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Believer Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
optional aticle?
Hi,
I am sorry to ask so many questions on articles but I wish to ask you this.
I was looking at the Collins Cobuild Compact English Learner's Dictionary for the words 'Earring' and 'Goggles'.
Earrings are pieces of jewellery which you attach to your ears.
Goggles are large glasses that fit closely to your face around your eyes to protect them.
My question is "Can I put 'the' in front of the words 'pieces' and 'large glasses' and that would make almost no difference, except creating that specific sense with no real specificity involved?"
I am sorry to ask so many questions on articles but I wish to ask you this.
I was looking at the Collins Cobuild Compact English Learner's Dictionary for the words 'Earring' and 'Goggles'.
Earrings are pieces of jewellery which you attach to your ears.
Goggles are large glasses that fit closely to your face around your eyes to protect them.
My question is "Can I put 'the' in front of the words 'pieces' and 'large glasses' and that would make almost no difference, except creating that specific sense with no real specificity involved?"
Top answer
Hi Believer Don't use articles in your examples. Think of this: Cars are vehicles. You wouldn't say: Cars are the vehicles.
- Hi Believer Don't use articles in your examples.
- Think of this: Cars are vehicles.
- You wouldn't say: Cars are the vehicles.
- There is no need for an article; there isn't an article before cars either.
- The of in your examples makes no difference.
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3 Answers
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Hi Believer
Don't use articles in your examples. Think of this:
Cars are vehicles.
You wouldn't say:
Cars are the vehicles.
There is no need for an article; there isn't an article before cars either. The of in your examples makes no difference.
Cheers
CB
Don't use articles in your examples. Think of this:
Cars are vehicles.
You wouldn't say:
Cars are the vehicles.
There is no need for an article; there isn't an article before cars either. The of in your examples makes no difference.
Cheers
CB
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0 Thank you, CB. 02 br
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00 I always appreciate your cool answers. 02 br
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00 CB, I used the following one sentence and one partial sentence to ask a question in this forum and I think Mr. M responded by saying that the definite articles here are optional but redundant and for that reason, they usually are not used. Note that there are no "thes" in front of
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00 I always appreciate your cool answers. 02 br
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00 CB, I used the following one sentence and one partial sentence to ask a question in this forum and I think Mr. M responded by saying that the definite articles here are optional but redundant and for that reason, they usually are not used. Note that there are no "thes" in front of
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0 Believer, I appreciate your appreciation. 05 0 00 (What a great choice of words...) I always get hesitant when I think of logic and English simultaneously. 05 1 00 I rely first and foremost on my ear and think of a good explanation afterwards. I don't think I want to get a headache contemplating possible minute differences between the former and latter sentences. 02 br
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