Why definite article?

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Ant_222

#543889 Sun, 20 Jul 08 10:36 AM

Hello all,

The following is a sentence from a review:

"The Lord of the Rings is timeless because it's the product of a truly top-shelf mind."

I don't understand why the author has chosen the definite article to modify "product" with. Did they mean that although the book is one of Tolkien's creations, it is the most important and influential one, whence "the product"?

Thanks in advance,
Anton

Ant_222

Joined on Sun, May 21 2006

Podolsk, Russia

Contributing Member (1,547)

Marius Hancu

#543902 Sun, 20 Jul 08 10:55 AM

> it is the most important and influential one, whence "the product"?

A product would be a bit too indiffent, i.e. one of many. This is more specific. Not necessarily the most important and influential one, that is not in the text, but probably an important one, an unique one.

It just shows the mental focus of the writer about a specific/unique thing.

Marius Hancu

Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006

Montreal, Canada

Veteran Member (11,673)

Yoong Liat

#543910 Sun, 20 Jul 08 11:03 AM

Marius Hancu
an unique one.

It should be 'a', shouldn't it?

Yoong Liat

Joined on Mon, Sep 4 2006

Singapore

Veteran Member (6,010)

Yoong Liat

Articles, Definite articles

Ant_222

#543911 Sun, 20 Jul 08 11:05 AM

Thanks!

I belive "the" is used in phrases like "You are the victim of..." for exactly the same reason... That's interesting, I have never seen this mentioned in a grammar book.

"This is a review of a great book"
"This is the procuct of a bright mind"
-- absolutely identical structure, but different articles.

Ant_222

Articles, Definite articles, Grammar

Marius Hancu

#543913 Sun, 20 Jul 08 11:08 AM

right:

8,710 for "an unique one"

275,000 for "a unique one

Marius Hancu

Articles, Definite articles

Marius Hancu

#543915 Sun, 20 Jul 08 11:10 AM

Specificity for "the" is in all grammar books. How you see it, is another matter.

Marius Hancu

Articles, Definite articles, Grammar

Yoong Liat

#543919 Sun, 20 Jul 08 11:15 AM

Hi Marius

You must be joking. Any word which begins with a 'you' sound should be used with article 'a'. You should know Google can give you examples of wrong usages.