The book

Question

Hello everyone!!I saw this sentence:He had a funny approach to selecting books: if the book smelled funny or the author's name was more than five letters long, he'd cast it aside.Can someone explain: why "the book" and not "a book"? This book wasn't mentioned before. The writer of the sentence jumps from "books" straight into "the" book.Could I write "a book" in this case? Would it be correct?Thanks everyone for your help!!

Xerxes · Accepted Answer

victorkCan someone explain: why "the book" and not "a book"? This book wasn't mentioned before. The writer of the sentence jumps from "books" straight into "the" book.

It doesn't necessarily have to be mentioned before. These rules are prescriptive; the important thing is to make sure you communicate clearly and articulate your thoughts well. The context here makes it clear which book "he" was referring to. Remember that the definite article ("the") can be used as "that", while indefinite articles ("a", "an") can be used for "some". In other words, articles help you regulate emphasis.

Basically, the definite article in this sentence indicates the following:

He had a funny approach to selecting books: if the book [that was in question; the book that was chosen; the book that was in his hands at any given time] smelled funny or the author's name was more than five letters long, he'd cast it aside.

I parenthesized what is not said in the sentence, but what is nevertheless implied.

victorkCould I write "a book" in this case? Would it be correct?

Yes. I wouldn't consider it incorrect. But it's tantamount to saying ". . . if some/any book smelled . . ."
I mean, how many books did he hold in his hands at any one time? Probably no more than one. So "the" is better.

Hope this is clear.

The book

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