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AntoniaZora Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
This is a/the library
Yes, hello. I am walking in the street, showing my city to a friend, and he says: "Antonia, what is this building please?"
I say:
"This is a library".
"This is the library".
Which one is correct? Our English teacher, he explained but maybe I did not understand. He said either is correct, depending on contextual. If I am in an area where a library cannot be necessarily expected, "a library" is better. So for my street example, "a" is better.
But if I walk through a university campus or inside a school, which can be reasonably expected to have a library, "This is the library" is better. It means: "the library of the university". (This applies if there is only one).
Did I understood this correctly? Does this sound like it makes sense? I don't always understand our teacher. Thank you.
I say:
"This is a library".
"This is the library".
Which one is correct? Our English teacher, he explained but maybe I did not understand. He said either is correct, depending on contextual. If I am in an area where a library cannot be necessarily expected, "a library" is better. So for my street example, "a" is better.
But if I walk through a university campus or inside a school, which can be reasonably expected to have a library, "This is the library" is better. It means: "the library of the university". (This applies if there is only one).
Did I understood this correctly? Does this sound like it makes sense? I don't always understand our teacher. Thank you.
Top answer
Welcome to English Forums! Thank you for registering. Your teacher has explained it very well.
- Welcome to English Forums!
- Thank you for registering.
- Your teacher has explained it very well.
- Suppose your city has a main library, a very large and grand building.
- " Suppose your city has many small neighborhood libraries, which are in buildings that are not very architecturally impressive.
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2 Answers
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Welcome to English Forums!
Thank you for registering.
Your teacher has explained it very well.
Suppose your city has a main library, a very large and grand building.
"This is the (city) library."
Suppose your city has many small neighborhood libraries, which are in buildings that are not very architecturally impressive.
"This is a library."
Thank you for registering.
Your teacher has explained it very well.
Suppose your city has a main library, a very large and grand building.
"This is the (city) library."
Suppose your city has many small neighborhood libraries, which are in buildings that are not very architecturally impressive.
"This is a library."
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AlpheccaStarsWelcome to English Forums!Thank you for registering.Your teacher has explained it very well. Suppose your city has a main library, a very large and grand building."This is the (city) library."Suppose your city has many small neighborhood libraries, which are in buildings that are not very architecturally impressive."This is a library."Oh, thank y
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