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Believer Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
Why indefinite articles?
Look at the sentence below please and tell me why the writer of this sentence made what looks to be a choice to modify the nouns with an indefinite article.
This essay contain a beginning paragraph, a middle paragraph and an ending paragraph.
Would it be wrong to modify them all with a definite article, like this? I feel very strongly and am pretty sure (Ha ha) that there is only one beginning paragraph, one middle paragraph and one ending paragraph for this particular essay.
This essay contain the beginning paragraph, the middle paragraph, and the ending paragraph.
This essay contain a beginning paragraph, a middle paragraph and an ending paragraph.
Would it be wrong to modify them all with a definite article, like this? I feel very strongly and am pretty sure (Ha ha) that there is only one beginning paragraph, one middle paragraph and one ending paragraph for this particular essay.
This essay contain the beginning paragraph, the middle paragraph, and the ending paragraph.
Top answer
This is all very well, but begining paragraphs there are many. The begining paragraph of each law in the civil code.
- This is all very well, but begining paragraphs there are many.
- The begining paragraph of each law in the civil code.
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23 Answers
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This is all very well, but begining paragraphs there are many.
The begining paragraph of each law in the civil code.
The begining paragraph of each law in the civil code.
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Could it help a little to read it this way?
This essay, just like many other short literary compositions, contains a beginning paragraph, a middle paragraph and an ending paragraph.
This essay, just like many other short literary compositions, contains a beginning paragraph, a middle paragraph and an ending paragraph.
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Thank you.
Obviously, including/having that phrase will make a big difference for the reader, but my question to you and all others is how many times do you see a sentence like that having the kind of phrase as you added? Not many I think.
Obviously, including/having that phrase will make a big difference for the reader, but my question to you and all others is how many times do you see a sentence like that having the kind of phrase as you added? Not many I think.
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The indefinite is correct.
Think about this.
This box contains a crayon, a pencil and a piece of paper.
Would you always want to say the crayon, the pencil and the piece of paper? We would use 'the' only if they are a specific crayon, pencil and piece of paper we already know about and need to emphasise that it really is those particular items, and not just any crayon, p
Think about this.
This box contains a crayon, a pencil and a piece of paper.
Would you always want to say the crayon, the pencil and the piece of paper? We would use 'the' only if they are a specific crayon, pencil and piece of paper we already know about and need to emphasise that it really is those particular items, and not just any crayon, p
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When introducing the contents of something, the parts of something, or listing the components of something for the first time, we use the indefinite. That's because we are not referring back to each particular element of the list as a particular, unique object in the universe. We are only giving a generic idea of certain types of things.
Next to the plate were a knife, a fork,
Next to the plate were a knife, a fork,
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Thank you Nona and Jim.
The thrust?? of my inquiry lies with the article usage with such terms as "beginning" and "ending." Whenever I see a word preceded with such a term, instinctively I try to put the article "the" unless my close scrutiny shows it otherwise. I think my confusion is being further fueled by the fact that we normally associate a with the concept of one, in
The thrust?? of my inquiry lies with the article usage with such terms as "beginning" and "ending." Whenever I see a word preceded with such a term, instinctively I try to put the article "the" unless my close scrutiny shows it otherwise. I think my confusion is being further fueled by the fact that we normally associate a with the concept of one, in
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«A» anyway:
«This certain cell contains a cat and a few mice.»
(© Nona)
What about this one:
«Every (or this) paragraph contains the first and the last sentences.»
«This certain cell contains a cat and a few mice.»
(© Nona)
What about this one:
«Every (or this) paragraph contains the first and the last sentences.»
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Hi,
Let me try a different kind of explanation. The first time you mention something to me, say 'a'. That makes the thing specific/definite in our conversation. So thereafter, you can say 'the' and I'll know the thing you are talking about.
A man with a scar on his nose and a parrot sitting
Let me try a different kind of explanation. The first time you mention something to me, say 'a'. That makes the thing specific/definite in our conversation. So thereafter, you can say 'the' and I'll know the thing you are talking about.
A man with a scar on his nose and a parrot sitting
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Hi CJ,
A perfect illustration of how some of us take the high road!
Clive
A perfect illustration of how some of us take the high road!
Clive
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