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Photon Posted 6 years ago
Grammar

Davis betrayed (the) people who voted for him.

(1) Davis betrayed people who voted for him.

(2) Davis betrayed the people who voted for him.

Which is correct?

If both are correct, is there any difference in meaning/connotation between these two sentences?

  

Top answer

Photon Which is correct? I'm going to say 2. The first is possible, but just barely.

— Anonymous

  • Photon Which is correct?
  • I'm going to say 2.
  • The first is possible, but just barely.
  • The wording is odd.
  • Number 1 means that among the people who voted for him are certain people who he betrayed.
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2 Answers
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PhotonWhich is correct?

I'm going to say 2. The first is possible, but just barely. The wording is odd. Number 1 means that among the people who voted for him are certain people who he betrayed. The natural way of putting that, if it was called for, would include at least a "some": Davis betrayed some of the people who voted for him.

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Photonthe people

'the' + a plural generally implies all. Without the, it doesn't necessarily mean all and is better interpreted as some.

2) is definitely better.

CJ

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