Articles are completely useless in the English language, grammar police where are you to weigh in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a big difference between "the" and "a." Look at these two sentences:

1) The boy is running down the street.
2) A boy is running down the street.

In #1 you know it is a specific boy, one who within the context of the paragraph has been identified. In #2 you only know that some random boy is running down the street.

Not much difference, though, and who is ever saying that other than English teachers? To teach how to use a useless article. When did you hear that sentence in actual use? I know this boy or a random boy is running? You are never going to use it that way, ever. Useless.

Have you seen my little brother?

1) The boy is running down the street.
2) A boy is running down the street.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A bison

And if you just said: bison.
You would know exactly what you mean, and everyone would know it too.

Ok, that is a good example. How would I know you are talking about one or any, but one bison. Sure. But, when will you ever use it in such meaning in real life?
A bison was staring at me? I mean, sure, but that bison was starting at me? Works if we get rid of A, An, The. And why not THE bison?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a big difference between "the" and "a." Look at these two sentences:

1) The boy is running down the street.
2) A boy is running down the street.

In #1 you know it is a specific boy, one who within the context of the paragraph has been identified. In #2 you only know that some random boy is running down the street.

Not much difference, though, and who is ever saying that other than English teachers? To teach how to use a useless article. When did you hear that sentence in actual use? I know this boy or a random boy is running? You are never going to use it that way, ever. Useless.

Have you seen my little brother?

1) The boy is running down the street.
2) A boy is running down the street.

I might be dense, but I see no reason to keep the article in both your cases in real conversation. "OMG, a boy is running down the street, and a car is coming!" If you know the boy, is a specific boy, why would you even say the boy? Andrew is running down the street. or Boy (any boy that I don't know) is running down (the) street, surely you are not just yelling around to a random person that is not near the road?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I concur.

Well, there is a slight change in meaning but you can figure it out from context. The Chinese do it every day.

Thank you! So, I am not crazy? Meaning is pretty clean to me without articles in sentences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a big difference between "the" and "a." Look at these two sentences:

1) The boy is running down the street.
2) A boy is running down the street.

In #1 you know it is a specific boy, one who within the context of the paragraph has been identified. In #2 you only know that some random boy is running down the street.

Not much difference, though, and who is ever saying that other than English teachers? To teach how to use a useless article. When did you hear that sentence in actual use? I know this boy or a random boy is running? You are never going to use it that way, ever. Useless.

Have you seen my little brother?

1) The boy is running down the street.
2) A boy is running down the street.

I might be dense, but I see no reason to keep the article in both your cases in real conversation. "OMG, a boy is running down the street, and a car is coming!" If you know the boy, is a specific boy, why would you even say the boy? Andrew is running down the street. or Boy (any boy that I don't know) is running down (the) street, surely you are not just yelling around to a random person that is not near the road?

1) The boy is running down the street.
It’s your brother.

2) A boy is running down the street.
I don’t know if it’s your brother.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Articles provide additional context. Yes, some languages don't have articles and the world hasn't stopped. You should be happy that English doesn't have gendered and numbered articles.

Because it doesn't need them, no? Pretty brilliant, if you ask me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a big difference between "the" and "a." Look at these two sentences:

1) The boy is running down the street.
2) A boy is running down the street.

In #1 you know it is a specific boy, one who within the context of the paragraph has been identified. In #2 you only know that some random boy is running down the street.

Not much difference, though, and who is ever saying that other than English teachers? To teach how to use a useless article. When did you hear that sentence in actual use? I know this boy or a random boy is running? You are never going to use it that way, ever. Useless.

Have you seen my little brother?

1) The boy is running down the street.
2) A boy is running down the street.

I might be dense, but I see no reason to keep the article in both your cases in real conversation. "OMG, a boy is running down the street, and a car is coming!" If you know the boy, is a specific boy, why would you even say the boy? Andrew is running down the street. or Boy (any boy that I don't know) is running down (the) street, surely you are not just yelling around to a random person that is not near the road?

1) The boy is running down the street.
It’s your brother.

2) A boy is running down the street.
I don’t know if it’s your brother.

Makes no difference. Have you seen my brother! Boy is running down the street, context gives it (an) identifier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a big difference between "the" and "a." Look at these two sentences:

1) The boy is running down the street.
2) A boy is running down the street.

In #1 you know it is a specific boy, one who within the context of the paragraph has been identified. In #2 you only know that some random boy is running down the street.

Not much difference, though, and who is ever saying that other than English teachers? To teach how to use a useless article. When did you hear that sentence in actual use? I know this boy or a random boy is running? You are never going to use it that way, ever. Useless.

Have you seen my little brother?

1) The boy is running down the street.
2) A boy is running down the street.

I might be dense, but I see no reason to keep the article in both your cases in real conversation. "OMG, a boy is running down the street, and a car is coming!" If you know the boy, is a specific boy, why would you even say the boy? Andrew is running down the street. or Boy (any boy that I don't know) is running down (the) street, surely you are not just yelling around to a random person that is not near the road?

FYI that there are two of us responding to you. We would both be "a poster" as opposed to "the poster" meaning there is only one of us.

If you don't get it, you don't get it. I'm not going to get into an argument about it although you clearly want one. So if either of us responds to you again, it will be up to you to determine if it is only the other poster or if it is a poster who might be different.

Tootaloo!

[Anonymous]

Should we get rid of proper spelling too? Hu kairs az long az u git tha meening, rit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a big difference between "the" and "a." Look at these two sentences:

1) The boy is running down the street.
2) A boy is running down the street.

In #1 you know it is a specific boy, one who within the context of the paragraph has been identified. In #2 you only know that some random boy is running down the street.

Not much difference, though, and who is ever saying that other than English teachers? To teach how to use a useless article. When did you hear that sentence in actual use? I know this boy or a random boy is running? You are never going to use it that way, ever. Useless.

Have you seen my little brother?

1) The boy is running down the street.
2) A boy is running down the street.

I might be dense, but I see no reason to keep the article in both your cases in real conversation. "OMG, a boy is running down the street, and a car is coming!" If you know the boy, is a specific boy, why would you even say the boy? Andrew is running down the street. or Boy (any boy that I don't know) is running down (the) street, surely you are not just yelling around to a random person that is not near the road?

FYI that there are two of us responding to you. We would both be "a poster" as opposed to "the poster" meaning there is only one of us.

If you don't get it, you don't get it. I'm not going to get into an argument about it although you clearly want one. So if either of us responds to you again, it will be up to you to determine if it is only the other poster or if it is a poster who might be different.

Tootaloo!

LOL! No, I don't want to get into an argument. I just don't see the need for it. And we have pps that are very much into it. Plus, why would I care which pp is writing? I think the boy example if weak.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Should we get rid of proper spelling too? Hu kairs az long az u git tha meening, rit?

Luv eet!

[Anonymous]

The reason articles are useful is the same reason that verbs and other words are inflected. Adding additional meaning in a sentence is helpful because sometimes not every word is heard clearly, maybe in a noisy environment or shouted across distance or for another reason. And the additional information from articles, verb conjugation and S-V agreement, etc. allows the listener to properly fill in missing words.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Should we get rid of proper spelling too? Hu kairs az long az u git tha meening, rit?

Luv eet!

What is proper English spelling though? Nobody knows, nor does anyone know why certain words with exact same order of letters are pronounced differently! Sean, Shawn. Anna, with an e, but Armory, with an a!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The reason articles are useful is the same reason that verbs and other words are inflected. Adding additional meaning in a sentence is helpful because sometimes not every word is heard clearly, maybe in a noisy environment or shouted across distance or for another reason. And the additional information from articles, verb conjugation and S-V agreement, etc. allows the listener to properly fill in missing words.

So, an article was there to fill in the blanks in a loud room? LOL!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Should we get rid of proper spelling too? Hu kairs az long az u git tha meening, rit?

Luv eet!

What is proper English spelling though? Nobody knows, nor does anyone know why certain words with exact same order of letters are pronounced differently! Sean, Shawn. Anna, with an e, but Armory, with an a!

Take it up with the dictionary. There are commonly accepted ways to spell words, the rules don't always apply the same way, but we all do our best so that we can communicate effectively. If you want to show everyone you have a poor grasp of the English language keep posting every day "Is everyone still wearing mask?" since someone (maybe not you) seems to love saying this.