http://www.englishforums.com/English/GeneralEnglishGrammarQuestions/Forum12.htmAsk your questions on grammar and get your sentence checked. We answer lots of different types of general English grammar questions here.enCSMOD (Build: 3273.32735)http://www.englishforums.com/English/NewSwimsuit/ghbdz/post.htm#535862Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:15:50 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:535862New2grammar1http://www.englishforums.com/English/NewSwimsuit/ghbdz/post.htm#535862http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-535862.xml<BLOCKQUOTE><div><img src="/Themes/englishforums/images/icon-quote.gif"> <strong>optilang</strong></div><div> this applies to all swimmers who wear the swimsuit</div></BLOCKQUOTE><br /><br />That&#39;s what I thought. Thanks for confirming.<div style="clear:both;"></div>http://www.englishforums.com/English/NewSwimsuit/ghbdd/post.htm#535860Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:15:30 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:535860Clive1http://www.englishforums.com/English/NewSwimsuit/ghbdd/post.htm#535860http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-535860.xmlHi,<br /><span style="COLOR:#0000bf;">This new swimsuit gives [the] swimmers an unfair advantage.<br />Is the definite article optional?<br /><span style="COLOR:#111111;">Yes. Omitting it makes the statement sound more general.<br />Clive<br /></span></span><div style="clear:both;"></div>http://www.englishforums.com/English/NewSwimsuit/ghbdc/post.htm#535859Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:13:45 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:535859optilang2http://www.englishforums.com/English/NewSwimsuit/ghbdc/post.htm#535859http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-535859.xml<br /><BLOCKQUOTE><div><img src="/Themes/englishforums/images/icon-quote.gif"> <strong>New2grammar</strong></div><div>This new swimsuit gives [the] swimmers an unfair advantage.<br />Is the definite article optional?<br />Thanks<div></div></div></BLOCKQUOTE><br /><br />The swimmers - if we know which swimmers it refers to<br /><br />Swimmers - applies to all swimmers who wear the swimsuit.<br /><br />This new swimsuit gives the swimmer an unfair advantage - this applies to all swimmers who wear the swimsuit.<br /><br /><div style="clear:both;"></div>http://www.englishforums.com/English/NewSwimsuit/ghbcw/post.htmWed, 02 Jul 2008 13:50:59 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:535848New2grammar3http://www.englishforums.com/English/NewSwimsuit/ghbcw/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-535848.xmlThis new swimsuit gives [the] swimmers an unfair advantage.<br />Is the definite article optional?<br />Thanks<div style="clear:both;"></div>