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MariaRC Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
Logic in English?
Sometimes, I feel there's no logic in English. 
Or at least it eludes me!
Look at this short dialogue.
"So I am having health problems, Maria..."
"No kidding. You don't do sport, you don't eat healthy food, you smoke a lot. No wonder you're having problems!"
I consulted someone who confirmed that the definite article looks out of place before "problems". But really . . . both speakers know what problems we're referring to . . . they were just mentioned! Wouldn't it be better to say "the problems". The person I consulted said "that's just the way it is", but couldn't explain it. She also said that "these problems" works. What gives?
Or at least it eludes me!
Look at this short dialogue.
"So I am having health problems, Maria..."
"No kidding. You don't do sport, you don't eat healthy food, you smoke a lot. No wonder you're having problems!"
I consulted someone who confirmed that the definite article looks out of place before "problems". But really . . . both speakers know what problems we're referring to . . . they were just mentioned! Wouldn't it be better to say "the problems". The person I consulted said "that's just the way it is", but couldn't explain it. She also said that "these problems" works. What gives?
Top answer
MariaRC Sometimes, I feel there's no logic in English. There isn't any. Or rather, if and when there is, it's either so obvious that no one questions it or it's so hidden that no one can explain it.
- MariaRC Sometimes, I feel there's no logic in English.
- There isn't any.
- Or rather, if and when there is, it's either so obvious that no one questions it or it's so hidden that no one can explain it.
- It seems to me that "having problems" is simply a unit of meaning that we don't tamper with.
- ).
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3 Answers
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MariaRCSometimes, I feel there's no logic in English.There isn't any. Or rather, if and when there is, it's either so obvious that no one questions it or it's so hidden that no one can explain it.
It seems to me that "having problems" is simply a unit of meaning that we don't tamper with.
I'm [having problems] (with ...).
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CalifJimThere. Now you know another way of saying "That's just the way it is"Thank you, CJ! The person I consulted was less humorous!
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As CJ said, "the problems" sounds wrong and unnatural.
You can say:
No wonder you're having problems.
No wonder you're having (all) these problems.
You can say:
No wonder you're having problems.
No wonder you're having (all) these problems.
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