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AndyOrban Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Damage. The damage.
Hi, thanks for answering my question.
1. We would like to compensate a client for damage that was caused to his automobile.
2. We would like to compensate a client for the damage that was caused to his automobile.
I did some research on Internet and consulted my English books.
I explain like this:
1. "Damage"
i) this damage was not mentioned before, or
ii) the speaker believes the listening person doesn't know about the damage.
It's like saying 'some damage'.
2. "THE damage"
i) this damage was mentioned before and the listening person is aware of it, or
ii) It is specific enough for the speaker to use the article. Not just any damage but THE damage caused to the client's vehicle.
May you please confirm that I understand this correctly?
Thank you.
AO
1. We would like to compensate a client for damage that was caused to his automobile.
2. We would like to compensate a client for the damage that was caused to his automobile.
I did some research on Internet and consulted my English books.
I explain like this:
1. "Damage"
i) this damage was not mentioned before, or
ii) the speaker believes the listening person doesn't know about the damage.
It's like saying 'some damage'.
2. "THE damage"
i) this damage was mentioned before and the listening person is aware of it, or
ii) It is specific enough for the speaker to use the article. Not just any damage but THE damage caused to the client's vehicle.
May you please confirm that I understand this correctly?
Thank you.
AO
Top answer
AndyOrban We would like to compensate a client for (the) damage that was caused to his automobile. For all practical purposes "the" is optional in this case. While your explanations are good for the general case of whether to use "the" or not, in my opinion they don't apply to this example.
- AndyOrban We would like to compensate a client for (the) damage that was caused to his automobile.
- For all practical purposes "the" is optional in this case.
- While your explanations are good for the general case of whether to use "the" or not, in my opinion they don't apply to this example.
- CJ
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5 Answers
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AndyOrbanWe would like to compensate a client for (the) damage that was caused to his automobile.For all practical purposes "the" is optional in this case.
While your explanations are good for the general case of whether to use "the" or not, in my opinion they don't apply to this example.
CJ
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1. We would like to compensate a client for damage that was caused to his automobile.
2. We would like to compensate a client for the damage that was caused to his automobile.
As a native speaker, I could use either one. However, I would tend to pick #2.
"The" reinforces the following defining (restrictive) clause. It is natural to use the definite article to modify non-co
2. We would like to compensate a client for the damage that was caused to his automobile.
As a native speaker, I could use either one. However, I would tend to pick #2.
"The" reinforces the following defining (restrictive) clause. It is natural to use the definite article to modify non-co
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Thank you very much to the two of you.
CalifJimFor all practical purposes "the" is optional in this case.If I understand you correctly, Mr. CalifJim, if I am mentioning this sentence for the first time to the listener/my audience, I can go with either one without being either ungrammatical or affecting the meaning, yes?
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AndyOrbanIf I understand you correctly, Mr. CalifJim, if I ...Yes. Frequently a post-modifying relative clause (that ...) (or even an of-phrase) plays the same role as a previous mention would play. It gives enough information to make the referent clear and thus allows "the".
CJ
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Thank you again, CalifJim and AlpheccaStars. I appreciate your help very much.
Have a lovely day.
AO
Have a lovely day.
AO
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