Thread

1. abraxas · 1789856502 · focus · HN ↗

   What gets me as a non-native speaker far more than "a vs an" is the "a vs the" conundrum. I still don't quite get when something needs to be "indefinite" and I've been speaking English for close to forty years. My native tongue lacks articles altogether and it's soo bloody hard I feel hopeless I'll ever master them fully.

   1. arcbyte · 1789856909 · focus · HN ↗

      Just remmeber that "a" is short for "any". So do want the specific thing, or will any thing work?

      1. tandr · 1789857685 · focus · HN ↗

         But... "So do you want _a_ specific thing, or will any thing work?" sounds kind of correct as well to me. (Disclaimer: I am not native speaker, grain of salt and all.)

         1. rawling · 1789858489 · focus · HN ↗

            It is. Yours is acknowledging that your things are distinguishable and the other person might want one in particular.

            GP's should be used when offering a specific one, like "the red one".

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