0
Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
articles
Can I ask which one of the following is correct:
A big red sun or
The big red sun
A big red sun or
The big red sun
Top answer
They're both correct. "A big red sun" is poetic.
- They're both correct.
- "A big red sun" is poetic.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
14 Answers
0
0
Actually, the correct phrase is the one WITHOUT ANY article.
Articles were introduced to show countability, while 'sun' may be countable in extremely specific contexts. In 99% of instances 'sun' is used with the article excessively.
Articles were introduced to show countability, while 'sun' may be countable in extremely specific contexts. In 99% of instances 'sun' is used with the article excessively.
00
0
Let it be, say, Geo. W. Warder:
"...and across ninety-two million miles separating earth from sun...".
Or did I misinterpret your sarcasm?
"...and across ninety-two million miles separating earth from sun...".
Or did I misinterpret your sarcasm?
00
0
Used without an article, it refers to a scientific context, not one of literature, conversation and song.
But an article (or determiner) would certainly be used when "sun" is preceded by an adjective, indicating a non-scientific context.
Examples:
The House of the Rising Sun (song title)
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL lyrics:
And I think it's gonna be all
But an article (or determiner) would certainly be used when "sun" is preceded by an adjective, indicating a non-scientific context.
Examples:
The House of the Rising Sun (song title)
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL lyrics:
And I think it's gonna be all
00
When you insist the article is needed, the question will be "what for?". And you will have no answer to it.
Articles were invented to tell countable nouns from uncountable ones. Unique nouns are uncountable for there is no sense in counting them.
Ethymologically definite article is THE SAME THING as the indicative pronoun 'that'. Every time you say 'the red sun', the legitimate
Articles were invented to tell countable nouns from uncountable ones. Unique nouns are uncountable for there is no sense in counting them.
Ethymologically definite article is THE SAME THING as the indicative pronoun 'that'. Every time you say 'the red sun', the legitimate
00
0
rinoceronteAnd I have a question for you: why doesn't the guy named Red Sun use the article in his name?Certain pretentious (or very important) people use the definite article in their names: eg. The Donald (Donald Trump).
rinoceronte It can be applicable indeed in those astronomic contexts you mention,No, in astronomy, th
00
I know why Trump uses it. There are many Donalds and he doesn´t want to be confused with anybody. And asked about Re Sun...
You are comparing ´suns´ to ´stars´. You can´t so that. Those are different words. You should have said ´the sun is unique among the suns´. But that sounds senseless. You can say either ´sun is unique´, or ´the sun is NOT unique among the suns´. The=that, and you can
You are comparing ´suns´ to ´stars´. You can´t so that. Those are different words. You should have said ´the sun is unique among the suns´. But that sounds senseless. You can say either ´sun is unique´, or ´the sun is NOT unique among the suns´. The=that, and you can
0
Related Questions