Difference between revisions of "The"

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(correlative construction)
(definite determiner)
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Another way of saying 'definite article', which I personally find more useful.  People use determiners to determine just what exactly they are talking about:
 
Another way of saying 'definite article', which I personally find more useful.  People use determiners to determine just what exactly they are talking about:
  
<ul>  <li><u>his</u> cat</li> (possessive determiner) <li><u>a</u> stray cat</li> (indefinite determiner) <li><u>any</u> cat</li> <li><u>all</u> cats</li> <li><u>no</u> cats</li> <li><u>that</u> fat cat</li> <li><u>these</u> kittens</li> <li><u>those</u> mice</li> <li>them (nb: not a determiner, as such, though personal object pronouns do allow you to determine who or what you are talking about)</li>
+
<ul>  <li><u>his</u> cat</li> (possessive determiner) <li><u>a</u> stray cat</li> (indefinite determiner) <li><u>any</u> cat</li> <li><u>all</u> cats</li> <li><u>no</u> cats</li> <li><u>that</u> fat cat</li> <li><u>these</u> kittens</li> <li><u>those</u> mice</li>  
  
 
</ul>
 
</ul>

Revision as of 00:21, 13 March 2020

definite article

two pronunciations: ðə before a consonant, and ði before a vowel.

The sound ð is often deictic. That means it points to something in the world (or something that's been pointed out earlier in the course of discussion). (digit - doigt - deixis)

e.g. there, them, they, then, this, that, thus, therefore, these, those, thither, whither, etc.

definite determiner

Another way of saying 'definite article', which I personally find more useful. People use determiners to determine just what exactly they are talking about:

  • his cat
  • (possessive determiner)
  • a stray cat
  • (indefinite determiner)
  • any cat
  • all cats
  • no cats
  • that fat cat
  • these kittens
  • those mice

correlative construction

  • The more, the merrier...
  • The bigger they are, the harder they fall.
  • The greater the risk, the greater the gain.
  • The longer you wait, the worse it gets.
  • The less said, the better.
  • The more we talked, the more I began to understand her point of view.
    "What big eyes you have, grandmother!"
    "The better to see you with, my dear."