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Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
Referencing to a single or group source
I sometimes get confused whether an adjective with the definite noun "the" before it is referencing a group of people or a person. I think some can denote a person, whereas most of this type denotes a group of people. But sometimes, it is hard to make distinctions since it seems that they are applied unevenly. Do you have a tip or tips?
eg, Whatever happens they attribute to the natural, the accidental, and the human -- not discerning ...
eg, Whatever happens they attribute to the natural, the accidental, and the human -- not discerning ...
Top answer
Hi, I sometimes get confused whether an adjective with the definite noun "the" before it is referencing a group of people or a person. I think some can denote a person, whereas most of this type denotes a group of people. But sometimes, it is hard to make distinctions since it seems that they are applied unevenly.
- Hi, I sometimes get confused whether an adjective with the definite noun "the" before it is referencing a group of people or a person.
- I think some can denote a person, whereas most of this type denotes a group of people.
- But sometimes, it is hard to make distinctions since it seems that they are applied unevenly.
- Do you have a tip or tips?
- eg, Whatever happens they attribute to the natural, the accidental, and the human -- not discerning ...
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4 Answers
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Hi,
I sometimes get confused whether an adjective with the definite noun "the" before it is referencing a group of people or a person. I think some can denote a person, whereas most of this type denotes a group of people. But sometimes, it is hard to make distinctions since it seems that they are applied unevenly. Do you have a tip or tips?
eg, Whatever happens they attribute to the
I sometimes get confused whether an adjective with the definite noun "the" before it is referencing a group of people or a person. I think some can denote a person, whereas most of this type denotes a group of people. But sometimes, it is hard to make distinctions since it seems that they are applied unevenly. Do you have a tip or tips?
eg, Whatever happens they attribute to the
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Examples:
"At the end of the world *** will judge the quick and the dead."
"The soup kitchen gave meals to the homeless."
"He comforted the lonely and depressed."
The adjectives only describe a characteristic. It does not give any idea of how many would have that characteristic - it could be none, one or billions.
In the text, the number is either not relevant, or
"At the end of the world *** will judge the quick and the dead."
"The soup kitchen gave meals to the homeless."
"He comforted the lonely and depressed."
The adjectives only describe a characteristic. It does not give any idea of how many would have that characteristic - it could be none, one or billions.
In the text, the number is either not relevant, or
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Thank you, Clive and AlpheccaStars.
I was thinking in terms of this type of examples:
The contest will result in choosing the best - the best player in each competition. The best will be given an award and a chance to go to the state competition in which he or she will compete with the bests in the state.
I think the words "best" here refers to a single person.
I was thinking in terms of this type of examples:
The contest will result in choosing the best - the best player in each competition. The best will be given an award and a chance to go to the state competition in which he or she will compete with the bests in the state.
I think the words "best" here refers to a single person.
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Hi,
The contest will result in choosing the best This refers to a group, consisting of the best person in each competition.
- the best player Here, the adjective obviously refers to one person
in each competition. The best Here, you have used the same phrase as I have bolded above, but the rest of the sentence shows that now you mean 'the best person in each comp
The contest will result in choosing the best This refers to a group, consisting of the best person in each competition.
- the best player Here, the adjective obviously refers to one person
in each competition. The best Here, you have used the same phrase as I have bolded above, but the rest of the sentence shows that now you mean 'the best person in each comp
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