DEFINATE ARTICLE

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1. Less than 35 years after the release of African honeybees outside Sao Paulo, Brazil, their descendents, popular known as killer bees had migrated as far north as Southern Texas.2. Less than the 35 years after the release of African honeybees outside Sao Paulo, Brazil, their descendents, popular known as killer bees had migrated as far north as Southern Texas.Please help me to understand the difference between above two sentence?

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,
1. Less than 35 years after the release of African honeybees outside Sao Paulo, Brazil, their descendants, popularly known as killer bees, had migrated as far north as Southern Texas.

2. Less than ~~the~~ 35 years after the release of African honeybees outside Sao Paulo, Brazil, their descendents, popular known as killer bees had migrated as far north as Southern Texas.

Please help me to understand the difference between above two sentence?

We don't use 'the' in a time expression like this one.

Clive

Pokh · Answer

CliveHi,1. Less than 35 years after the release of
African honeybees outside Sao Paulo, Brazil, their descendants, popularly
known as killer bees, had migrated as far north as Southern Texas.2. Less than the 35 years after
the release of African honeybees outside Sao Paulo, Brazil, their
descendents, popular known as killer bees had migrated as far north as
Southern Texas.Please help me to understand the difference between above two sentence?We don't use 'the' in a time expression like this one.Clive

?

thanks clive..
Can you pls elaborate further. I was sort of assuming that

"35 years" refers to the last 35 year before the current one.

"the 35 years" refers to 35 years in some sequence of years.

Is my understanding wrong?

However , I have seen countless of sentence using definate article before time expression.e.g

My phone has run four times in the last five minutes.
We've had three burglaries in the last month.

Pls explain?

Clive · Answer

Hi,
1. Less than 35 years after the release of African honeybees outside Sao Paulo, Brazil, their descendants, popularly known as killer bees, had migrated as far north as Southern Texas.

This is a little tricky, but let me try.

If you say 'less than the 35 years', you are referring to some specific period of 35 years.

In your example, these 35 years are defined by events. They would start from the bees' release. But when would they end? With what event? We are not told, so you can't refer to this as a specific period if it is undefined in terms of both start and end events.

Clive

Pokh · Answer

So if I change it to present perfect .would the sentence be correct.

Less than the 35 years after the release of African honeybees outside Sao Paulo, Brazil, their descendants, popularly known as killer bees, have migrated as far north as Southern Texas.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

So if I change it to present perfect .would the sentence be correct.

Less than the 35 years after the release of African honeybees outside Sao Paulo, Brazil, their descendants, popularly known as killer bees, have migrated as far north as Southern Texas.

Really, it stilll feels rather odd. I think it's because the whole idea is being expressed in an awkward and unnatural way.

Is this what you mean? It is a much simpler and more natural way to say it.

African honeybees were released outside Sao Paulo, Brazil, 35 years ago. Their descendants, popularly known as killer bees, have migrated as far north as Southern Texas.

Clive

Ivanhr · Answer

Hi guys

Would you agree with me that the sentence needs "in" at the beginning?

In less than 35 years after the release....

Also it seems that the article is needed if we just leave out "less than"

In the 35 years after the release....

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Which version of the sentence are you now talking about?
Please restate it.

Clive

Ivanhr · Answer

By examining the sentences above I get the impression that the article is usually (but not always) needed when you're referring to a specific/definite period of time rather than a specific/definite moment in time. The presence of "in" , or lack thereof, can make the difference between the two meanings.

In the 36 years after the release..... (this refers to one specific period in time and "the" is necessary)

36 years after the release.... (this refers to one specific moment in time, no article is needed)

Less than 36 years after the release... (this refers to one specific moment in time, which is not exactly known, no article)

In less than 36 years after the release..... (this seems to refer to a period of time but "the" seems wrong because, I think, it then conflicts with the logic of the clause)

So what I'm saying is that if you want to express the idea that the bees migrated to Texas over a period of time rather than at one specific point in time you really should use "in". This may , or may not, reflect on the use of "the", as is evident from the examples above.

This is how I view it and I think the OP can hopefully find this approach useful.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Generally speaking, I agree.

Clive

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