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TeacherJapan Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Any difference?
Dictionary users may find it disappointing not to be
able to find new words in ( ).
1. the dictionary they bought
2. a dictionary they bought
3. dictionaries they bought
4. the dictionaries they bought
Which would you choose? And could you also tell me why?
able to find new words in ( ).
1. the dictionary they bought
2. a dictionary they bought
3. dictionaries they bought
4. the dictionaries they bought
Which would you choose? And could you also tell me why?
Top answer
Hi, teacherJapan. Welcome to the Forum. To me, they are all acceptable.
- Hi, teacherJapan.
- Welcome to the Forum.
- To me, they are all acceptable.
- I would be slightly more likely to use #1 or #2, but my preference here would probably depend on whether I was making a general statement, in which case I might go with #2, or if I was thinking about particular dictionaries, in which case I might lean towards #1.
- I would be slightly more likely to use #4 than #3.
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7 Answers
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Hi, teacherJapan. Welcome to the Forum.
To me, they are all acceptable. I would be slightly more likely to use #1 or #2, but my preference here would probably depend on whether I was making a general statement, in which case I might go with #2, or if I was thinking about particular dictionaries, in which case I might lean towards #1. I would be slightly more likely to use #4 than #3.
By th
To me, they are all acceptable. I would be slightly more likely to use #1 or #2, but my preference here would probably depend on whether I was making a general statement, in which case I might go with #2, or if I was thinking about particular dictionaries, in which case I might lean towards #1. I would be slightly more likely to use #4 than #3.
By th
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Thank you very mcch for letting me know that. It's very difficult for a native speakers of Japanese like me to understand the concept of a/the. There's another problem, which is whether I should keep the noun in singular or plural forms.
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So Am I right when I say, "If I choose the dictionary here in this context, it might be interpreted as they(=dictionary users) to use 'the same, specific dictionary such as OXFORD LEARNER'S DICTIONARY?"
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teacherJapan So Am I right when I say, "If I choose the dictionary here in this context, it might be interpreted as they(=dictionary users) to use 'the same, specific dictionary such as OXFORD LEARNER'S DICTIONARY?"I'm sorry, I don't understand your question.
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sorry, it's my fault!! My question was way too confusing!!
I just wanted to ask, if "the dictionary" is used instead of "a dictionary,"
the writer most likely has a particular dictionary such as "oxford learner's dictionary"
in mind.
I just wanted to ask, if "the dictionary" is used instead of "a dictionary,"
the writer most likely has a particular dictionary such as "oxford learner's dictionary"
in mind.
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Ah, I see. Possibly, but it would depend on the situation. What I was trying to say was that I consider #1 and #2 to be more or less the same, and I might use either in many situations. However, if I were discussing which dictionary to recommend to people I would be slightly more likely to use #1.
"We need to recommend one that's as comprehensive as possible. They'll be disappointed if the d
"We need to recommend one that's as comprehensive as possible. They'll be disappointed if the d
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We tend to use 'the dictionary' when 'a dictionary' would be the appropriate thing to say. 'The dictionary' is the place to look uo meanings of words just as 'the library' is the place to find books.
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