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MariaRC Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
A/the Mercedes
Hi,
(A massive apology to CalifJim and GPY - I've asked a very similar question, but it's not exactly the same, honestly).
I am writing an article and I describe how we are in a car and keep on taking turns behind the wheel. At one point, one of us nearly collides with a Mercedes at an intersection. I continue to describe our trip. Several paragraphs later I write:
Mark (the one who had nearly collided with a/the Mercedes earlier) proposed we have lunch.
Again, I am stuck with this silly article problem. Is it a/the Mercedes? The Mercedes is mentioned twice, once at the intersection and the in my second sentence.
Here is my opinion, just please tell me if I am right.
1. Either is fine.
2. I prefer "a" in that second sentence. This Mercedes is not central/important at all to the article, even though I am mentioning it again. The reader won't care which Mercedes it is. I am emphasizing Marc and his act of nearly colliding with another car. Do you agree with my choice?
Sorry if I am repetitive! I really want to master this.
(A massive apology to CalifJim and GPY - I've asked a very similar question, but it's not exactly the same, honestly).
I am writing an article and I describe how we are in a car and keep on taking turns behind the wheel. At one point, one of us nearly collides with a Mercedes at an intersection. I continue to describe our trip. Several paragraphs later I write:
Mark (the one who had nearly collided with a/the Mercedes earlier) proposed we have lunch.
Again, I am stuck with this silly article problem. Is it a/the Mercedes? The Mercedes is mentioned twice, once at the intersection and the in my second sentence.
Here is my opinion, just please tell me if I am right.
1. Either is fine.
2. I prefer "a" in that second sentence. This Mercedes is not central/important at all to the article, even though I am mentioning it again. The reader won't care which Mercedes it is. I am emphasizing Marc and his act of nearly colliding with another car. Do you agree with my choice?
Sorry if I am repetitive! I really want to master this.
Top answer
All I can say is what I would write, namely, ... who had nearly collided with the Mercedes earlier ... and that "a" would also be fine.
- All I can say is what I would write, namely, ...
- who had nearly collided with the Mercedes earlier ...
- and that "a" would also be fine.
- I suppose the brand name Mercedes influences my choice.
- I probably would have used ...
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3 Answers
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All I can say is what I would write, namely,
... who had nearly collided with the Mercedes earlier ...
and that "a" would also be fine.
I suppose the brand name Mercedes influences my choice. I probably would have used ... collided with a car earlier ... if the original mention had been 'a car', not 'a Mercedes'.
CJ
... who had nearly collided with the Mercedes earlier ...
and that "a" would also be fine.
I suppose the brand name Mercedes influences my choice. I probably would have used ... collided with a car earlier ... if the original mention had been 'a car', not 'a Mercedes'.
CJ
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CJ, thank you very much! I am so glad you answered this question!
I just wanted to be sure that both were okay. Thank you so much for your input!
Sorry - I know this must be tiring sometimes.
Best,
Maria
I just wanted to be sure that both were okay. Thank you so much for your input!
Sorry - I know this must be tiring sometimes.
Best,
Maria
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I have nothing to add to what's been said, so I will just give you my two cents' worth:
1. I agree.
2. Personally, I prefer "the". You've mentioned it just a few paragraphs before, so the immediacy of it is still there. But "a" is fine too, for the reasons you have outlined.
1. I agree.
2. Personally, I prefer "the". You've mentioned it just a few paragraphs before, so the immediacy of it is still there. But "a" is fine too, for the reasons you have outlined.
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