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Khoshtip Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

The indefinite article a

In these sentences:

1- I have a book.
2- I'm a teacher. 

Does the a mean one? If not, so does it have any meaning? 
And, in what situations the indefinite article means one?
  

Top answer

With certain idiomatic exceptions, all singular countable nouns need a determiner. g. not "the book" (a book mentioned earlier), not "your book" (the book belonging to you), not "that book" (demonstrative effect), and so on.

— GPY

  • With certain idiomatic exceptions, all singular countable nouns need a determiner.
  • g.
  • not "the book" (a book mentioned earlier), not "your book" (the book belonging to you), not "that book" (demonstrative effect), and so on.
  • Generally speaking, "one" emphasises the number more strongly than "a".
  • For example, "I have one book" emphasises that you have one as opposed to two, three, etc.
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15 Answers
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With certain idiomatic exceptions, all singular countable nouns need a determiner. "a" is the normal choice when we do not want to identify any specific or special item -- e.g. not "the book" (a book mentioned earlier), not "your book" (the book belonging to you), not "that book" (demonstrative effect), and so on.

Generally speaking, "one" emphasises the number more strongly than "a". For
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khoshtipDoes the a mean one? If not, so does it have any meaning?
The articles come from a long history of the English language.
The earliest article was "an" which changed into "a" as the "n" sound was dropped before consonants.

an:
indefinite article
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GPYWith certain idiomatic exceptions
GPYGenerally speaking, "one" emphasises the number more strongly than "a".
GPY idiomatic sense
So in each sentence the 'a' means "one" but with less strength in comparison to one, yes?
Could you state some so-called "idiomatic senses" pleas
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yeah "a" refers to one and when noun is plural(books) you should not use "a
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khoshtipSo in each sentence the 'a' means "one" but with less strength in comparison to one, yes?
I wouldn't think of it that way. I prefer the way I described. Singular countable nouns need determiners (normally). This is a grammatical requirement. The indefinite article is the one we use when we have no reason to use any other.
khosh
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GPYI wouldn't think of it that way. I prefer the way I described. Singular countable nouns need determiners (normally). This is a grammatical requirement. The indefinite article is the one we use when we have no reason to use any other.
Yes, it can be right and acceptable but for those who their language is not the English, they need to someway translate the w
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2- I'm teacher.
That is wrong, unless the person's name is "Teacher."
I'm Alphecca Stars; what's your name?
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My name? I'm Great Hulk.
I know I'm teacher is not correct. I say, what does that 'a' (in I'm a teacher) mean? Does it have any meaning? If not and we put it there because of the grammar so I omit it when translating into my language.
And about the first sentence, I got that 'a' a less weak "one" but I'm not sure is it correct or not.
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khoshtipwe put it there because of the grammar
Yes.
khoshtipI got that 'a' a less weak "one" but I'm not sure is it correct or not.
Yes.

"I have a book" contrasts with "I have books."
"a" implies that there is only one.
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And about the sentence "I'm a teacher", can I ignore that a when translating, not leading it to means that the teacher is a name?
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