English Essay

[caliber1]

Originally Posted by Perikles

I haven't read it all, but I noticed this common error with the definite article. In English, it is not used for general concepts:


All children are young (all in the world)
All the children in this room are young (specifically these, not others)

All examples of grammar are useful (everywhere)
All the examples of grammar in this thread are useful

Thanks Perikles. I wasn't sure on that one. It makes sense either way, but putting "the" in there I guess made it sound more specific to every child in the world. Thanks again.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by jrivera

Thank you Perikles for that those corrections.

You are welcome.

Originally Posted by caliber1

Thanks Perikles. I wasn't sure on that one. It makes sense either way, but putting "the" in there I guess made it sound more specific to every child in the world.

By coincidence, we are having an argument about 'the' on a science forum, populated by people who argue about everything. It turns out that the definite article in English is used differently to languages which have distinct genders, in ways which are difficult to define. Without an article, a general concept is meant, and with one, something specific. I could go on...