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Anonymous Posted 8 years ago
Grammar

Did you hear a rumor / Did you hear the rumor

I'd appreciate it if someone would answer my question about the following sentences. Thank you in advance.

A: Did you hear a rumor that the President was shot?

B: Did you hear the rumor that the President was shot?

I'd like to know the reason "a" (a rumor) is used in A, and "the" (the rumor) is used in B.

Let me explain.
I think in B, the speaker wants to specify what kind of rumor it is, and when it's specified a definite article is used.
I think, however, the speaker thinks the listener has first heard the rumor, which the listener might hear repeatedly. The speaker is focusing on the rumor being new information to the listener, not what kind of rumor it is, so an indefinite article is used.
Is my explanation correct?

  

Top answer

anonymous A: Did you hear a rumor that the President was shot? 'a' in the above implies 'any'. Did you hear any rumor about the president being shot?

— Persian Learner

  • anonymous A: Did you hear a rumor that the President was shot?
  • 'a' in the above implies 'any'.
  • Did you hear any rumor about the president being shot?
  • The speaker wants to know if there is such a rumor about the president.
  • anonymous B: Did you hear the rumor that the President was shot?
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1 Answers
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anonymousA: Did you hear a rumor that the President was shot?

'a' in the above implies 'any'. Did you hear any rumor about the president being shot? The speaker wants to know if there is such a rumor about the president.

anonymousB: Did you hear the rumor that the President was shot?

'the' in the above implies 'tha

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