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DorisPao Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
The (ABC) chocolates
Hi,
In my earlier thread I asked about the definite article with chocolate in general. I had a second thought. Let's say my friend asks me to buy specifically ABC chocolates in Switzerland and not any others. I come back to Singapore and realize I had forgotten to buy some. So this time I would use the definite article here:
"Gosh, I forgot to buy you the chocolates."
I am using the definite article here because it's a specific group of chocolates (ABC chocolates).
Am I making any sense?
In my earlier thread I asked about the definite article with chocolate in general. I had a second thought. Let's say my friend asks me to buy specifically ABC chocolates in Switzerland and not any others. I come back to Singapore and realize I had forgotten to buy some. So this time I would use the definite article here:
"Gosh, I forgot to buy you the chocolates."
I am using the definite article here because it's a specific group of chocolates (ABC chocolates).
Am I making any sense?
Top answer
Yes. But consider that she might just have said 'Please buy me some chocolates'. You would still naturally say 'I forgot to buy you the chocolates''.
- Yes.
- But consider that she might just have said 'Please buy me some chocolates'.
- You would still naturally say 'I forgot to buy you the chocolates''.
- ie the chocolates you asked me to buy.
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3 Answers
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Yes.
But consider that she might just have said 'Please buy me some chocolates'.
You would still naturally say 'I forgot to buy you the chocolates''.
ie the chocolates you asked me to buy.
But consider that she might just have said 'Please buy me some chocolates'.
You would still naturally say 'I forgot to buy you the chocolates''.
ie the chocolates you asked me to buy.
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CliveBut consider that she might just have said 'Please buy me some chocolates'.You would still naturally say 'I forgot to buy you the chocolates''.ie the chocolates you asked me to buy.I can't get my head around this. Because I see this as:
"Please buy me some chocolates" (any - not specific).
I come back empty-handed and say,
"I forgot to buy yo
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That's not wrong, but I think most native speakers would think of it as I have explained.
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