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PASTEL Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
The/a
(1)The credit card is a convenient way of paying for purchases.
(2)A credit card is a convenient way of paying for purchases.
Is there any difference?
Thanks,
Pastel
(2)A credit card is a convenient way of paying for purchases.
Is there any difference?
Thanks,
Pastel
Top answer
Not really. And you can even add (3)"Credit cards are a convenient way of paying for purchases". All three formulas are known as 'generic statements'.
- Not really.
- And you can even add (3)"Credit cards are a convenient way of paying for purchases".
- All three formulas are known as 'generic statements'.
- From (1) through (3) they are in descending order of focus on the subject, but the differences are minuscule.
- (1) When considering ways of paying for purchases, there is money, of course, and then there are checks, too.
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18 Answers
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Not really.
And you can even add
(3)"Credit cards are a convenient way of paying for purchases".
All three formulas are known as 'generic statements'.
From (1) through (3) they are in descending order of focus on the subject, but the differences are minuscule.
(1) When considering ways of paying for purchases, there is money, of course, and then t
And you can even add
(3)"Credit cards are a convenient way of paying for purchases".
All three formulas are known as 'generic statements'.
From (1) through (3) they are in descending order of focus on the subject, but the differences are minuscule.
(1) When considering ways of paying for purchases, there is money, of course, and then t
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(1) The Jumbo Jet has revolutionized air travel.
(2) A Jumbo Jet has revolutionized air travel.
Why isn't the second one correct?
Thanks,
Pastel
(2) A Jumbo Jet has revolutionized air travel.
Why isn't the second one correct?
Thanks,
Pastel
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Pastel!
A and The .
When we use the it means that we talked about that thing befor or it is something we all know
like : I had a yellow book-- The book was very old.
or something we all know : The president of Japan.
When we use A/An we are talking about a singular thing that we didn't talk about it before!
Hadas.
A and The .
When we use the it means that we talked about that thing befor or it is something we all know
like : I had a yellow book-- The book was very old.
or something we all know : The president of Japan.
When we use A/An we are talking about a singular thing that we didn't talk about it before!
Hadas.
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The second one is correct, but not as a generic statement.
If there really was a single jumbo jet that revolutionized air travel, and the narrative which follows is actually about that particular jumbo jet, then the second one is correct.
I think you are asking why the second one isn't correct as a generic statement, however.
The reason is that, the way we nor
If there really was a single jumbo jet that revolutionized air travel, and the narrative which follows is actually about that particular jumbo jet, then the second one is correct.
I think you are asking why the second one isn't correct as a generic statement, however.
The reason is that, the way we nor
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Somehow I don't feel oddness in generic statements such as "A jumbo jet is still the largest airliner in service" and "A jumbo jet is an airliner that brought a revolution in air travel". But I can't understand why they sound natural to me.Is it because those sentences are in a predicative sentential pattern of "A jumbo jet is a complement"?
paco
paco
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Being in an equative structure may be the reason they sound natural to you, Paco. I don't know.
Nevertheless, they are not used as generic statements. (They don't sound natural to me as generic statements, by the way.)
CJ
Nevertheless, they are not used as generic statements. (They don't sound natural to me as generic statements, by the way.)
CJ
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How are you, Jim!
What about?
(1) The computer has revolutionized printing.
(2) A computer has revolutionized printing.
The first one is talking about computers in general whereas the second one isn't. This set of examples aren't the same as the jumbo jet. Eh? [:^)]
Thanks,
What about?
(1) The computer has revolutionized printing.
(2) A computer has revolutionized printing.
The first one is talking about computers in general whereas the second one isn't. This set of examples aren't the same as the jumbo jet. Eh? [:^)]
Thanks,
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Hi, Pastel,
Yes. The same applies to these examples. I'm not sure why you say this is a different situation from the 'jumbo jet' situation.
(1) generic.
(2) not generic.
CJ
Yes. The same applies to these examples. I'm not sure why you say this is a different situation from the 'jumbo jet' situation.
(1) generic.
(2) not generic.
CJ
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CalifJimBeing in an equative structure may be the reason they sound natural to you, Paco. I don't know.
Nevertheless, they are not used as generic statements. (They don't sound natural to me as generic statements, by the way.)
"A wrench or spanner is a tool used to turn bolts, nuts or other hard-to-turn items.
In American English, wrench
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I learned English has three kinds of generic statement.
#1 Using the bare plural.
#2 Using the singular with A/AN.
#3 Using the singular with THE.
#1 and #2 are used to state typical characters.
Swans are white. (Some swans may be black)
A swan is white. (Some swans may be black)
#3 is used to state definitive/obligatory characters.
#1 Using the bare plural.
#2 Using the singular with A/AN.
#3 Using the singular with THE.
#1 and #2 are used to state typical characters.
Swans are white. (Some swans may be black)
A swan is white. (Some swans may be black)
#3 is used to state definitive/obligatory characters.
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