the and adjective

Question

Hello,

Two questions I would like to ask:

1. Is it true that one does not need to put a 'the' if the thing that is supposed to take it has an 'adjective' before?

I remeber myself reading such an explanation....

Please correct me if I am wrong.

2. After a paragraph, suppose I make a new paragraph.
Normally, one does not give a line break and starts the new line but leave a blank to the left.

I also encounter that one gives a line break and starts the new line without a blank to the left.

I mean like this:

XXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXX

or

XXXXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXX

Is both correct?

Thanks

Kooyeen · Accepted Answer

Hi,
1. I don't think so. --- Here's the dumb guy who stole your girlfriend.
2. It's just a question of style. Write the way you like best, not the way people tell you to write. Unless you are like GG, lol.

Exciter · Answer

Regarding 2,

What kind of styles are there?

How many styles?

Could you provide a link?

Thanks.

P.S: What is GG?

Nona the brit · Answer

1. No, that rule is incorrect. You still need the 'the' even if there is an adjective.

2. You are thinking of 'indented' paragraphs. This is very old fashioned now. The best thing to do is to leave a line space and not indent.

Anonymous · Answer

Hi, all

I've always wanted to ask one thing about sentences like that:

The best thing to do is to leave a ...

The part I'm interested in is should I use to + infinitive or simply bare infinitive after to do is.

I'm asking this because I've heard people(native speakers) use bare infinitive in sentences like this.
I even remember a song with such expression. It was something like - All I wanna do is have some fun I got a feeling...

Which option sounds more correct?

BarbaraPA · Answer

As an American speaker, I find All I want to do is have some fun sounds just fine to me. Perhaps it's informal, but it's so pervasive that I really can't tell the difference. Maybe the to do is to X sequence just sounds too "jumbly" because I would certainly say I want to X.

CJ, your thoughts? You'll make us all smarter on this, I'm sure!

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks Barbara.
Yeah, CJ, bring it on!

BarbaraPA · Answer

KooyeenHi,
2. It's just a question of style. Write the way you like best, not the way people tell you to write. Unless you are like GG, lol.

What do you mean by that, Kooyeen?

Kooyeen · Answer

Grammar Geek
KooyeenHi,
2. It's just a question of style. Write the way you like best, not the way people tell you to write. Unless you are like GG, lol.

What do you mean by that, Kooyeen?

Hi GG,
you are a writer right? So you are in the professional writing field. I remember reading in some of your posts that you (maybe not you, but writers in general) can't do everything you want in that field. If I'm not mistaken, editors, publishers, etc. sometimes force you to follow particular guidelines and use a certain style. Is it so?

As for "All I want to do is (to) have fun" I learned (I don't know where) that "to" is ok, but it is usually left out. It seems you can leave it out when there are some structures with the verb "do":
All you have to do is (to) try to stay away from...
The best thing to do is (to) learn English in the US...
What you should do is (to) report that behaviour to the moderators...
etc...

BarbaraPA · Answer

Ah, I see. Yes, I have to follow the style guidelines of my company when I write for work. When I write a letter to a friend, I can write however I choose.

Yankee · Answer

Kooyeen
What you should do is (to) report that behaviour to the moderators...

I would suggest that 'to' is less an option in that sentence:
What you should do is (you should) report that behaviour to the moderators...

the and adjective

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