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New2grammar Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

an/the

0My understanding is when 'the' is used, it means use the facility as a mean instead of others. For example, enter the west wing entrance and take 01i00the02i00 elevator and not the stairs! In comparison, if you say, 'take an elevator', it implies there is a few units of elevators so choose any one to use. So, 'the' is the better choice as it is more logical.02br
02br
00Would you take [an/the] elevator, [an/the] escalator or the stair in an emergency?02br
02br
00In the sentence above, is 'an' also a correct choice? I prefer 'the'. 02br
02br
00Thanks in advance.0-
  

Top answer

e. any emergency anywhere) and do not refer to any particular or specific place. 02br 02br 00I would use 01b 00the02b 00 when referring to a specific place that has an elevator or elevators (or an escalator or escalators).

— Yankee

  • e.
  • any emergency anywhere) and do not refer to any particular or specific place.
  • 02br 02br 00I would use 01b 00the02b 00 when referring to a specific place that has an elevator or elevators (or an escalator or escalators).
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1 Answers
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0 Hi New2grammar02br
02br
00In your sentence, 01b00an02b00 is just as logical as 01b00the02b00 because you refer to "an emergency" in very general terms (i.e. any emergency anywhere) and do not refer to any particular or specific place. Therefore, your sentence also does not refer to any specific elevator(s) or escalator(s).02
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