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Believer Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

Want to confirm this too

Hi,

I was looking at my Collins Cobuild Compact English Learner's Dictionary and came upon the uncountable nouns like 'recognition'.

1. Recognition is the act of recognizing someone or identifying something when you see it.

Why does it have 'the'? I think when an uncountable is specified, 'the' is necessary like here.

The furniture I purchased yesterday was well-bought in terms of its price.

Then, I believe there is a 'the' use for when a person wants to make the point that there is only one such thing like this:

this is the normal use of the indefinite article, Believer.

For the above sentence of mine, which I have used to ask a question before, I believe a Guru responded that this would be inappropriate if there were more than one normal use.

Now, going back to the original question, No. 1, why it couldn't be like this?

Recognition is an act of recognizing someone or identifying something when you see it.

Again, sorry for asking too many questions on articles.
  

Top answer

02i 02font 02br 02br 01font 00If there's only one such thing, it must be infinite (You surely knew it when you call its name). 02font 02br 02br 01font 00Now, going back to the original question, No. 02font 02br 02br 01font 01i 001.

— Fleder_m@u_S

  • 02i 02font 02br 02br 01font 00If there's only one such thing, it must be infinite (You surely knew it when you call its name).
  • 02font 02br 02br 01font 00Now, going back to the original question, No.
  • 02font 02br 02br 01font 01i 001.
  • 02i 02font 02br 02br 01font 00Why does it have 'the'?
  • 02font 02br 01font 00Yes, 01i 00"the"02i 00 isn't necessary for 01i 00"recognition"02i 00, so you dont say 01i 00"the recognition"02i 00.
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5 Answers
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0 01font00Hi Believer, 05002font02br
02br
01font00I believe there is a 'the' use for when a person wants to make the point that there is only one such thing like this:02font02br
01font01i00this is00 01u00the normal use02u00 o
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0 Thank you, Fleder, for your response. 0-
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0 Hi Believer02br
02br
00I would prefer 01i00the act of recognizing... 02i00in the first sentence since there is only 01b00one02b00 definition for recognition. However, if one didn't let that fact dominate one's mind when one utters the sentence, 01i00an act of recognizing02i00 wouldn't be a decidedly wrong
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0Thank you, Cool Breeze.02br
02br
00Can you tell me how this work?02br
02br
00Your example sentences:02br
02br
00This is the house (that/which) I told you about.02br
02br
00I didn't like the film I saw last week.02br
02br
00The book you left on the bench has been stolen.02br
02br

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1i00LOOK HERE please, what I am going to say is that (I think as you and Fleder probably agree) the previous "thes" are dependent upon the assumption that "house", "film", "book", and "furniture" are the only ones there. 01u00If there were other houses talked about,02u02i01u00 films (he??) saw, books (he?) left, and pieces of furniture purchased, then
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