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Vcolts Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
article question
Ex A.. People in general like spending time with a person who can listen to them.
Ex. B. People in general like spending time with the person who can listen to them.
Are both the same in meaning and academically acceptable?
Thanks!
Ex. B. People in general like spending time with the person who can listen to them.
Are both the same in meaning and academically acceptable?
Thanks!
Top answer
Dear Vcolts: One could argue that both are correct, but with different shades of meaning. with anyone who can listen to them"). Since your sentence is largely generic (as proven by the use of "in general"), I would choose A.
- Dear Vcolts: One could argue that both are correct, but with different shades of meaning.
- with anyone who can listen to them").
- Since your sentence is largely generic (as proven by the use of "in general"), I would choose A.
- Respectfully yours, Andriy Lapin
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1 Answers
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Dear Vcolts:
One could argue that both are correct, but with different shades of meaning. Sentence B, for instance, demonstrates the cataphoric use of the and suggests unique reference (as if there could be a unique position for "the listener"), while sentence A demonstrates the non-referring use of the indefinite article (meaning "..with anyone who can listen to them"). Since your
One could argue that both are correct, but with different shades of meaning. Sentence B, for instance, demonstrates the cataphoric use of the and suggests unique reference (as if there could be a unique position for "the listener"), while sentence A demonstrates the non-referring use of the indefinite article (meaning "..with anyone who can listen to them"). Since your
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