0
Somethingsimple Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
"the strength of will", "the sharpness of mind" etc
Can anyone be so kind to explain to the stupid me why do we use the definite article with those rather abstract concepts?
I dont think A of B rule should apply here in which the concepts of strenghth and sharpness are quantified somehow by their B parts. Or am I wrong?
Thank you,
Al
I dont think A of B rule should apply here in which the concepts of strenghth and sharpness are quantified somehow by their B parts. Or am I wrong?
Thank you,
Al
Top answer
Hi Al, An alcoholic doesn't have the strength of will to say 'No' to a drink. He only has the weakness of will to say 'Yes'. The definite article seems appropriate to me here, where I am trying to differentiate two qualities of 'will'.
- Hi Al, An alcoholic doesn't have the strength of will to say 'No' to a drink.
- He only has the weakness of will to say 'Yes'.
- The definite article seems appropriate to me here, where I am trying to differentiate two qualities of 'will'.
- Best wishes, Clive
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
1 Answers
0
Hi Al,
An alcoholic doesn't have the strength of will to say 'No' to a drink. He only has the weakness of will to say 'Yes'.
The definite article seems appropriate to me here, where I am trying to differentiate two qualities of 'will'.
Best wishes, Clive
An alcoholic doesn't have the strength of will to say 'No' to a drink. He only has the weakness of will to say 'Yes'.
The definite article seems appropriate to me here, where I am trying to differentiate two qualities of 'will'.
Best wishes, Clive
0
Related Questions