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Believer Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

what is the difference?

Hi,

1. What is the difference between the following two questions?

Can a name follow a title?

Can the name follow the title?

2. What is the difference?

Please don't speak in Japanese.

Please don't speak Japanese.

Please speak in French.

Please speak French.
  

Top answer

1. With a , you're asking a general question about any possible name and any possible title. With the , you're asking a specific question about a particular name and a particular title that both you and the listener know about, most likely the name and the title written on a piece of paper that both of you are looking at.

— CalifJim

  • 1.
  • With a , you're asking a general question about any possible name and any possible title.
  • With the , you're asking a specific question about a particular name and a particular title that both you and the listener know about, most likely the name and the title written on a piece of paper that both of you are looking at.
  • 2.
  • See post CJ
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1 Answers
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1. With a, you're asking a general question about any possible name and any possible title.
With the, you're asking a specific question about a particular name and a particular title that both you and the listener know about, most likely the name and the title written on a piece of paper that both of you are looking at.

2. See post

CJ
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