'A' against 'The'

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lin

#1345 Thu, 26 Jun 03 04:16 PM

I don't distinguish the cases for 'a' and 'the' use in a sentence.
For example:
The goal is to find an/the answer.
Please help.

lin

Joined on Thu, Jun 26 2003

New Member (01)

hitchhiker

#1357 Thu, 26 Jun 03 09:34 PM

I'm not a teacher, but I can tell you that the meaning is different for these two sentences:

The goal is to find a briefcase (We need to find any briefcase)

The goal is to find the briefcase (We need to find a specific briefcase)

hitchhiker

Joined on Mon, Nov 18 2002

Richmond, UK

Senior Member (3,554)

"They obstinately persisted in their absence." —HGTG

Jacko

#1379 Fri, 27 Jun 03 09:21 AM

Just to add, "a" is used stringently for singular unspecified nouns or noun phrases. On the other hand, "the" is used for either singular or plural particular nouns or noun phrases.

Jacko

Joined on Fri, Jun 20 2003

Full Member (215)

Plurals, Nouns, Noun Phrases

#105943 Mon, 06 Jun 05 02:13 AM

this is very good question.

we use 'the' for a particular noun.

for an example.

There was a dog out side our door last night . The dog was barking very loudly.

Joined on Thu, Jun 2 2005

New Member (08)

Nouns

CalifJim

#105964 Mon, 06 Jun 05 05:28 AM

Welcome to English Forums!

If the goal is to find an answer, it doesn't matter which answer (of several possible answers) you find. Maybe you want to find an answer just to finish your homework. You feel tired and just want to put down some answer, any answer, just to say that you've finished your homework. Maybe tomorrow in class you'll find out if your attempt at an answer is correct.

If the goal is to find the answer, you are trying to find one particular answer. That answer is presumably the correct answer, and it is the only answer that will do, the only answer that is satisfactory in fulfilling your goal to find the answer.

CJ

CalifJim

Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004

California

Veteran Member (18,261)

"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche