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Daithy Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

"The Coloradans"

I know we place the definite article before the people of a country, nation, etc: the French, the English, for example. I also believe that we do not place the article before people from a city: Londoners, New Yorkers, for example.

Now what if we are talking about Coloradans? Should we put in the article? I am starting to suspect that we ought not to and treat it the same like the city example.

Your thoughts? Thanks.
  

Top answer

Daithy I know we place the definite article before the people of a country, nation, etc: the French, the English, for example. I also believe that we do not place the article before people from a city: Londoners, New Yorkers, for example. No, no—it depends on context.

— Mister Micawber

  • Daithy I know we place the definite article before the people of a country, nation, etc: the French, the English, for example.
  • I also believe that we do not place the article before people from a city: Londoners, New Yorkers, for example.
  • No, no—it depends on context.
  • Americans are a rambunctious lot.
  • The Londoners that attend football games are rambunctious, too.
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29 Answers
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DaithyI know we place the definite article before the people of a country, nation, etc: the French, the English, for example. I also believe that we do not place the article before people from a city: Londoners, New Yorkers, for example.
No, no—it depends on context.

Americans are a rambunctious lot.
The Londoners that attend football ga
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As far as I am concerned, there are certain occasions that you want to emphasize that you are referring to people in London, when you will use a 'the', as in the following case:

The Londoners gave Owen a glance, assumed him harmless.

Yet in general your point is correct. As for Coloradans, or other case when you are not quite sure if the usage is justified, I
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whisperingSo in general, you may not put an article before it.
Nonsense.

The Coloradans gave Owen a glance, assuming him harmless.
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With respect, Mister. Although your remark is quite witty, I could argue that I did emphasise 'in general'.Emotion: wink
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You're both correct:

I love Coloradans. (in general)
I hate the Coloradans that throw trash on the highway. (this subset in particular)
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SoSaysSunnyYou're both correct:
In what way is whispering correct, SSS? His 'in general' refers to frequency of use, not generality vs specificity.
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Mister MicawberIn what way is whispering correct, SSS?

Whispering: Coloradans esteem independence and free choice.
This sentence (and another he offered), correctly use Coloradans (without an article) to speak of the group as a whole or in general.

Your examples were also correct, u
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I wasn't referring to his in general ... I was referring to my own contrast of in general and in particular.
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whisperingSo in general, you may not put an article before it.
And I am speaking about this statement, SSS. It is patently incorrect.
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Mister Micawber Americans are a rambunctious lot.

Thanks for your answer. Somehow I do think that Americans get a free pass. This sentence [without definite article] would not sound right to me. English are a rambunctious lot. French are a rambunctious lot. Which is in the exact same context.
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