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Snappy Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Again I have difficulty using "the"
I still have difficulty using the indefinite article.
1.
There are two banks near my house. I use both of them.
If I am on my way to one of the banks and somebody asks me where I am going, what should I say?
1) I'm going to the bank. (I know which bank I am going to but the person I am talking to does not know it. Is it okay to say this?)
or
2) I'm going to a bank.
or
Could you suggest what answers are appropriate?
2.
Similarly, there are two libraries near my house. I use both of them.
What should I answer in the same situation?
3.
In similar situations, I know that I can say, "I'm going to the City Hall, Ward Office, District Court, etc. because they are specific ones.)
If it is a restaurant, I would probably say, "I'm going to a restaurant," (not the restaurant though I always use only one restaurant).
Then what about "bookstore," "department store," and "supermarket"? (There are several bookstores, department stores, and supermarkets around here.)
1.
There are two banks near my house. I use both of them.
If I am on my way to one of the banks and somebody asks me where I am going, what should I say?
1) I'm going to the bank. (I know which bank I am going to but the person I am talking to does not know it. Is it okay to say this?)
or
2) I'm going to a bank.
or
Could you suggest what answers are appropriate?
2.
Similarly, there are two libraries near my house. I use both of them.
What should I answer in the same situation?
3.
In similar situations, I know that I can say, "I'm going to the City Hall, Ward Office, District Court, etc. because they are specific ones.)
If it is a restaurant, I would probably say, "I'm going to a restaurant," (not the restaurant though I always use only one restaurant).
Then what about "bookstore," "department store," and "supermarket"? (There are several bookstores, department stores, and supermarkets around here.)
Top answer
e. The man mowing the lawn is my father. Likewise, if you said you are going to "the"bank (to take care of ceratin banking matter), no one is interested which bank you are goign to, unless they have reason to.
- e.
- The man mowing the lawn is my father.
- Likewise, if you said you are going to "the"bank (to take care of ceratin banking matter), no one is interested which bank you are goign to, unless they have reason to.
- Then you may say, " one" on Pine and Spruce.
- ".
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42 Answers
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Hi Snappy,
Whether it is "the" library or "the" bank, the -- is a definite article pertaining to a noun in particular
i.e. The man mowing the lawn is my father. Likewise, if you said you are going to "the"bank (to take care of ceratin banking matter), no one is interested which bank you are goign to, unless they have reason to. Then you may say, " one" on Pine and Spruce.
Whether it is "the" library or "the" bank, the -- is a definite article pertaining to a noun in particular
i.e. The man mowing the lawn is my father. Likewise, if you said you are going to "the"bank (to take care of ceratin banking matter), no one is interested which bank you are goign to, unless they have reason to. Then you may say, " one" on Pine and Spruce.
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GoodmanWhen you walked out of the theater with your friend, you said "the movie was great ! I want to see it again". "the" refers to the movie you just saw. However, if your friend asked you "where are you going tonight?", and you said " Um...probably going to see a movie".
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SnappyDo you mean I could say, "I'm going to see the movie," if I have a particular movie in mind regardless of the person I am talking to has no idea what movie I am going to see?I say this with the expectation that this dialogue, or something like it will ensue:
Me: I'm going to see the movie." (emphasis on the)
Friend: "Really? W
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You always go to
the bank
the library
the supermarket
the gas station
on any given occasion if it's one you regularly go to.
It doesn't matter how many others of the same kind you frequent during the course of a month or year, or even lifetime!
I say "go to City Hall" (no the), because I think of it as a proper noun, and they neve
the bank
the library
the supermarket
the gas station
on any given occasion if it's one you regularly go to.
It doesn't matter how many others of the same kind you frequent during the course of a month or year, or even lifetime!
I say "go to City Hall" (no the), because I think of it as a proper noun, and they neve
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Thank you for your information.
Please tell me if the following undersanding is correct.
It seems that I should use "the + place" in the following cases when I have a conversation with somebody:
1. The person I am talking to and I know where that place is (I understand this logic very well and I am sure that learners of English will easily understand this).
2. Th
Please tell me if the following undersanding is correct.
It seems that I should use "the + place" in the following cases when I have a conversation with somebody:
1. The person I am talking to and I know where that place is (I understand this logic very well and I am sure that learners of English will easily understand this).
2. Th
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Use "a" when you mean "one of several possibilites"
3. "Recently I found a good supermarket in town" -
Yes, because there were several supermarkets in town, and among these you found one that was good.
"4. I must go to an electrical shop to buy a LAN cable. Do you know any electrical shops around here?")shops around here?"
Yes, because there are several
3. "Recently I found a good supermarket in town" -
Yes, because there were several supermarkets in town, and among these you found one that was good.
"4. I must go to an electrical shop to buy a LAN cable. Do you know any electrical shops around here?")shops around here?"
Yes, because there are several
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SnappyPlease tell me if the following undersanding is correct.Yes. You seem to have a good understanding of the situation.
By the way, it's ... does not matter whether the person I am talking to knows where it is.
CJ
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You always go to
the bank
the library
the supermarket
but not "the restaurant" unless the person you are talking to know which one it is. I understood.
Could you give me some more place/facility names you use "the"?
What about the following ones?
zoo, grocery store, drugstore, park, (swimming) pool, barber, hairdresser, greengroc
the bank
the library
the supermarket
but not "the restaurant" unless the person you are talking to know which one it is. I understood.
Could you give me some more place/facility names you use "the"?
What about the following ones?
zoo, grocery store, drugstore, park, (swimming) pool, barber, hairdresser, greengroc
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SnappyYou always go to
the bank
the library
the supermarket
I go to
the zoo,
the grocery store,
the drugstore,
the park,
the (swimming) pool,
the barber,
the hairdresser, (and it is the same for all the other places on your list)
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