Levitan

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

I’m preparing for my exams and practise English Grammer with tests. Here is one of them.

  1. Choose the answer which correctly completes the sentences
    I’m fond of painting, especially landscapes. … Levitan picture is hanging in my living-room.
    A) a / The
    B) - / A
    C) the / The
    D) - / The

I suppose the answer is (B), but my teacher says (D). But I don’t understand why the correct answer is (D). My teacher was not able to explain it to me. Is “Levitan” an adjective here.

Thanks.

2

I agree with you. The sentences should be:

I’m fond of painting, especially landscapes. A Levitan picture is hanging in my living-room.

The artist’s name is Levitan. He did more than one painting, so saying “The Levitan picture” would not make as much sense to me.

3

Thanks, Luschen.

So If we mean one of the works (the listener don’t know which work) painted by someone we can use article “a” or “an”.

I’m fond of painting, especially paintings by Levitan. The “Mountains” picture is hanging in my living-room. Is this right?
(We consider that “Mountains” is the name of work. The work is called “Mountains”)

4

Yes, I would leave out “picture” though. Also saying “I’m fond of painting” means you like to paint. So instead I would say:

I’m fond of art, especially paintings by Levitan. The “Mountains” is hanging in my living-room.

5

Thanks a lot