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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Comparing one to the other

Hi. Please help. I think we put the definite article "the" before the name of an animal to refer to its species, for example, the elephant to mean the species of the elephant.

Now, why is it that when we make a comparative statement like "An elephant is bigger than a mouse," we put the indefinite article "an" instead of "the" when I think what is being referred (in the sentence) is the species of the elephant (if I am not mistaken)?

Also, why is that when we talk about some and the remaining others, we use the form, "some are ... and others are..." when we seem to be talking about some and the rest that is remaining? As to the sentence below, which refers to peppers, it seems it should be written, "Some look like bells and the others are long." Thank you for your help in advance.

Some look like bells and others are long.
  

Top answer

I think we put the definite article "the" before the name of an animal to refer to its species, for example, the elephant to mean the species of the elephant. yes , because you sre referring to a specific species , why is it that when we make a comparative statement like "An elephant is bigger than a mouse," we put the indefinite article "an" instead of "the" because any elephant is bigger than any mouse when I think what is being referred (in the sentence) is the species of the elephant no If we were, we would say 'the elephant' and 'the mouse'. Also, why is that when we talk about some and the remaining others, we use the form, "some are ...

— Canadian45

  • I think we put the definite article "the" before the name of an animal to refer to its species, for example, the elephant to mean the species of the elephant.
  • yes , because you sre referring to a specific species , why is it that when we make a comparative statement like "An elephant is bigger than a mouse," we put the indefinite article "an" instead of "the" because any elephant is bigger than any mouse when I think what is being referred (in the sentence) is the species of the elephant no If we were, we would say 'the elephant' and 'the mouse'.
  • Also, why is that when we talk about some and the remaining others, we use the form, "some are ...
  • " when we seem to be talking about some and the rest that is remaining?
  • If you are talking about all of the rest of them, say the others.
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5 Answers
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I think we put the definite article "the" before the name of an animal to refer to its species, for example, the elephant to mean the species of the elephant. yes, because you sre referring to a specific species

, why is it that when we make a comparative statement like "An elephant is bigger than a
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I think we put the definite article "the" before the name of an animal to refer to its species, for example, the elephant to mean the species of the elephant. Yes

Now, why is it that when we make a comparative statement like "An elephant is bigger than a mouse," we put the indefinite article "an" instead of "the" when I think what is being refe
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For more on the use of The Elephant to represent the species, see this thread:
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Thank you, all. Clive, can we use the following sentence to mean "all others" for the word "others" in bold letters
even though the meaning is fuzzy? Thank you again for your help in advance.

Some look like bells and others are long.

You wrote:

Some look like bells and others are long. This does not clearly mean
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If you want people to understand you, say 'the others'.

Otherwise, if it's important, they'll have to ask you to clarify.

Clive
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