0
Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Father to x Father of

I have heard in movies and read in books this said both ways... "I am the father of a beautiful son" and "I am a father of a beautiful son". I would like to understand if both forms are correct and when should I use each one of them.
  

Top answer

Greetings, 'the'. This is called cataphoric reference, when what follows the head noun 'father', namely the prepositional phrase 'of a beautiful son', enables us to pinpoint the reference uniquely. Respectfully, Gleb Chebrikoff

— Andriy Lapin

  • Greetings, 'the'.
  • This is called cataphoric reference, when what follows the head noun 'father', namely the prepositional phrase 'of a beautiful son', enables us to pinpoint the reference uniquely.
  • Respectfully, Gleb Chebrikoff
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

4 Answers
0
Greetings,

'the'. This is called cataphoric reference, when what follows the head noun 'father', namely the prepositional phrase 'of a beautiful son', enables us to pinpoint the reference uniquely.

Respectfully, Gleb Chebrikoff
0
0
Why is the header about 'to' vs 'of' and the question about 'a' vs 'the'?

CJ
0
0
I actually meant

I am father to a beautiful son.

I am the father of a beautiful son.

What is the difference?
0
0
AnonymousI am father to a beautiful son.
I am the father of a beautiful son.
What is the difference?
I don't sense that there is any big difference. The first one focuses perhaps on the idea of playing the role of a father to the son. The second is a more neutral account of a genetic fact.

CJ
0

Related Questions