Question
1 March
- Russian
-
English (US)
Question about English (US)
What is the difference between He sat the glass of water on the table and He sat a glass of water on the table ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.
What is the difference between He sat the glass of water on the table and He sat a glass of water on the table ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.
Why is the second sentence right but the first isn't right?
The table - A water
The table - A water
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1 March
Featured answer
- English (US)
@cafyigetru
it can be, if you are referring to a specific glass. Let me give you some example sentences to see if that helps:
1) Please put your keys on the dining room table when you get home.
Please hand me the TV remote.
Please turn out the lights before you leave.
Can we go to the mall?
Did you check the mail?
2) I saw a bird at the park today.
One of my friends said she has a cousin who likes to ski.
Does anyone know where I can buy a keyboard?
Please hand me a pen.
Read more comments
- English (US)
@cafyigetru “A” means any random object...
“The” means one particular object.. it’s specific
- Russian
@Estherana Okay. So "a glass of water" is this a random object? Can you explain it to me more clearly, please? I don't understand this structure exactly in this sentence
- English (US)
@cafyigetru “a” is nonspecific. For example “a glass of water” could refer to any glass of water in the world. It is not talking about one specific glass.
- Russian
@Estherana But we have the specific table "on the table". Why it can't be to refer to as "the glass of water"?
- English (US)
@cafyigetru
it can be, if you are referring to a specific glass. Let me give you some example sentences to see if that helps:
1) Please put your keys on the dining room table when you get home.
Please hand me the TV remote.
Please turn out the lights before you leave.
Can we go to the mall?
Did you check the mail?
2) I saw a bird at the park today.
One of my friends said she has a cousin who likes to ski.
Does anyone know where I can buy a keyboard?
Please hand me a pen.
- Russian
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