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MariaRC Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

The doll vs. a doll

Greetings, dear native speakers!

I am really confused about the use of articles in some cases.

One of my uncles gave me a doll on my birthday.

This sentence above I write early on in a composition/long essay. 

Let's say that a number of pages down (1 or maybe 30), I write:

My uncle (the one who had given me the doll on my birthday) came over.
Or is this one?
My uncle (the one who had given me a doll on my birthday) came over.

On the one hand, I think 'the' is perfectly correct. The doll has already been identified early one, when I wrote that I was given a doll on my birthday, so whether 2 pages or 200 pages later, it's THAT doll.

On the other hand, when I write 'the one who had…', I am emphasizing the uncle and not the doll, so I suppose a case could be made for 'the one who had given me a doll' if I don't think the doll is all that relevant or if I don't want to emphasize it.

Yes? No?

Native speakers, please give me some advice!

Thank you!
  

Top answer

MariaRC Or is this one? My uncle (the one who had given me a doll on my birthday) came over. I'd use this one.

— CalifJim

  • MariaRC Or is this one?
  • My uncle (the one who had given me a doll on my birthday) came over.
  • I'd use this one.
  • As you say, the identity of the doll is of no concern here; only the identity of the uncle.
  • CJ
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8 Answers
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MariaRCOr is this one? My uncle (the one who had given me a doll on my birthday) came over.
I'd use this one. As you say, the identity of the doll is of no concern here; only the identity of the uncle.

CJ
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CalifJimI'd use this one. As you say, the identity of the doll is of no concern here; only the identity of the uncle.
Thank you, CalifJim. And if I used "the doll"? Would you single that out as a grammatical mistake or it is correct and more a matter of preference?
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MariaRCAnd if I used "the doll"? Would you single that out as a grammatical mistake
No.
MariaRCor it is is it correct and more a matter of preference?
Yes. It's a matter of preference.

CJ
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Wonderful! Thank you for correcting that other thing as well. Happy Friday!
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MariaRCI suppose a case could be made for 'the one who had given me a doll' if I don't think the doll is all that relevant or if I don't want to emphasize it.
I think this is similar to your last question. If the doll is not important to the story then you can use "a", but if it is important then you would more likely use "the".
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GPYI think this is similar to your last question. If the doll is not important to the story then you can use "a", but if it is important then you would more likely use "the".
Yes, it is somewhat similar, GPY. Though not the same. There are no articles in my native language, so I always stumble with these things and second-guess myself.

Thank you!
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MariaRCThere are no articles in my native language, so I always stumble with these things and second-guess myself.
I think I can imagine how silly and confusing articles must seem if one's native language does not use them.
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GPYI think I can imagine how silly and confusing articles must seem if one's native language does not use them.
Well, not silly - articles have their use and even charm - but very, very, very confusing. It's like bashing your head against the wall sometimes. What comes naturally to you with no thought has to be analyzed by someone like me. It can be frustratin
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