a/an vs the

   Share on Facebook  
Non_stop  #339382  Wed, 14 Mar 07 10:37 PM
Can I use two articles "a" in the following sentence or should I use two articles "the"?

It's a right answer, but not a complete one.



P.S.
I use an indefinite article twice here, because I belive "right aswer" is not single in the given specific case.
But I should use a definite article if "right answer" is single. And in that case I will say: "It's the right answer."
Is my reasoning correct?

Thank you!
  
Not Ranked
Joined on Wed, Mar 14 2007
New Member (01)
Grammar Geek  #339415  Thu, 15 Mar 07 12:40 AM

Hi Non-stop, and welcome to the forums!

If you think that there is more than one answer that could be right, then "a right answer" is just fine.

If there really was only one right answer, you could say "It's the right answer, but it's not complete."

Like if the answer was "Pierre Curie" and you answered only "Curie" - right, but not complete, because it could have been Marie. (That happened on Jeopardy the other day. )

  
Top 10 Contributor
Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006
Pennsylvania, USA
Veteran Member (15,958)
ModeratorProficient Speaker
Barbara, who answers in American English.
AddThis Feed Button RSS Feed: ESL General English Grammar Questions
© 2008 MediaCET Ltd.
Terms and Conditions & Terms of Service