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Anonymous Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

The glasses / A card

Hi,

Here's my question. Someone is planning to buy a special type of glasses (for construction). I meet him later and say:

1. Did you buy glasses?

2. Did you buy THE glasses?

To me either is correct, but #1 is vague (any type of glasses) and #2 refers to the specific kind of glasses he wanted (so #2 with the definite article makes more sense). Right?

My confusions comes from here. If my friend wants to buy a birthday card, I stop him later and ask him if he bought one, I would say: "Did you buy A card?". Not "the card", even though "a card" could be a sympathy card, a Christmas card and so on. We can only be talking about a birthday one. But I would use the indefinite article in this case. Why would we lean to "a card" and "the glasses"?

I hope the questions make sense.

  

Top answer

anonymous 1. Did you buy glasses? = He may or may not have previously mentioned his errand.

— Mister Micawber

  • anonymous 1.
  • Did you buy glasses?
  • = He may or may not have previously mentioned his errand.
  • anonymous 2.
  • Did you buy THE glasses?
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1 Answers
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anonymous1. Did you buy glasses?

= He may or may not have previously mentioned his errand.

anonymous2. Did you buy THE glasses?

= He previously mentioned his errand.

anonymousTo me either is correct, but #1 is vague (any type of glasses) and #2 refers to the specific kind of glasses he w
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