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Anonymous Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
I hear the Japanese are a hardworking people.
I'd be happy if someone would answer my question concerning sentence A and sentence B. Thanks in advance.
A: The human brain can store more information than all the libraries in the world.
B: I hear the Japanese are a hardworking people.
Q 1. I saw A in a passage about the human brain. The phrase "the libraries" turns up suddenly in the passage.
As far as I know, Definite Article is used when something already mentioned is stated again. But the phrase "the libraries" is not yet mentioned anywhere.
So can I think "the libraries" can be used because "all" means Definite?
Q 2. In B as well, the phrase "the Japanese" turns up suddenly.
Can I think "the Japanese" can be used when the speaker wish to make clear that "the Japanese" are the same as "all the Japanese", or when it is clear from context that "the Japanese" are the same as "all the Japanese"
A: The human brain can store more information than all the libraries in the world.
B: I hear the Japanese are a hardworking people.
Q 1. I saw A in a passage about the human brain. The phrase "the libraries" turns up suddenly in the passage.
As far as I know, Definite Article is used when something already mentioned is stated again. But the phrase "the libraries" is not yet mentioned anywhere.
So can I think "the libraries" can be used because "all" means Definite?
Q 2. In B as well, the phrase "the Japanese" turns up suddenly.
Can I think "the Japanese" can be used when the speaker wish to make clear that "the Japanese" are the same as "all the Japanese", or when it is clear from context that "the Japanese" are the same as "all the Japanese"
Top answer
Hi, Generally speaking, 'yes' to both your questions. Clive
- Hi, Generally speaking, 'yes' to both your questions.
- Clive
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4 Answers
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Similar, but slightly different in meaning:
I hear the Japanese are hardworking people.
I hear the Japanese are hardworking people.
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WesternAmericanShouldn't it be ''I heard the Japanese....''?
Both possible, different tenses.
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