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Zbig Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
A and The
Hi.
i) A library is just as important as a grocery store.
ii) The library is just as important as the grocery store.
i) An artist is just as important as a businessman.
ii) The artist is just as important as the businessman.
Can I choose whichever one? I am dealing with abstractions here - importance to society.
I understand the use of the indefinite article means in this context that 'any library is just as important as any grocery store' and 'any artist is just as important as any businessman'.
'The' - the library and the artist are imagined as general identities and what applies to the general entity must apply to its individual members.
Is this right?
i) A library is just as important as a grocery store.
ii) The library is just as important as the grocery store.
i) An artist is just as important as a businessman.
ii) The artist is just as important as the businessman.
Can I choose whichever one? I am dealing with abstractions here - importance to society.
I understand the use of the indefinite article means in this context that 'any library is just as important as any grocery store' and 'any artist is just as important as any businessman'.
'The' - the library and the artist are imagined as general identities and what applies to the general entity must apply to its individual members.
Is this right?
Top answer
zbig Is this right? Yes. The examples with "the" may be generic or specific.
- zbig Is this right?
- Yes.
- The examples with "the" may be generic or specific.
- Most of the time if we have no context to tell us otherwise, we think of "the" as specific.
- As I understand it, your explanation is of the generic type of "the".
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5 Answers
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zbigIs this right?Yes. The examples with "the" may be generic or specific. Most of the time if we have no context to tell us otherwise, we think of "the" as specific. As I understand it, your explanation is of the generic type of "the".
CJ
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CalifJimYes. The examples with "the" may be generic or specific. Most of the time if we have no context to tell us otherwise, we think of "the" as specific. As I understand it, your explanation is of the generic type of "the".Thank you, sir. Your understanding is correct. If I used the indefinite article "a", that wouldn't be grammatically wrong, would it?
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zbigIf I used the indefinite article "a", that wouldn't be grammatically wrong, would it?No. That also creates generic statements.
CJ
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Thank you, sir. It's nice to know I have that choice. Please allow me to thank you for your help on behalf of myself and all other users who don't thank you as often as you deserve.
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