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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

The definite article

Hello, I am a bit unsure about the use of the definite article here. Could you please confirm:
1. Successful people live in A - I omit the definite article
2. (The) more successful people live in B - I omit the article, but I think either is fine
2. (The) more successful ones live in B - I omit the article, but I think either is fine
3. The really successful people live in C. - I think the article is needed.

Can a native speaker confirm this? Many thanks.
  

Top answer

There are circumstances under which any of the four examples can be used either with or without "the". "the" simply indicates, as always, that the speaker has a specific group of people in mind, either because they have already been mentioned earlier in a conversation or text or because it's obvious to the listener or reader which group is being referenced. There is nothing special about the use of "the" (or not) in these examples.

— CalifJim

  • There are circumstances under which any of the four examples can be used either with or without "the".
  • "the" simply indicates, as always, that the speaker has a specific group of people in mind, either because they have already been mentioned earlier in a conversation or text or because it's obvious to the listener or reader which group is being referenced.
  • There is nothing special about the use of "the" (or not) in these examples.
  • CJ
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2 Answers
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There are circumstances under which any of the four examples can be used either with or without "the". "the" simply indicates, as always, that the speaker has a specific group of people in mind, either because they have already been mentioned earlier in a conversation or text or because it's obvious to the listener or reader which group is being referenced. There is nothing special about the use
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CalifJimThere are circumstances under which any of the four examples can be used either with or without "the". "the" simply indicates, as always, that the speaker has a specific group of people in mind, either because they have already been mentioned earlier in a conversation or text or because it's obvious to the listener or reader which group is being referenced. There
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