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Dawood Usmani Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Article "a" or "the"?
Hi everybody!
Why do we always use an indefinite article "a" before the word lie while necessarily definite article "the" before the word truth?
Thanks a million!
Why do we always use an indefinite article "a" before the word lie while necessarily definite article "the" before the word truth?
Thanks a million!
Top answer
Hi, Why do we always use an indefinite article "a" before the word lie while necessarily definite article "the" before the word truth? Good question. My first reaction is to say that in English culture we seem to think that there is one universal truth, but no universal lie or untruth.
- Hi, Why do we always use an indefinite article "a" before the word lie while necessarily definite article "the" before the word truth?
- Good question.
- My first reaction is to say that in English culture we seem to think that there is one universal truth, but no universal lie or untruth.
- How does your native language talk about these matters?
- Best wishes, Clive
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2 Answers
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Hi,
Why do we always use an indefinite article "a" before the word lie while necessarily definite article "the" before the word truth?
Good question.
My first reaction is to say that in English culture we seem to think that there is one universal truth, but no universal lie or untruth.
How does your native language talk about these matters?
Why do we always use an indefinite article "a" before the word lie while necessarily definite article "the" before the word truth?
Good question.
My first reaction is to say that in English culture we seem to think that there is one universal truth, but no universal lie or untruth.
How does your native language talk about these matters?
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Strictly speaking, you are incorrect that 'a' always precedes lie. The usages to which to are referring pertain to truth and untruth as abstractions, but most especially truth. The answer is implicit in the concepts: Truths cannot contradict each other without creating paradox; thus, we say in the abstract, the truth, which is the dialectic of many truths. Untruths are not so unified-they
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