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Tomasd Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
Definite article - your kind explanation!
Hi.
My other thread ('article+dirt/rust') made me wonder now if I understand this aspect of article use. I thought that articles dependent on the context.
Last Saturday we cleaned the house. We spent hours removing the dirt from the floor.
My wife came home. I came up to her and removed dirt from her shoulder.
How I understand this. In the first it is easy to understand that since we were cleaning the house, there must be dirt there that accumulated. Furthermore, dirt accumulates in one's house. So I use 'the dirt'. Context is understandable.
In the second example, there is no logical reason for dirt on my wife's shoulder. So without previous mention of this dirt, I skip the article.
Is that right?
If so, in my previous thread, it is debatable if something like rust is necessarily appear on the faucets in a house. Most faucets don't have rust.
If someone among native speakers could take to explain, I would be really really appreciative. Thank you a lot.
Tomas
My other thread ('article+dirt/rust') made me wonder now if I understand this aspect of article use. I thought that articles dependent on the context.
Last Saturday we cleaned the house. We spent hours removing the dirt from the floor.
My wife came home. I came up to her and removed dirt from her shoulder.
How I understand this. In the first it is easy to understand that since we were cleaning the house, there must be dirt there that accumulated. Furthermore, dirt accumulates in one's house. So I use 'the dirt'. Context is understandable.
In the second example, there is no logical reason for dirt on my wife's shoulder. So without previous mention of this dirt, I skip the article.
Is that right?
If so, in my previous thread, it is debatable if something like rust is necessarily appear on the faucets in a house. Most faucets don't have rust.
If someone among native speakers could take to explain, I would be really really appreciative. Thank you a lot.
Tomas
Top answer
tomasd My wife came home. I came up to her and removed dirt from her shoulder. That sounds very strange as a welcome-home greeting.
- tomasd My wife came home.
- I came up to her and removed dirt from her shoulder.
- That sounds very strange as a welcome-home greeting.
- "brushed (the) dust from her coat" might be better.
- How about a more plausible example?
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9 Answers
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tomasdMy wife came home. I came up to her and removed dirt from her shoulder.That sounds very strange as a welcome-home greeting. "brushed (the) dust from her coat" might be better.
How about a more plausible example?
My husband came home from the office party. I came up to him and wiped (the) lipstick from his cheeks.
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"I came up to her and removed dirt from her shoulder" is a bit odd. "Dirt" is not really expected on someone's shoulder, and the matter-of-fact way it seems to be dropped in to the sentence is unexpected.
I brushed some dust off her shoulder.
I removed a piece of fluff from her shoulder.
(Cross-posted with AS.)
I brushed some dust off her shoulder.
I removed a piece of fluff from her shoulder.
(Cross-posted with AS.)
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AlpheccaStarsThat sounds very strange as a welcome-home greeting. "brushed (the) dust from her coat" might be better.How about a more plausible example?I am sorry, AlpheccaStars. You are right. It's a stupid example. I just want to see if I get the idea. Your lipstick example is so much better. Not to kill a dead horse, but to make an analogy:
I w
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AlpheccaStarsMy husband came home from the office party. I came up to him and wiped (the) lipstick from his cheeks.I could use the definite article or not. It's optional.One more thing. Do you say that the definite article is optional because it's the husband who has lipstick? So if it were a woman, you would expect her to have lipstick and use
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tomasdOne more thing. Do you say that the definite article is optional because it's the husband who has lipstick?Maybe. The lipstick might be expected, as dust or fluff would be on a coat.
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So just to make sure that I understand (and sorry if I am being thorough, I just want to understand). I won't disturb you again about this.
I walked into the kitchen today and removed (the) rust from the faucet.
My husband came home from the office party. I came up to him and wiped (the) lipstick from his cheeks.
The definite article is optional in
I walked into the kitchen today and removed (the) rust from the faucet.
My husband came home from the office party. I came up to him and wiped (the) lipstick from his cheeks.
The definite article is optional in
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AlpheccaStarsMaybe. The lipstick might be expected, as dust or fluff would be on a coat.But if the lipstick was on her? What if it was the wife who had the lipstick? Would that change anything? I really appreciate your help, but my confusion is only deeper. Could you please explain this so there is no doubt left in my mind? Because now I am more confused!
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tomasdWhat if it was the wife who had the lipstick? Would that change anything?No, it wouldn't change anything in the grammar.
It's just that the scenario I described is more likely with the husband than the wife, at least in my society.
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AlpheccaStarsNo, it wouldn't change anything in the grammar.Okay, thank you. So the definite article is optional in both of my examples (rust and lipstick)? It's like you are almost reticent to say 'yes'.
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