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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

A/the birthday cake

Hi, this sentence is for my homework essay.

We were celebrating Mom's birthday at a diner. When it was time to bring out a/the birthday cake, I realized Mom had gone somewhere.

If the cake has not yet been mentioned until the sentence above, "a birthday cake?" "The birthday cake?"

I think either one is correct here.

"A birthday cake" introducing a noun that hasn't been mentioned.

 "The birthday cake" is also fine if I assume that every birthday at a restaurant involves a birthday cake.

I think either is fine in this context. But I'd like to make sure. 

Thanks!!
  

Top answer

). Can I say either (neither the cake nor the candle has been mentioned): I hate birthdays at restaurants. The worst is when they bring you a birthday cake with a silly candle sticking out.

— Anonymous

  • ).
  • Can I say either (neither the cake nor the candle has been mentioned): I hate birthdays at restaurants.
  • The worst is when they bring you a birthday cake with a silly candle sticking out.
  • The worst is when they bring you the birthday cake with the silly candle sticking out.
  • I think either combination is fine.
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12 Answers
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This is a follow-up question about my cake (not a duplicate question!). Can I say either (neither the cake nor the candle has been mentioned):

I hate birthdays at restaurants.
The worst is when they bring you a birthday cake with a silly candle sticking out.
The worst is when they bring you the birthday cake with the silly candle sticking out.

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AnonymousThis is a follow-up question about my cake
That should be posted on the same thread, then. Please give me a link to your original question and I will join the threads together.
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Mister MicawberThat should be posted on the same thread, then. Please give me a link to your original question and I will join the threads together.
They are actually different questions, MM, but they deal with similar themes. I am not sure if you want to join them. But here it is:

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Anonymous I am not sure if you want to join them
Yes, I do, and I have.
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AnonymousWe were celebrating Mom's birthday at a diner. When it was time to bring out a/the birthday cake, I realized Mom had gone somewhere.If the cake has not yet been mentioned until the sentence above, "a birthday cake?" "The birthday cake?"
'The birthday cake'—it is an expected part of a birthday party.
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AnonymousI think either combination is fine
I agree— because you have mentioned 'birthdays', it is more likely there are multiple cakes, conceptually speaking.
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Thank you very much for answering both questions, MM, and for cleaning up this mess of mine. Posters here don't get thanked enough for their good work. Thank you.
Mister Micawber'The birthday cake'—it is an expected part of a birthday party.
"A birthday cake" is wrong then or just less preferable? I can never tell.
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When it was time to bring out a/the birthday cake, I realized Mom had gone somewhere.
I would always use "the birthday cake." It is describing a specific occasion.

I hate birthdays at restaurants.
The worst is when they bring you a birthday cake with a silly candle sticking out.
I would always use "a birthday ca
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AnonymousA birthday cake" is wrong then or just less preferable? I can never tell.
I find it non-native in your first sentence and optional in your second sentence.
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Mister MicawberI find it non-native in your first sentence and optional in your second sentence.
I see. I see sentences like "we were celebrating John's birthday. The owner of the restaurant brought us a birthday cake".
Why didn't the writer use "the birthday cake" then?

Maybe "when it was time . . ." presupposes that there was already a cake ther
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