Is it necessary to use the in the above sentence?

Question

emanation:1b: the origination of the world by a series of hierarchically descending radiations from the Godhead through intermediate stages to matterPlease explain to me the above definition.Is it necessary to use the in the above sentence? By using the word above it has already been pointed out that the particular definition is being referred which lies above. Actually above is functioning in place of definite article the.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

emanation:

1b: the origination of the world by a series of hierarchically descending radiations from the Godhead through intermediate stages to matter

Please explain to me the above definition.

Is it necessary to use the in the above sentence? By using the word above it has already been pointed out that the particular definition is being referred which lies above. Actually above is functioning in place of definite article the.

You need 'the'. 'Above' is just an adjective in this example.

Let's replace it by another adjective, like 'difficult'. You wouldn't say 'Please explain to me difficult explanation'.

Best wishes, Clive

Jackson6612 · Answer

CliveYou need 'the'. 'Above' is just an adjective in this example.

Let's replace it by another adjective, like 'difficult'. You wouldn't say 'Please explain to me difficult explanation'.

But there lies only one definition above the statement ''Please explain to me...''. When I say above definition, then I am specifically referring to the only definition which lies above. Yes, the should have to used if there were more than one definition. What do you say?

BarbaraPA · Answer

It still requires an article.

Jackson6612 · Answer

Grammar GeekIt still requires an article.

Why?

CalifJim · Answer

All countable singular nouns in English require a determiner (article, possessive adjective, etc.).

definition is a noun.
definition is countable.
definition is singular.

Therefore, definition requires a determiner. My preference is to write this:

Please explain the definition above.

CJ

Yankee · Answer

Jackson6612But there lies only one definition above the statement ''Please explain to me...''. When I say above definition, then I am specifically referring to the only definition which lies above. Yes, the should have to used if there were more than one definition. What do you say?

Jackson6612
Grammar GeekIt still requires an article.
Why?

Let me ask you a counter-question, Jackson. Why did you write "the only definition" in the first quote above?

(And why did I write "thefirst quote" if there is only one first quote?)

Jackson6612 · Answer

YankeeLet me ask you a counter-question, Jackson. Why did you write "the only definition" in the first quote above?

(And why did I write "thefirst quote" if there is only one first quote?)

Hi Amy,

When I was writing that post I kew someone could ask me a counter-question. Well, the fact is I didn't know the real function of the at that moment. So you can say I just used the intuitively.

CalifJim · Answer

When I say above definition, then I am specifically referring to the only definition which lies above. Yes, the should have to used if there were more than one definition. What do you say?

You are mistaken in your beliefs about the use of the determiner the. the does not create uniqueness; the acknowledges uniqueness.

Suppose we had three definitions.

Definition 1: .....
Definition 2: .....
Definition 3: .....

Now, suppose we refer to the above definition. Which one of the three definitions above are we referring to? It's impossible to say. So, you see, the use of the does not create uniqueness.

Nevertheless, there is only one definition above which is between two other definitions; that is, there is one definition which is "in the middle" -- one middle definition. That's Definition 2. Because Definition 2 is unique in this way, we must acknowledge it by using the when we refer to it, thus: the middle definition above. By doing so, we acknowledge the uniqueness of that second definition. It is incorrect not to acknowledge uniqueness, so it is incorrect to drop the when the referent is unique.

So here are some ideas to remember: You don't (and can't) force uniqueness on a referent by adding the. You can't drop the just because the referent is unique. On the contrary, if the referent is unique, you must add the (or another definite determiner such as my, his, etc.)

CJ

Jackson6612 · Answer

Thank you, CJ. That's very enlightening. No wonder you know how to explain things. I wish you good health and many years of happiness.

Jackson6612 · Answer

CalifJimAll countable singular nouns in English require a determiner (article, possessive adjective, etc.).

Can the above definition also be extended to countable plural nouns?

How many kinds of determiners are there in English?

Thank you for your time.

Is it necessary to use the in the above sentence?

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