Article the/a Which one is correct?
Please give an explanation.
And you can give a link to the extended use of articles?
I just do not understand why in this case the article "the" is put, if this noun is singular, then the article "a" should be used, as it is written in the rules.
Сan you get the meaning?
or
Сan you get a meaning?
articles
asked 14 hours ago
Boyep
162
migrated from english.stackexchange.com 13 hours ago
This question came from our site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts.
|
show 5 more comments
Please give an explanation.
And you can give a link to the extended use of articles?
I just do not understand why in this case the article "the" is put, if this noun is singular, then the article "a" should be used, as it is written in the rules.
Сan you get the meaning?
or
Сan you get a meaning?
articles
asked 14 hours ago
Boyep
162
migrated from english.stackexchange.com 13 hours ago
This question came from our site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts.
Both the and a are used for singular nouns. Please explain what rule you are referring to—we can't answer without knowing why you think it should be a.
– Peter Shor
14 hours ago
Those both sound very unnatural to a native speaker. We don’t “get” “meanings”.
– tchrist
13 hours ago
1
@tchrist - I've found 600 000 results for "get the meaning" on Google Books
– CowperKettle
13 hours ago
3
If she asked whether you got the meaning, she's implying there is one single unambiguous meaning to be got. If she asked whether you got a meaning, that would imply there are several possible meanings (any one of which you might "get").
– FumbleFingers
12 hours ago
2
Possible duplicate of Which article to use: 'the' or 'a'
– FumbleFingers
12 hours ago
|
show 5 more comments
Please give an explanation.
And you can give a link to the extended use of articles?
I just do not understand why in this case the article "the" is put, if this noun is singular, then the article "a" should be used, as it is written in the rules.
Сan you get the meaning?
or
Сan you get a meaning?
articles
asked 14 hours ago
Boyep
162
Please give an explanation.
And you can give a link to the extended use of articles?
I just do not understand why in this case the article "the" is put, if this noun is singular, then the article "a" should be used, as it is written in the rules.
Сan you get the meaning?
or
Сan you get a meaning?
articles
articles
asked 14 hours ago
Boyep
162
asked 14 hours ago
Boyep
162
asked 14 hours ago
Boyep
162
asked 14 hours ago
Boyep
162
asked 14 hours ago
Boyep
162
162
migrated from english.stackexchange.com 13 hours ago
This question came from our site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts.
migrated from english.stackexchange.com 13 hours ago
This question came from our site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts.
Both the and a are used for singular nouns. Please explain what rule you are referring to—we can't answer without knowing why you think it should be a.
– Peter Shor
14 hours ago
Those both sound very unnatural to a native speaker. We don’t “get” “meanings”.
– tchrist
13 hours ago
1
@tchrist - I've found 600 000 results for "get the meaning" on Google Books
– CowperKettle
13 hours ago
3
If she asked whether you got the meaning, she's implying there is one single unambiguous meaning to be got. If she asked whether you got a meaning, that would imply there are several possible meanings (any one of which you might "get").
– FumbleFingers
12 hours ago
2
Possible duplicate of Which article to use: 'the' or 'a'
– FumbleFingers
12 hours ago
|
show 5 more comments
Both the and a are used for singular nouns. Please explain what rule you are referring to—we can't answer without knowing why you think it should be a.
– Peter Shor
14 hours ago
Those both sound very unnatural to a native speaker. We don’t “get” “meanings”.
– tchrist
13 hours ago
1
@tchrist - I've found 600 000 results for "get the meaning" on Google Books
– CowperKettle
13 hours ago
3
If she asked whether you got the meaning, she's implying there is one single unambiguous meaning to be got. If she asked whether you got a meaning, that would imply there are several possible meanings (any one of which you might "get").
– FumbleFingers
12 hours ago
2
Possible duplicate of Which article to use: 'the' or 'a'
– FumbleFingers
12 hours ago
Both the and a are used for singular nouns. Please explain what rule you are referring to—we can't answer without knowing why you think it should be a.
– Peter Shor
14 hours ago
Both the and a are used for singular nouns. Please explain what rule you are referring to—we can't answer without knowing why you think it should be a.
– Peter Shor
14 hours ago
Those both sound very unnatural to a native speaker. We don’t “get” “meanings”.
– tchrist
13 hours ago
Those both sound very unnatural to a native speaker. We don’t “get” “meanings”.
– tchrist
13 hours ago
1
1
@tchrist - I've found 600 000 results for "get the meaning" on Google Books
– CowperKettle
13 hours ago
@tchrist - I've found 600 000 results for "get the meaning" on Google Books
– CowperKettle
13 hours ago
3
3
If she asked whether you got the meaning, she's implying there is one single unambiguous meaning to be got. If she asked whether you got a meaning, that would imply there are several possible meanings (any one of which you might "get").
– FumbleFingers
12 hours ago
If she asked whether you got the meaning, she's implying there is one single unambiguous meaning to be got. If she asked whether you got a meaning, that would imply there are several possible meanings (any one of which you might "get").
– FumbleFingers
12 hours ago
2
2
Possible duplicate of Which article to use: 'the' or 'a'
– FumbleFingers
12 hours ago
Possible duplicate of Which article to use: 'the' or 'a'
– FumbleFingers
12 hours ago
|
show 5 more comments
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
Broadly speaking, definite article THE is used when the speaker or writer believes that the listener or reader exactly knows what is referred to. The meaning is something specific. Do you get at THE meaning? Hence THE
But one can use an indefinite article if the word has multiple meanings/ implications. Take for example the word, CREDIT. It has different meanings. It may mean deposit, loan, Faith, honour and many more. In that case One may as well pertinently ask, " Can you get a meaning of CREDIT? It has so many meanings. Hence, "A".
answered 12 hours ago
Barid Baran Acharya
584410
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Broadly speaking, definite article THE is used when the speaker or writer believes that the listener or reader exactly knows what is referred to. The meaning is something specific. Do you get at THE meaning? Hence THE
But one can use an indefinite article if the word has multiple meanings/ implications. Take for example the word, CREDIT. It has different meanings. It may mean deposit, loan, Faith, honour and many more. In that case One may as well pertinently ask, " Can you get a meaning of CREDIT? It has so many meanings. Hence, "A".
answered 12 hours ago
Barid Baran Acharya
584410
add a comment |
Broadly speaking, definite article THE is used when the speaker or writer believes that the listener or reader exactly knows what is referred to. The meaning is something specific. Do you get at THE meaning? Hence THE
But one can use an indefinite article if the word has multiple meanings/ implications. Take for example the word, CREDIT. It has different meanings. It may mean deposit, loan, Faith, honour and many more. In that case One may as well pertinently ask, " Can you get a meaning of CREDIT? It has so many meanings. Hence, "A".
answered 12 hours ago
Barid Baran Acharya
584410
add a comment |
Broadly speaking, definite article THE is used when the speaker or writer believes that the listener or reader exactly knows what is referred to. The meaning is something specific. Do you get at THE meaning? Hence THE
But one can use an indefinite article if the word has multiple meanings/ implications. Take for example the word, CREDIT. It has different meanings. It may mean deposit, loan, Faith, honour and many more. In that case One may as well pertinently ask, " Can you get a meaning of CREDIT? It has so many meanings. Hence, "A".
answered 12 hours ago
Barid Baran Acharya
584410
Broadly speaking, definite article THE is used when the speaker or writer believes that the listener or reader exactly knows what is referred to. The meaning is something specific. Do you get at THE meaning? Hence THE
But one can use an indefinite article if the word has multiple meanings/ implications. Take for example the word, CREDIT. It has different meanings. It may mean deposit, loan, Faith, honour and many more. In that case One may as well pertinently ask, " Can you get a meaning of CREDIT? It has so many meanings. Hence, "A".
answered 12 hours ago
Barid Baran Acharya
584410
answered 12 hours ago
Barid Baran Acharya
584410
answered 12 hours ago
Barid Baran Acharya
584410
answered 12 hours ago
Barid Baran Acharya
584410
584410
add a comment |
add a comment |
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Both the and a are used for singular nouns. Please explain what rule you are referring to—we can't answer without knowing why you think it should be a.
– Peter Shor
14 hours ago
Those both sound very unnatural to a native speaker. We don’t “get” “meanings”.
– tchrist
13 hours ago
1
@tchrist - I've found 600 000 results for "get the meaning" on Google Books
– CowperKettle
13 hours ago
3
If she asked whether you got the meaning, she's implying there is one single unambiguous meaning to be got. If she asked whether you got a meaning, that would imply there are several possible meanings (any one of which you might "get").
– FumbleFingers
12 hours ago
2
Possible duplicate of Which article to use: 'the' or 'a'
– FumbleFingers
12 hours ago