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Gori Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
"a XX called" or "the XX called"?
Native English teachers, please tell me the difference between the following two:
1) This is a system called "ABC."
2) This is the system called "ABC".
Are they both correct?
If so, when do you use 1) and when do you use 2)?
I am confused...help me, please.
1) This is a system called "ABC."
2) This is the system called "ABC".
Are they both correct?
If so, when do you use 1) and when do you use 2)?
I am confused...help me, please.
Top answer
Are they both correct? Yes. Gori If so, when do you use 1) and when do you use 2)?
- Are they both correct?
- Yes.
- Gori If so, when do you use 1) and when do you use 2)?
- Use #1 for the first mention of the system.
- Use #2 when it has already been mentioned to the listener.
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9 Answers
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Gori1) This is a system called "ABC."2) This is the system called "ABC".Are they both correct?Yes.
GoriIf so, when do you use 1) and when do you use 2)?Use #1 for the first mention of the system. Use #2 when it has already been mentioned to the listener.
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Thank you for helping me on this matter.
Regarding 2) (= the system called "ABC"), I thought that I could use it even for the first mention because the relation between "the system" and "ABC" is equal (appositive). No??
In the following case, for example, "the phrase" = 'Tokyo ...Japan', so I used "the" though.. is it wrong?
"In the phrase 'Tokyo is the capital of Japan'
Regarding 2) (= the system called "ABC"), I thought that I could use it even for the first mention because the relation between "the system" and "ABC" is equal (appositive). No??
In the following case, for example, "the phrase" = 'Tokyo ...Japan', so I used "the" though.. is it wrong?
"In the phrase 'Tokyo is the capital of Japan'
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Gori I thought that I could use it even for the first mention because the relation between "the system" and "ABC" is equal (appositive). No??Yes, you can do that, too.
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I see, so does this mean that I could use either one 1) or 2) even at the first mention?
Therefore, in case of 2) (the system called XX"), I could use it if I take the system = "XX". Is my understanding correct??
Therefore, in case of 2) (the system called XX"), I could use it if I take the system = "XX". Is my understanding correct??
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Goriso does this mean that I could use either one 1) or 2) even at the first mention?If the listener knows what you're talking about; otherwise, 'the' still seems a little 'off' to me.
Gori I could use it if I take the system = "XX"I don't understand what you mean by that.
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Sorry for the confusion.
I understood your first point in using "a" or "the".
I should use "a" at the first mention unless the listner knows what I am talking about.
However, you also said that I could use "the" at the first mention when I consider the system is equal to "ABC" (appositive relationship).
So, does it mean that I can say "the system called 'ABC'" even a
I understood your first point in using "a" or "the".
I should use "a" at the first mention unless the listner knows what I am talking about.
However, you also said that I could use "the" at the first mention when I consider the system is equal to "ABC" (appositive relationship).
So, does it mean that I can say "the system called 'ABC'" even a
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GoriSo, does it mean that I can say "the system called 'ABC'" even at the first mention because they have an appositive relationship, as in the case like "the name Mario is well known here"?Yes, I think so, but very honestly, I think it depends on the specific conversation as to how correct it sounds.
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