted on 02-05-2012 at 15:20:40 (D | E)
Hello

With a plural noun, no article.
What nice dogs you have.

With a singular noun, you need an article.
What a wonderful meal this is.

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Re: Article after what/help from a_limon, posted on 02-05-2012 at 19:07:34 (D | E)
to notrepere

With a plural noun, no article.
What a wonderful meal you have.

With a singular noun, you need an article.
What a wonderful meal this is.
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no definite article, even if we mean the concrete cats (cat)? (the cats (cat) you have)
What the cat(s) you have!
Is it possible to omit "you have" and "this is"
What a wonderful meal!
When we mean uncountable abstract concept like "weather", is it necessary to put article after "what"?
What nice weather!

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Re: Article after what/help from notrepere, posted on 03-05-2012 at 01:34:41 (D | E)
Hello

What the cat(s) you have! Cette phrase n'a aucun sens.
How many cats do you have?
What nice cats (you have/these are)!
What big eyes you have, said Little Red Riding Hood.
What a big nose you have.

Is it possible to omit "you have" and "this is"
What a wonderful meal! OK

When we mean uncountable abstract concept like "weather", is it necessary to put article after "what"?
What nice weather! OK

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