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Tijay Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
a first step vs the first step
Is there any difference between the following sentences:
1.A first step is always the hardest
2.The first step is always the hardest
And how could you comment on the difference between them? Is the first one totally unacceptable?
1.A first step is always the hardest
2.The first step is always the hardest
And how could you comment on the difference between them? Is the first one totally unacceptable?
Top answer
"The first step" seems natural to me. There can just be one first step, and therefore, 'the' should be used. 'A' is generally used wherein you can think of more than one things.
- "The first step" seems natural to me.
- There can just be one first step, and therefore, 'the' should be used.
- 'A' is generally used wherein you can think of more than one things.
- A teacher always looks to help his/her students.
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9 Answers
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"The first step" seems natural to me. There can just be one first step, and therefore, 'the' should be used. 'A' is generally used wherein you can think of more than one things.
A teacher always looks to help his/her students.
A teacher always looks to help his/her students.
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But if the speaker wants to stress that the order is not completed, the ordinal acquires descriptive force and the noun is to be used with the definite article.
I am inclined to accept your proposal if what you have done so far is to be looked upon only as a beginning, as a first step in our enterprise.
English articles: a practical course with exercises by Spasov
I am inclined to accept your proposal if what you have done so far is to be looked upon only as a beginning, as a first step in our enterprise.
English articles: a practical course with exercises by Spasov
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There are 749 citations for 'a first step' in COCA, so it's widely used and accepted.
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Tijay1.A first step is always the hardest2.The first step is always the hardestBoth are correct.
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You're right; however, the above sentence wouldn't make sense if you use "a" instead of "the". Try this "A first step is always the key". 'A' at the beginning makes little sense, agreed?
Consider "the key". it can't be "a key" now; right? We're stressing upon the most important thing, and you understand what it is, without my actually mentioning the same.
Consider "the key". it can't be "a key" now; right? We're stressing upon the most important thing, and you understand what it is, without my actually mentioning the same.
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Well, now that fivejedjon is saying "it's accepted", I'd love to understand more on this.
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I'm sorry, but there is a mistake in my quatation:
But if the speaker wants to stress that the order is not completed, the ordinal acquires descriptive force and the noun is to be used with the indefinite article.
I am inclined to accept your proposal if what you have done so far is to be looked upon only as a beginning, as a first step in our enterprise.
But if the speaker wants to stress that the order is not completed, the ordinal acquires descriptive force and the noun is to be used with the indefinite article.
I am inclined to accept your proposal if what you have done so far is to be looked upon only as a beginning, as a first step in our enterprise.
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karansardanaWell, now that fivejedjon is saying "it's accepted", I'd love to understand more on this.The decision of the bishops of the Church of X to put discussion of gay marriage onto the agenda of their next conference is the/a first step in the struggle to get all the churches of Xland to allow gay marriages.
The person who writes 'the
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