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New2grammar

#457231 Wed, 26 Dec 07 05:41 PM

He climbed into the kitchen through [a window/the window/one of the windows].

Note: There are more than 1 window in the kitchen.

I'd say the window though there are more than one window. What do you think? I never know what article to use when it comes to window Tongue Tied [:S]

Thanks in advance!

New2grammar

Joined on Tue, Nov 21 2006

Veteran Member (7,670)

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Yoong Liat

#457235 Wed, 26 Dec 07 05:48 PM

New2grammar wrote:

He climbed into the kitchen through [a window/the window/one of the windows].

Note: There are more than 1 window in the kitchen.

I'd say the window though there are more than one window. What do you think? I never know what article to use when it comes to window

Thanks in advance!

He climbed into the kitchen through one of the windows. (You need to use this phrase as there is more than one window.)

Note: There are more than 1 window in the kitchen.

Yoong Liat

Joined on Mon, Sep 4 2006

Singapore

Veteran Member (5,836)

Yoong Liat

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Yoong Liat

#457236 Wed, 26 Dec 07 05:50 PM

New2grammar wrote:

He climbed into the kitchen through [a window/the window/one of the windows].

Note: There are more than 1 window in the kitchen.

If I remember correctly what I've read, it should be "There is more than 1 window in the kitchen."

Yoong Liat

Grammar

Yoong Liat

#457237 Wed, 26 Dec 07 05:51 PM

New2grammar wrote:

He climbed into the kitchen through [a window/the window/one of the windows].

Note: There are more than 1 window in the kitchen.

If I remember correctly what I've read, it should be "There is more than 1 window in the kitchen."

Yoong Liat

Grammar

New2grammar

#457238 Wed, 26 Dec 07 05:53 PM

What about this?

The cop jumped and crashed through the window into an apartment in the building next door.

New2grammar

Yoong Liat

#457243 Wed, 26 Dec 07 06:06 PM

New2grammar wrote:

What about this?

The cop jumped and crashed through the window into an apartment in the building next door.

I cannot see any grammatical error, but the sentence doesn't sound logical to me. Could you please elaborate, especially the part in bold?

Yoong Liat

Grammar

CalifJim

#457262 Wed, 26 Dec 07 06:41 PM

The number of windows might be irrelevant. If you and the person you are speaking with already know which window is meant, the window won't be ambiguous. Secondly, if the information revealing which window was meant is not relevant to your story, i.e., if nothing hinges on knowing which window it was, then you can still use the window. Here you are withholding information from the listener, but it doesn't matter because the story doesn't depend on which window it was.

Otherwise, a or one of the should be used -- not the.

Basic principle: the is related to which?

CJ

CalifJim

Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004

California

Veteran Member (16,490)

"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

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New2grammar

#457274 Wed, 26 Dec 07 06:57 PM

CalifJim, I like your information hiding explanation. To make sure I get it right, is the following example correct?

This morning some guy walked to my car and kicked the door, leaving a big dent.

I hope it wouldn't confuse my listener into thinking my car has only one door.

YoongLiat,

I mean the building next to this building when I say the building next door. Another example is

This window looks directly into an apartment in the building next door.

What do you think is the right phrase?

New2grammar

Mkyol

#457278 Wed, 26 Dec 07 07:05 PM

"This morning some guy walked to my car and kicked the door, leaving a big dent."

I have a question too with regard to the above sentence.. so when 'the' is used, it typically is assuming that the reader knows which door it is, but when 'a' is used, no assumption is made.

But I'm wondering if it's 'a door' in the sentence, then does that convey that meaning of a car door, or just any door not necessarily related to that of a car? If it's the latter, then I think 'the' can be used to signify that it's 'one of the car doors'.. so even though 'the' is used, it doesn't mean a specific door for the car.. but just that it's a door of the car.

Mkyol

Joined on Tue, Dec 18 2007

Full Member (157)

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