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Believer Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
Three bewildering questions
1. Which phrase is right?
In a case of mistaken identity
In the case of a mistaken identity
2. Do you need an article "the" in the place indicated or need not? I think it can be without and that sentence without it is better than the one with the "the" eventhough it digresses from the proposed general rule that said if a noun is being restrictively modified by a subsequent clause, it should accompany an article "the." I cannot clearly explain to myself why my choice is the better one.
Abu is not his real name, but it's (the???) one he uses to disguise his identity.
3. Is this sentence correct?
This week's meeting will be on idea exchange.
In a case of mistaken identity
In the case of a mistaken identity
2. Do you need an article "the" in the place indicated or need not? I think it can be without and that sentence without it is better than the one with the "the" eventhough it digresses from the proposed general rule that said if a noun is being restrictively modified by a subsequent clause, it should accompany an article "the." I cannot clearly explain to myself why my choice is the better one.
Abu is not his real name, but it's (the???) one he uses to disguise his identity.
3. Is this sentence correct?
This week's meeting will be on idea exchange.
Top answer
Hi Believer, whether you need 'a' or 'the' or neither often depends on context and the meaning you want to get across. You can't say that one option is always right or wrong. 1) In a case of mistaken identity (you are talking in a general sense about all cases of mistaken identity).
- Hi Believer, whether you need 'a' or 'the' or neither often depends on context and the meaning you want to get across.
- You can't say that one option is always right or wrong.
- 1) In a case of mistaken identity (you are talking in a general sense about all cases of mistaken identity).
- In the case of mistake identity (you are talking about a specific case of mistaken identity) 2) Abu is not his real name but it's the one he uses to disguise his identity.
- (This is the only fake name he uses).
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1 Answers
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Hi Believer, whether you need 'a' or 'the' or neither often depends on context and the meaning you want to get across. You can't say that one option is always right or wrong.
1) In a case of mistaken identity (you are talking in a general sense about all cases of mistaken identity).
In the case of mistake identity (you are talking about a specific case of mistaken identity)
1) In a case of mistaken identity (you are talking in a general sense about all cases of mistaken identity).
In the case of mistake identity (you are talking about a specific case of mistaken identity)
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