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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Article + present

It's my birthday!
My wife wanted to show me a birthday present she got me.
OR
My wife wanted to show me the birthday present she got me.

I am introducing this birthday present for the first time. However there is only one that was bought by my wife. "The" seems logical to me. But is it wrong if I say "a" or would a native speaker assume my wife bought me several birthday presents?
  

Top answer

is it wrong if I say "a" No or would a native speaker assume my wife bought me several birthday presents? No

— Clive

  • is it wrong if I say "a" No or would a native speaker assume my wife bought me several birthday presents?
  • No
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5 Answers
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is it wrong if I say "a" No

or would a native speaker assume my wife bought me several birthday presents? No
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Cliveis it wrong if I say "a" No
Thank you Clive
Cliveor would a native speaker assume my wife bought me several birthday presents? No
So the difference between "a" and "the" here is that with "the" it will definitely be assumed that there is only one, but with "a" it's more vague?
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AnonymousI am introducing this birthday present for the first time. However there is only one that was bought by my wife. "The" seems logical to me.
Right.
AnonymousBut is it wrong if I say "a"
No.
Anonymouswould a native speaker assume my wife bought me several birthday presents?
P
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Where I live,an adult usually just buys one birthday present for another adult.
This influences my understanding of the sentence.
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Thank you GPY and Clive! It's helpful.
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