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Victork Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Migrants plural + definite article

Hello friends!!

I read this in an article I got:

The island has another benefit for security-conscious tourists. So far, unlike other places in southern Europe, it has not been besieged by the migrants.

Why "the" migrants? If no migrants have been mentioned before (they haven't been). The writer must be thinking of a certain group of migrants, yes??

Thank you!!
Vic
  

Top answer

victork The writer must be thinking of a certain group of migrants, yes?? Yes. The writer expects us to know, either from our general knowledge of world affairs at the time or from other references he has already made in his article, who these migrants are.

— CalifJim

  • victork The writer must be thinking of a certain group of migrants, yes??
  • Yes.
  • The writer expects us to know, either from our general knowledge of world affairs at the time or from other references he has already made in his article, who these migrants are.
  • CJ
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17 Answers
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victorkThe writer must be thinking of a certain group of migrants, yes??
Yes. The writer expects us to know, either from our general knowledge of world affairs at the time or from other references he has already made in his article, who these migrants are.

CJ
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victorkWhy "the" migrants? If no migrants have been mentioned before (they haven't been). The writer must be thinking of a certain group of migrants, yes??
Right. If you omit the definite article, the sentence implies that the island has not been besieged by any migrants. However, given the fact that there is mention of southern Europe and that most peo
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Hey thanks guys!! That is what I thought!!
Thanks a lot!!
Vic
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... or, to put less fine a point on it, the word 'the' is being used as a boo word there. As readers of the article, we are expected to know what it is like to be besieged by the migrants

I'd say it is a form of political rhetoric: the migrants are being identified as a group who are different from us

Happily, not everyone goes along with that

Dave
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dave_anon... or, to put less fine a point on it, the word 'the' is being used as a boo word there. As readers of the article, we are expected to know what it is like to be besieged by the migrants I'd say it is a form of political rhetoric: the migrants are being identified as a group who are different from us Happily, not everyone goes along with that
This is
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I accept what you say - I've not been abroad for a while. If I do go, I might select a destination less likely to be besieged by the migrants

In typing that, I know that 'the' would strike others in a particular way, not a pleasant way

And, of course, I wouldn't say 'besieged' either

Dave
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Current UK joke: Trump will have to build that wall pretty high to prevent the migrants escaping southwards

Dave :-)
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dave_anonI accept what you say - I've not been abroad for a while. If I do go, I might select a destination less likely to be besieged by the migrantsIn typing that, I know that 'the' would strike others in a particular way, not a pleasant wayAnd, of course, I wouldn't say 'besieged' eitherDave
Well, following your logic, from a PC perspective, "the migrants"
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Well, I was just talking about how people might perceive migrants + definite article. That's what our enquirer asked

Where's this PC stuff come from - can you say what it is?

Dave
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Clock's tickin' Xerxes and we still don' have yer definition of PC

D'I have to come in through those bar room doors an' drag it outta yer?

(Doing my best impression of a non-PC accent there!)

Dave
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