Articles - a , an , the
This topic has expert replies
- vikram4689
- Legendary Member
- Posts: 1325
- Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2009 6:24 am
- Thanked: 105 times
- Followed by:14 members
Lately there has been introduction of articles - a , an , the in options of SC questions. Can anyone explain what effect they have.
Premise: If you like my post
Conclusion : Press the Thanks Button
Conclusion : Press the Thanks Button
- uwhusky
- Legendary Member
- Posts: 1172
- Joined: Wed Apr 28, 2010 6:20 pm
- Thanked: 74 times
- Followed by:4 members
There are two types of articles, definite and indefinite.
Definite article, the, is used to describe a specific item: "I don't want just any chair, I want the chair!"
Indefinite articles, a and an, are used to describe any item of the same property: "Just find me a chair, I need to sit down and take a break."
"the" chair in the first example is referring to a specific chair that both the speaker and the listener are presumed to know.
"a" chair in the second example is simply referring to any chair.
I do recall seeing a fair number of these articles being the deciding factor in some tougher SC questions. I tried to search for them and didn't have any luck finding one.
I hope I was clear in the explanation. I am not as good at explaining SC as before.
Definite article, the, is used to describe a specific item: "I don't want just any chair, I want the chair!"
Indefinite articles, a and an, are used to describe any item of the same property: "Just find me a chair, I need to sit down and take a break."
"the" chair in the first example is referring to a specific chair that both the speaker and the listener are presumed to know.
"a" chair in the second example is simply referring to any chair.
I do recall seeing a fair number of these articles being the deciding factor in some tougher SC questions. I tried to search for them and didn't have any luck finding one.
I hope I was clear in the explanation. I am not as good at explaining SC as before.
Yep.
- vikram4689
- Legendary Member
- Posts: 1325
- Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2009 6:24 am
- Thanked: 105 times
- Followed by:14 members
Thanks uwhusky but unfortunately i was looking from SC perspective, how the subtle idfeerence is created by using the article in options
Premise: If you like my post
Conclusion : Press the Thanks Button
Conclusion : Press the Thanks Button
- Jim@Grockit
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 641
- Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 3:07 pm
- Location: Madison, WI
- Thanked: 162 times
- Followed by:45 members
- GMAT Score:760
Without examples it's harder to say, but you should expect the definite article "the" when referring to a specific thing. You should also expect "the" with superlative expressions (the best/wettest/most swollen/least expensive et cetera). In comparative expressions, you can ask for a better seat, or the better seat if there is only one better, regardless of whether there is a "than . . ." following it.