Mowgli  +  135048 Thu, 08 Sep 05 09:12 AM Hello, is it possible to use the definite article in this sentence if I mention the dog Max for the first time?  We live in a village. We have a house and a garden.... We have the dog Max. Or should I say: We have a dog called Max./We have a dog Max.??   Thank you          Mowgli Mowgli Joined on Tue, Jun 28 2005 Junior Member 55 Articles, Definite Articles

	pieanne  +  135051 Thu, 08 Sep 05 09:21 AM No, I wouldn't use the definite article if you mention the dog for the first time, you have to use "a". You can also say "We have our dog Max". Yet I think it's possible to say "We have Max, the dog", since you've already named it, well, "him", I guess    pieanne Joined on Thu, Jan 20 2005 South of France ...But I'm Belgian! Veteran Member 7,517 I'm glad to help, but I'm not a native! And please excuse my typos... Articles, Definite Articles

	pieanne  +  135163 Thu, 08 Sep 05 02:50 PM I always have second thoughts when I call my son "Max"...   pieanne

	CalifJim  +  135328 Thu, 08 Sep 05 11:39 PM Why is that? CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,452 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

	khoff  +  135348 Fri, 09 Sep 05 12:38 AM Because he has started responding "woof woof"?  (Oh wait -- "Ouaf ouaf"!) Actually, I think Max is a great all-purpose name.  In Annie Hall the Woody Allen character and his friend call each other "Max" (with no explanation) although it is not the name of either one.  For a while I called my daughter Sarah "Max." khoff Joined on Sun, Mar 6 2005 Senior Member 3,277 Native speaker of American English (but not a grammar expert)

	pieanne  +  135464 Fri, 09 Sep 05 09:05 AM Lol! No, his whole name is Maxime, but most people shorten it to Max. I don't like it that much, for all the Maxs I've ever "known" are dogs...   pieanne

	MrPedantic  +  135737 Sat, 10 Sep 05 12:50 AM Never trust your girlfriend with a "Max". MrP MrPedantic Joined on Tue, Oct 12 2004 Veteran Member 12,592 ...opella forensis / adducit febris...

	CalifJim  +  135772 Sat, 10 Sep 05 02:35 AM Maybe it's different in the U.S.?  I know a few Max's, but they are all people.  And I've never heard of calling a dog Max until I read this thread.  You may as well call the dog Pete or Gary, for heaven's sake.  It's crazy. CalifJim