Use of definite article before “authority”
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I cannot find the rule for using the definitive article with the word "authority", is it always necessary and what is the grammar rule that I need to know?
Are both these sentences OK or just the second sentence? And what difference does it make. The more I look, the more confused I become.
The teacher has authority to change the data
or
The teacher has the authority to change the data
definite-articles
asked Dec 10 at 20:57
Праид Джуди
91
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
I cannot find the rule for using the definitive article with the word "authority", is it always necessary and what is the grammar rule that I need to know?
Are both these sentences OK or just the second sentence? And what difference does it make. The more I look, the more confused I become.
The teacher has authority to change the data
or
The teacher has the authority to change the data
definite-articles
asked Dec 10 at 20:57
Праид Джуди
91
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
I cannot find the rule for using the definitive article with the word "authority", is it always necessary and what is the grammar rule that I need to know?
Are both these sentences OK or just the second sentence? And what difference does it make. The more I look, the more confused I become.
The teacher has authority to change the data
or
The teacher has the authority to change the data
definite-articles
asked Dec 10 at 20:57
Праид Джуди
91
I cannot find the rule for using the definitive article with the word "authority", is it always necessary and what is the grammar rule that I need to know?
Are both these sentences OK or just the second sentence? And what difference does it make. The more I look, the more confused I become.
The teacher has authority to change the data
or
The teacher has the authority to change the data
definite-articles
definite-articles
asked Dec 10 at 20:57
Праид Джуди
91
asked Dec 10 at 20:57
Праид Джуди
91
asked Dec 10 at 20:57
Праид Джуди
91
asked Dec 10 at 20:57
Праид Джуди
91
asked Dec 10 at 20:57
Праид Джуди
91
91
add a comment |
add a comment |
1 Answer
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"The" is a definite article, as you said, and it is a determiner— a word or phrase that precedes a noun or noun phrase and serves to express its reference in the context. In many contexts, the presence of some determiner, such as "the," is required in order to form a complete noun phrase.
The definite article "the" is used when the referent of the noun phrase is assumed to be unique or known from the context. The definite article is not used with generic nouns (plural or uncountable, I mean) or with proper nouns.
Basically, the second sentence you wrote is correct because "authority" is neither plural here, nor is authority something you can count, nor is it a proper noun. Saying that somebody "has authority to change..." is like saying "the cat has ball of yarn to play with."
Now, that sounds wrong instantly because "ball" is a familiar, simple noun, which we know is not plural, countable, or proper.
I hope this helped.
answered Dec 10 at 23:04
Drakon007
1454
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Drakon007 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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It’s not as cut-and-dried as you suggest. With a generic noun: “The dog’s nose is always wet”. With proper nouns: “The Eiffel Tower”, “The Hague”. The “authority” example is teetering on the fence for me. Change it to “permission” (also not plural, not countable, not a proper noun, per your criteria), and the sentence works without a determined. Interestingly, it (permission) also works with determiners such as my or your but not really with the. You might want to review the reasons given for your answer.
– Lawrence
Dec 11 at 1:44
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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"The" is a definite article, as you said, and it is a determiner— a word or phrase that precedes a noun or noun phrase and serves to express its reference in the context. In many contexts, the presence of some determiner, such as "the," is required in order to form a complete noun phrase.
The definite article "the" is used when the referent of the noun phrase is assumed to be unique or known from the context. The definite article is not used with generic nouns (plural or uncountable, I mean) or with proper nouns.
Basically, the second sentence you wrote is correct because "authority" is neither plural here, nor is authority something you can count, nor is it a proper noun. Saying that somebody "has authority to change..." is like saying "the cat has ball of yarn to play with."
Now, that sounds wrong instantly because "ball" is a familiar, simple noun, which we know is not plural, countable, or proper.
I hope this helped.
answered Dec 10 at 23:04
Drakon007
1454
New contributor
Drakon007 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
It’s not as cut-and-dried as you suggest. With a generic noun: “The dog’s nose is always wet”. With proper nouns: “The Eiffel Tower”, “The Hague”. The “authority” example is teetering on the fence for me. Change it to “permission” (also not plural, not countable, not a proper noun, per your criteria), and the sentence works without a determined. Interestingly, it (permission) also works with determiners such as my or your but not really with the. You might want to review the reasons given for your answer.
– Lawrence
Dec 11 at 1:44
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
"The" is a definite article, as you said, and it is a determiner— a word or phrase that precedes a noun or noun phrase and serves to express its reference in the context. In many contexts, the presence of some determiner, such as "the," is required in order to form a complete noun phrase.
The definite article "the" is used when the referent of the noun phrase is assumed to be unique or known from the context. The definite article is not used with generic nouns (plural or uncountable, I mean) or with proper nouns.
Basically, the second sentence you wrote is correct because "authority" is neither plural here, nor is authority something you can count, nor is it a proper noun. Saying that somebody "has authority to change..." is like saying "the cat has ball of yarn to play with."
Now, that sounds wrong instantly because "ball" is a familiar, simple noun, which we know is not plural, countable, or proper.
I hope this helped.
answered Dec 10 at 23:04
Drakon007
1454
New contributor
Drakon007 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
It’s not as cut-and-dried as you suggest. With a generic noun: “The dog’s nose is always wet”. With proper nouns: “The Eiffel Tower”, “The Hague”. The “authority” example is teetering on the fence for me. Change it to “permission” (also not plural, not countable, not a proper noun, per your criteria), and the sentence works without a determined. Interestingly, it (permission) also works with determiners such as my or your but not really with the. You might want to review the reasons given for your answer.
– Lawrence
Dec 11 at 1:44
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
"The" is a definite article, as you said, and it is a determiner— a word or phrase that precedes a noun or noun phrase and serves to express its reference in the context. In many contexts, the presence of some determiner, such as "the," is required in order to form a complete noun phrase.
The definite article "the" is used when the referent of the noun phrase is assumed to be unique or known from the context. The definite article is not used with generic nouns (plural or uncountable, I mean) or with proper nouns.
Basically, the second sentence you wrote is correct because "authority" is neither plural here, nor is authority something you can count, nor is it a proper noun. Saying that somebody "has authority to change..." is like saying "the cat has ball of yarn to play with."
Now, that sounds wrong instantly because "ball" is a familiar, simple noun, which we know is not plural, countable, or proper.
I hope this helped.
answered Dec 10 at 23:04
Drakon007
1454
New contributor
Drakon007 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
"The" is a definite article, as you said, and it is a determiner— a word or phrase that precedes a noun or noun phrase and serves to express its reference in the context. In many contexts, the presence of some determiner, such as "the," is required in order to form a complete noun phrase.
The definite article "the" is used when the referent of the noun phrase is assumed to be unique or known from the context. The definite article is not used with generic nouns (plural or uncountable, I mean) or with proper nouns.
Basically, the second sentence you wrote is correct because "authority" is neither plural here, nor is authority something you can count, nor is it a proper noun. Saying that somebody "has authority to change..." is like saying "the cat has ball of yarn to play with."
Now, that sounds wrong instantly because "ball" is a familiar, simple noun, which we know is not plural, countable, or proper.
I hope this helped.
answered Dec 10 at 23:04
Drakon007
1454
New contributor
Drakon007 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered Dec 10 at 23:04
Drakon007
1454
New contributor
Drakon007 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered Dec 10 at 23:04
Drakon007
1454
answered Dec 10 at 23:04
Drakon007
1454
1454
New contributor
Drakon007 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Drakon007 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Drakon007 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
It’s not as cut-and-dried as you suggest. With a generic noun: “The dog’s nose is always wet”. With proper nouns: “The Eiffel Tower”, “The Hague”. The “authority” example is teetering on the fence for me. Change it to “permission” (also not plural, not countable, not a proper noun, per your criteria), and the sentence works without a determined. Interestingly, it (permission) also works with determiners such as my or your but not really with the. You might want to review the reasons given for your answer.
– Lawrence
Dec 11 at 1:44
add a comment |
It’s not as cut-and-dried as you suggest. With a generic noun: “The dog’s nose is always wet”. With proper nouns: “The Eiffel Tower”, “The Hague”. The “authority” example is teetering on the fence for me. Change it to “permission” (also not plural, not countable, not a proper noun, per your criteria), and the sentence works without a determined. Interestingly, it (permission) also works with determiners such as my or your but not really with the. You might want to review the reasons given for your answer.
– Lawrence
Dec 11 at 1:44
It’s not as cut-and-dried as you suggest. With a generic noun: “The dog’s nose is always wet”. With proper nouns: “The Eiffel Tower”, “The Hague”. The “authority” example is teetering on the fence for me. Change it to “permission” (also not plural, not countable, not a proper noun, per your criteria), and the sentence works without a determined. Interestingly, it (permission) also works with determiners such as my or your but not really with the. You might want to review the reasons given for your answer.
– Lawrence
Dec 11 at 1:44
It’s not as cut-and-dried as you suggest. With a generic noun: “The dog’s nose is always wet”. With proper nouns: “The Eiffel Tower”, “The Hague”. The “authority” example is teetering on the fence for me. Change it to “permission” (also not plural, not countable, not a proper noun, per your criteria), and the sentence works without a determined. Interestingly, it (permission) also works with determiners such as my or your but not really with the. You might want to review the reasons given for your answer.
– Lawrence
Dec 11 at 1:44
add a comment |
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