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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
A coat and the coat - interpretation
Hi, I was wondering if I can get a definitive response about this.
Please assume that in both sentences below the underlined noun is being introduced for the first time.
He put on a coat that he liked to wear in winter.
The coat has not been mentioned before. This sentence is like 2 sentences in one: he put on a coat, and that coat he liked to wear in winter. Possibly (but not necessarily) it's not the only coat.
He put on the coat he liked to wear in winter.
The coat has not been mentioned before. The definite article suggests that there was definitely only 1 coat he liked to wear in winter. This is more restrictive.
Is that a good interpretation?
Please assume that in both sentences below the underlined noun is being introduced for the first time.
He put on a coat that he liked to wear in winter.
The coat has not been mentioned before. This sentence is like 2 sentences in one: he put on a coat, and that coat he liked to wear in winter. Possibly (but not necessarily) it's not the only coat.
He put on the coat he liked to wear in winter.
The coat has not been mentioned before. The definite article suggests that there was definitely only 1 coat he liked to wear in winter. This is more restrictive.
Is that a good interpretation?
Top answer
Yes, you understand it well. Using "a" indicates that there might be more than one coat he liked to wear in winter. Using "the" the implication is that he had one coat he liked to wear in winter.
- Yes, you understand it well.
- Using "a" indicates that there might be more than one coat he liked to wear in winter.
- Using "the" the implication is that he had one coat he liked to wear in winter.
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2 Answers
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Yes, you understand it well. Using "a" indicates that there might be more than one coat he liked to wear in winter. Using "the" the implication is that he had one coat he liked to wear in winter.
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EnglishmavenYes, you understand it well. Using "a" indicates that there might be more than one coat he liked to wear in winter. Using "the" the implication is that he had one coat he liked to wear in winter.Thank you, that's good.
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