Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mulligc3]

I have googled this but can't find an answer. I know this is wrong but can't explain the grammar rules why.

Where is a cat?

It is referring to a picture of a cat in various places so it's testing prepositions. In this case it should be"where is the cat?" as its a specific cat we are talking about but even in another situation"where is a cat "is not said. Is it just not natural or are there actual grammar rules so that i can explain them to people?

Thanks,

[Chet Wautlands]

When would someone ever say "where is a cat?" It's too ambiguous.

Now, Korean doesn't use articles like "a" and "the" so that is where the confusion lies. In Korean, "where is the cat?" and "where is a cat?" would both be the same. "Goyangi oedi isseoyo?"

To explain this to a Korean, I would tell them that "the" is used, as you pointed out, for a specific cat. So, a husband might say "goyangi oedi isseoyo?" to his wife with regards to their pet. However, using "a" referring to a general cat doesn't make much sense in Korean either. It would be like four teachers sitting a the teacher's lounge and one suddenly asking "goyangi oedi isseoyo?" Everyone would ask "What cat?"

So, essentially, it's grammatically fine but I can't think of situation where one would employ it.

Wiser people may correct me if I'm wrong!

[Tobias]

Where is an ATM?
Where is an internet cafe?
Where is a McDonald's?

One will hear questions such as these innumerable times.

[T-J]

Well if you had to swing a cat in the graveyard at midnight and you didn't have one, you might exclaim "I need a cat! Where is a cat?"

In this situation any old cat will do I just need one to swing in the graveyard.

[lichtarbeiter]

I think Chet essentially hit the nail on the head. The sentence is not ungrammatical in itself, but only sounds unnatural because of the context.

When you refer to a picture and ask "Where is a/the cat?", you're implying the assumption that the following is true: there is a cat in the picture. Otherwise the question would be "Is there a cat in the picture?"

So if we assume that there is a cat in the picture, then that cat's existence is taken for granted, and it's therefore given definite reference.

[mulligc3]

gomapsumnida everyone!!

[The Cosmic Hum]

[icnelly]

[losing_touch]

Google is your friend. The rules for the use of definite and indefinite articles are out there. Although it is difficult for Koreans to acquire this aspect of English, they should be able to draw on explicit knowledge to know why it is wrong when prompted to do so.

[lifeinkorea]

I use a deck of cards to help explain this http://englishlessons.wikispaces.com/count

Also, you can do a short role play where they ask for "a" (something), then they have to refer to it again but using "the" (example, "Do you have a notebook book?", "How much is the notebook?"). If they don't want to do a store role play, then the second question instead could be "What color is the notebook").

Jon (after seeing a cat): That cat is huge but was able to jump off the table!!!
Bob (reading a book and never saw the cat): Cat? What cat? Where's a cat?

We don't only use "a" for one of many, but we can also use "a" to introduce new information to a listener. In the example above, Bob doesn't know. He is either asking for or giving new information.

In the case of "the doctor" ("I went to see the doctor"), even though it could be seen as new information, there is an understanding that people normally see the same doctor. If you said, "I saw a doctor", then we would think you didn't go to a doctor you regularly see.