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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

The fork or a fork?

Hi. I believe Leonardo Da Vinci invented the fork. I think we have to put the definite article "the" before the word "fork" in the sentence "Leonardo Da Vinci invented the fork" because the reference is to the general category of it.
Now, which is correct? Thank you in advance for your help.

1. Leonardo Da Vinci made the fork.
2. Leonardo Da Vinci made a fork.
  

Top answer

No, your reasoning is flawed. 'invent' is quite different from 'make'. 'invent' can normally only refer to a class of things, thus requiring the use of the definite article.

— Ivanhr

  • No, your reasoning is flawed.
  • 'invent' is quite different from 'make'.
  • 'invent' can normally only refer to a class of things, thus requiring the use of the definite article.
  • Leonardo Da Vinci invented the fork (OK) but The sentence "Leonardo Da Vinci made the fork" does not work if you're referring to the class itself.
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3 Answers
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No, your reasoning is flawed. 'invent' is quite different from 'make'. 'invent' can normally only refer to a class of things, thus requiring the use of the definite article.

Leonardo Da Vinci invented the fork (OK)

but

The sentence "Leonardo Da Vinci made the fork" does not work if you're referring to the class itself.
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e.g.,
Anonymous1. Leonardo Da Vinci invented and made the first fork.
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teechre.g.,Anonymous1. Leonardo Da Vinci invented and made the first fork.
Here, the ordinal "first" makes "the" compulsory, whatever the meaning, i.e. generic or specific, doesn't it?
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