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Masanori Takaoka Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
a or the
I used to go to work by bicycle, but now I use ( ) bus.
a bus or the bus?
a bus or the bus?
Top answer
"
- "
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2 Answers
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If the bus is public transportation, you'd use "the." If the bus is your private vehicle, you could use "a" or "the." For example, if the listener knows you own a bus, you'd say:
"...but now I use the bus." (The phrasing, intonation, and gestures used would indicate that you mean your personal bus and not public transportation.)
If the listener doesn't not know you own a bus,
"...but now I use the bus." (The phrasing, intonation, and gestures used would indicate that you mean your personal bus and not public transportation.)
If the listener doesn't not know you own a bus,
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"the bus" would be more usual, but "a bus" is not impossible.
However, I would probably say "I used to cycle to work, but now I get the bus / go by bus".
However, I would probably say "I used to cycle to work, but now I get the bus / go by bus".
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