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Forum_mail Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
the vs a - again :/
1. Here is an example from a book which covers the topic of using the, a/an and so on and so forth.
"The pen is mightier than the sword"
What I don't get is, why is there "the" instead of "a" in "the sword" and "the pen" ? And I don't get the explanation that is provided in the book as well :- /
2. Why do we say "I'm only human" or "I'm human" instead of "I'm A human" ?
3. Why in: "What is the essential quality of language?" there's no artcile at all? I would say "of A language"
4. Do we say: What I don't get is, WHY IS THERE "the" instead of "a" in "the sword" and "the pen" ? or WHY THERE IS ? and why?
thanks a lot!
"The pen is mightier than the sword"
What I don't get is, why is there "the" instead of "a" in "the sword" and "the pen" ? And I don't get the explanation that is provided in the book as well :- /
2. Why do we say "I'm only human" or "I'm human" instead of "I'm A human" ?
3. Why in: "What is the essential quality of language?" there's no artcile at all? I would say "of A language"
4. Do we say: What I don't get is, WHY IS THERE "the" instead of "a" in "the sword" and "the pen" ? or WHY THERE IS ? and why?
thanks a lot!
Top answer
1. A pen is not mightier than a sword at all. The pen is mightier than the sword is an idiom and means communication is more powerful than fighting.
- 1.
- A pen is not mightier than a sword at all.
- The pen is mightier than the sword is an idiom and means communication is more powerful than fighting.
- Never mind the structure of it.
- 2.
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1 Answers
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1. A pen is not mightier than a sword at all. The pen is mightier than the sword is an idiom and means communication is more powerful than fighting. Never mind the structure of it.
2. "I'm a human" means physically human - your body or a member of the human race. The expressions "I'm human" or "I'm only human" relate to not being perfect and can make mistakes.
3. "wha
2. "I'm a human" means physically human - your body or a member of the human race. The expressions "I'm human" or "I'm only human" relate to not being perfect and can make mistakes.
3. "wha
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