Do you know how lucky you are?

[medo]

I had this morning a little English test and of course I had a lot of mistakes. Main problem for me (among others), this moment is "the" and "a". Yes, I have books, yes I have a lot of books, yes maybe I am stupid but I can't figure out when I have to use "a" and when "the' or any of this.
There is no such thing (a-the) in my native language and some others (German, Italian, Russian).
If you can help me with plain examples and some advises when I have to use these nasty things - for reward I will spare you (in near future) stupid grammar mistakes.
Thank you.
http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[daveleau]

If it helps, methinks 'the' is one specific item and 'a' is generic. Either I am going to the bar (neighborhood pub near my house) or I am going to a bar (any one in town and YOU can't find me!!! hahaha!!!) Hope this helps. Good luck with our confusing and frequently contradicting language. I wouldn't know about other languages because all of us Americans only believe we need to know one. How self centered!

[Zacko10000]

Sure, here are some examples for you, they might be a little confusing, I'm trying to make this simple but it might backfire, as I'm really tired.


I will walk the dog today. <---"THE" is refering to a specific noun (the direct object), in this case dog.

I will walk a dog today. <---"A" is refering to any dog (in this sentance, again the direct object), not a specific dog.

More Examples.

I was eating a pie baked by Aunt Mary.

I was eating the pie baked by Aunt Mary.

I will drive the car to the computer store.

I will drive the car to a store.

See the difference?

[This message has been edited by Zacko10000 (edited 12-17-1999).]

[medo]

Thanks both of you,

Zack what's difference with a (the) pie baked by Aunt Mary.
Difference between dogs and pubs are OK. If I correctly understand with "the" you want point to specific pie but for me there is no different because it still can be any pie for me. Why the pie.
Thanks

[Susan]

a - can be one of many or any.
the - is specific, meaning that one.

I had a piece of pie.
I had the piece of pie.

[medo]

Thanks Susan,
So I have to think and worry about noun.
More examples are welcome.
Socalgal - For us who use English like foreign language it should be at least double point system.
When I have to write tread, first I have to have the dictionary, then some word processor with spelling check, than grammar to check verbs and of course the and a. On the very end I am not sure if I really write what I think.
So as you can see one point is small reward for such big effort. Three points will be fer enough.

http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[hallam2003]

you've actually got really good english for a second language. I hear that it is much harder to learn English than it is to learn other languages. I know that i couldn't talk that way with my second launguage(spanish). And i agree with you'll three point thing.

[Glytzhkof]

medo: I think your English is very good, and with the effort you put into making it even better your success is guaranteed! Also I know the use of articles is especially difficult for people from the Baltics, Russia, and Asia. In other words your problem is quite normal and nothing to worry about.

I am Norwegian myself and the hardest for me to deal with in the English language, is the use of prepositions!

[This message has been edited by Glytzhkof (edited 12-18-1999).]

[socalgal]

Hi Medo,

I too think your grasp of English is very good, learning a new language is difficult at best. (at least for me..) http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

The help Susan, Zacko10000, and daveleau gave you should help.

As for double points - you mean 2 posting credits on Member status for one post? The answer is No. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

Keep up the good work, Medo! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[Chainsaw]

Medo,
Your effort to use 'the' English language (a specific language)correctly is very commendable. If it makes you feel any better, many of us need to use 'a' spell checker (any spell checker) and many of us should also use a grammar checker too.
Good luck in all,
Chainsaw

[This message has been edited by Chainsaw (edited 12-18-1999).]

[medo]

Thanks to all of you (except socalgal).

To Socalgal - Joking about double posting credits.

About English - yes it is difficult but it is necessity in today's world like French was in last century or Latin before that and Mandarin maybe in future.
No offense
We have one saying: If you want to be a soldier than you have to know German, if you want to be a lover/poet than you have to know Italian or French, if you want to be a cheater than you have to know English.
So after German and Italian I am old enough to accept modern world.
Sorry that was one proverb.
http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif
More examples are welcome.

[U-96]

Congratulations, medo, you have a grasp of English far greater than many of my countrymen. Few would be concerned with the subtleties of their articles.

"The" is contextual. It works very much like a pronoun, in that it refers to something being referred to in text or conversation, or in popular culture or knowledge.


Mom baked a pie. The pie was filled with apple.


The first sentence states that mom baked a pie. It's nature is undefined. It's just ANY pie - meat, fruit, whatever.
The second sentence tells you two things.
1) The pie was an apple pie.
2) It was baked by mom.

The first point is obvious. The second is by inference, meaning that it refers to the context in which it is mentioned. It is implied that we are still talking about mom's pies, so we can assume that the pie baked by mom is an apple one.

If you are into computers (and I guess you are by posting to this board http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif) then it's a little like a variable...

Consider "the" to be one which is defined. All operations are relative to the definition. Of course, this can be implicit, which makes it a lot harder to interpret correctly.

"A/an" is more like a class - you know it's type, but you couldn't lock it down to a single item.

I hope that helped more than it confused.. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

U-96

[Susan]

medo, here's a website http://www.edunet.com/english/grammar/ that should aid in all English grammar. Nouns (person, place or thing) too http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[Thor]

Medo

I just wanted to say you are not a lone in this crises, as I'm also from another country and every time I write a letter or a Reply like now then I really have to think about what I write as English is my second language also.

But I have to say your English is far better then mine keep it up Medo http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

Thor

[medo]

Thank you everybody without variable.

Susan I can't connect to that site. It hangs. I had several attempts with no results(Maybe gays went on Christmas holiday). I will keep on trying.

http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

Next test -> Thursday morning.

More examples are welcome.

Hvala! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[richamies]

I think that now might be a good time to point out that the word gay means homosexual, and the correct word you want is guy.

http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[medo]

Thank you richamies.
I am using one old English dictionary (1962) It is a very big one and it was very cheap in a second hand book shop, so when you by something very cheap ......
In this dictionary for gay (please it is not polemic)state "hapy, joyful person".
Yes I know from movies meaning of the word gay but I did not know that meaning is now limited only for homosexual.

More examples and corrections are welcome.

http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

Hvala!

[Todd Beck]

Technically, both definitions are correct. It's just that "homosexual" is the common meaning that the word has evolved (devolved?) into.

[Susan]

Here's another site webster.commnet.edu/HP/pages/darling/grammar.htm (http://webster.commnet.edu/HP/pages/darling/grammar.htm) though it doesn't seem as good as the first.

I have no problem getting into the first - I'm using Netscape 4.7, what browser are you using medo?

[medo]

Thank you Susan it works now.
http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[kongkong]

it feels like a family... happy happy xmas, all you guys... http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[Susan]

Yep, kongkong - this is the nicest place on the net. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

And a Very Merry to you.