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Snappy Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
The/a poet who wrote
I found this on a website:
"Alun Lewis is a poet who wrote the love poem, Goodbye, for his wife, and other sensitive, accessible poems, many about his experience of war and separation."
This usage of the indefinite article confuses me.
In my understanding,
the sentence "He is a poet who wrote this book." implies that there may be co-authors who wrote this book. "He is the poet..." implies that only one person wrote the book.
Is it possible to understand that "He is a poet who wrote this book" is sometimes almost the same in meaning as "He is a poet, who wrote this book." or possible to say "He is a poet who wrote this book." in the following situation?
My friend: (Looking at a photograph in my room) Who is this guy?
Snappy: Oh, he is a friend of mine. (Showing my friend the book that he wrote) He is a poet who wrote this book.
My friend: Wow, that's cool!
"Alun Lewis is a poet who wrote the love poem, Goodbye, for his wife, and other sensitive, accessible poems, many about his experience of war and separation."
This usage of the indefinite article confuses me.
In my understanding,
the sentence "He is a poet who wrote this book." implies that there may be co-authors who wrote this book. "He is the poet..." implies that only one person wrote the book.
Is it possible to understand that "He is a poet who wrote this book" is sometimes almost the same in meaning as "He is a poet, who wrote this book." or possible to say "He is a poet who wrote this book." in the following situation?
My friend: (Looking at a photograph in my room) Who is this guy?
Snappy: Oh, he is a friend of mine. (Showing my friend the book that he wrote) He is a poet who wrote this book.
My friend: Wow, that's cool!
Top answer
Snappy, I think I see your confusion. How about trying it this way: A: Who is Alun Lewis? B: He is a poet who wrote the love poem for his wife...
- Snappy, I think I see your confusion.
- How about trying it this way: A: Who is Alun Lewis?
- B: He is a poet who wrote the love poem for his wife...
- You never heard of him?
- This 'a' identifies him as a peot in general.
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1 Answers
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Snappy,
I think I see your confusion. How about trying it this way:
A: Who is Alun Lewis?
B: He is a poet who wrote the love poem for his wife...You never heard of him?
Th
I think I see your confusion. How about trying it this way:
A: Who is Alun Lewis?
B: He is a poet who wrote the love poem for his wife...You never heard of him?
Th
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