0
Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Question about article

I am a litke confused about the use of the article 'the' as I have been told that it should be used when refering to something that os previously mentioned, but sometimes the article has to be used in a sentence regardless whether it is previously mentioned or not. Would that be correct?

For example:

Set a good example for the future generation.

What is the matter?

The effects of excess alcohol on the body is detrimental.

Call the doctor.

Don't worry about the future.

So m question is the article is not only used for things that are previously mentioned but has to be part of a sentence depending on its construction sometimes. Would that be right?
  

Top answer

Anonymous So m question is the article is not only used for things that are previously mentioned but has to be part of a sentence depending on its construction sometimes. Would that be right? The use of "the" depends more on the noun and conventions rather than the construction of a sentence.

— AlpheccaStars

  • Anonymous So m question is the article is not only used for things that are previously mentioned but has to be part of a sentence depending on its construction sometimes.
  • Would that be right?
  • The use of "the" depends more on the noun and conventions rather than the construction of a sentence.
  • Either one of these is OK: Call the doctor.
  • Call a doctor.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

37 Answers
0
AnonymousSo m question is the article is not only used for things that are previously mentioned but has to be part of a sentence depending on its construction sometimes. Would that be right?
The use of "the" depends more on the noun and conventions rather than the construction of a sentence.

Either one of these is OK:
Call the doctor.
Call a d
0
0
AlpheccaStarsEither one of these is OK:Call the doctor.Call a doctor.
Thanks a lot. Yes, I know either one is OK. The use of 'the' indicates the reference to a specific doctor.
AlpheccaStarsThe use of "the" depends more on the noun and conventions rather than the construction of a sentence.
So the use of 'the' is not only fo
0
0
AnonymousSo what I am asking is that it is sometimes required to be used in sentences regardless of whether something is mentioned previously. Am I correct?
Yes. If you mean some specific item, whether or not it has been mentioned before.
0
0
AnonymousSet a good example for the future generation.What is the matter?The effects of excess alcohol on the body is detrimental.Call the doctor.Don't worry about the future.
The nouns with "the" are mostly things that are known to exist, or can reasonably be assumed to exist, without having been explicitly mentioned.

"effects" has a definite article
0
0
AlpheccaStarsYes. If you mean some specific item, whether or not it has been mentioned before.
Yes, I think so. Specific meaning referring to something specific that has not been mentioned before, as in your sentence when you used it before the word noun, which is specific to it. Have I understood correctly?

If so, then I can see that it is use
0
0
GPYThe nouns with "the" are mostly things that are known to exist, or can reasonably be assumed to exist, without having been explicitly mentioned.
Thank you.
GPY"effects" has a definite article because it is made specific by "of excess alcohol".
So when things are made specific by something, the definite article can be used
0
0
AnonymousSo when things are made specific by something, the definite article can be used. BAsically the article can be use when we refer to specific things even when they are not mentioned before. Would that be correct?
If a modifier makes something specific, then yes. For example, if you say "The book is on the table", then it is required that the listener al
0
0
GPYIf you say "The book that I borrowed is on the table" then the listener doesn't already need to know because it is explained within the sentence.
Yes, But either way you used 'the' before book, which is specific to it and requires a modifier. Right?
GPYthen the listener doesn't already need to know because it is explained with
0
0
Nouns can have modifiers, or not have modifiers, depending only on the required meaning of the sentence.

The definite article is normally used when the listener knows which specific item(s) you are talking about (exceptions to this rule exist). They may know this because it has previously been mentioned, because it is common knowledge, because only one exists or is possible, because it i
0
0
GPYNouns can have modifiers, or not have modifiers, depending only on the required meaning of the sentence.
Yes, But what I am saying is that as in your sentence where I specified that you used 'the' before listener and noun, you had to include it otherwise the sentence would be not right. Am I correct?

So sometimes a modifier is required!

An
0

Related Questions