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Believer Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

general statements

1.When you are making general statements, how do you know when to use the articles "the" and "a"?

A patient man has great understanding.

The sluggard craves and gets nothing, ...

2. Why do you think it is written with the article "a"?

A happy heart makes the face cheerful

Why isn't it can be "Happy heart makes the face cheerful"?
  

Top answer

When you are making general statements, how do you know when to use the articles "the" and "a"? The details of articles are hard to explain, hard to learn. In both cases here in #1, you could use either article.

  • When you are making general statements, how do you know when to use the articles "the" and "a"?
  • The details of articles are hard to explain, hard to learn.
  • In both cases here in #1, you could use either article.
  • The article you choose shows me how you are thinking about what you are saying.
  • A patient man has great understanding.
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3 Answers
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Hi,

1.When you are making general statements, how do you know when to use the articles "the" and "a"?

The details of articles are hard to explain, hard to learn. In both cases here in #1, you could use either article. The article you choose shows me how you are thinking about what you are saying.

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Thank you.

As to No. 2, the understanding is that the word "heart" is a countable noun so it must have an article, but it is my knowledge that the word "heart" used in this context can function as a variable noun. So, it seems that both sentences below can do the job. I did make a change to the second sentence.

A happy heart make the face cheerful (used in a countable, individu
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Hi again,

Happy heart makes faces cheerful. (used in a general, uncountable sense) Sounds wrong to me. Do you want to try to find another example?

You could say Happy hearts makes faces cheerful.

Best wishes, Clive

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