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ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > A or The
A or The
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...Alena...
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A or The
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Hello everyone, please help me with articles. Here is a sentence: Where is ...... red book? It �s in the kitchen. No context. Why can �t I say the red ball?????? Thank you for your attention. Helen. |
9 Sep 2011
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zuzanavilma
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If you ask a question: "Where is the red book?" you are likely to know which one you are looking for...so you are talking about something specific It is similar to : "Where are the children?" and it is assumed you are looking for your children not any other.
a red ball - not specified which one, one of the many the red ball - e.g. the one which is on the floor and is the only one in the room I have a red ball. I have bought a red ball. I would like a red ball for my birthday. BUT: Pass me the red ball. - which means both speaker and listener are talking about one specific ball.
Ijust hope I have been any usuful
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9 Sep 2011
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...Alena...
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Thank you dear zuzanavilma, I just can �t make it out how I can ask about a red ball = any red ball, if people I �m talking to have no idea about the balls at all. If I ask my kids "Where is the blue key" - I believe it always implies that they know what key I mean to find. Asking for the blue key I have specified the key, so I chose �the � article. Is it correct to say "Where is a red book?" My neighbour �s teacher said it was incorrect to say "Where �s the red ball" - it should be "Where is a red ball?" Thank you for help.
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9 Sep 2011
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Apodo
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You are correct to use �the �
If YOU are asking about the ball - YOU know there is a particular ball. The question tells the listeners there is a red ball, and they must find where it is.
Where can I buy/ find a red ball? You don �t know if there is a red ball.
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10 Sep 2011
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...Alena...
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Dear Apodo, Thank you so much for your reply. |
10 Sep 2011
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