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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
Either definite or indefinite article will do?
Hi. Is it correct to put the infinite article "a" in front of the words "opportunity" and "right" even though the Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary (print verson) I have it has the definite article "the" in both places for the word "forbear"? Thank you for your help in advance.
According to the Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary (print verson) I have, the definition for the word "forbear" is:
If you forbear to do something, you do not do it although you have the opportunity or the right to do it. [FORMAL]
According to the Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary (print verson) I have, the definition for the word "forbear" is:
If you forbear to do something, you do not do it although you have the opportunity or the right to do it. [FORMAL]
Top answer
In that case the definite article is better. This is because the "... to do it" qualification, and the general context of the sentence, make the opportunity and right into sufficiently definite and specific things.
- In that case the definite article is better.
- This is because the "...
- to do it" qualification, and the general context of the sentence, make the opportunity and right into sufficiently definite and specific things.
- In different contexts, of course, "an opportunity" or "a right" may be correct.
- Note that the term is " indefinite article" not "infinite article".
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1 Answers
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In that case the definite article is better. This is because the "... to do it" qualification, and the general context of the sentence, make the opportunity and right into sufficiently definite and specific things. In different contexts, of course, "an opportunity" or "a right" may be correct.
Note that the term is "indefinite article" not "infinite article".
Note that the term is "indefinite article" not "infinite article".
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