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kiwikid
Joined: 28 Mar 2003
Location: Seoul
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 Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 6:59 pm Post subject: Having a grammar stupidity moment |
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| A student asked my why is 'a' used in the sentence " We have 'a' nice grilled chicken special on the menu". I can't think how to explain it. She thinks it's specific because it's on the menu so hould be 'the'... Anybody know how I can simply explain this for my student? |
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matty022
Joined: 05 Mar 2012
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| Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 7:41 pm Post subject: |
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I would think that "the grilled chicken special" would hint that there were only 1 type of grilled chicken that could be the special that day, whereas "a grilled chicken special" shows that there are several different grilled chicken meals that could be the special and that one of them is the special for today.
Just a shot in the dark. |
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Benjamino
Joined: 21 Apr 2012
Location: Jinju
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| Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 7:46 pm Post subject: Re: Having a grammar stupidity moment |
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| kiwikid wrote: |
| A student asked my why is 'a' used in the sentence " We have 'a' nice grilled chicken special on the menu". I can't think how to explain it. She thinks it's specific because it's on the menu so hould be 'the'... Anybody know how I can simply explain this for my student? |
In this case we assume that the subject is not the only one of it's kind. There will be many nice grilled chicken sandwiches in the world so to use 'the' would imply otherwise. |
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Privateer
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
Location: Easy Street.
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| Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 10:01 pm Post subject: |
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| It's a special. One of many possible specials they could have chosen that day. Once chosen, it becomes 'the special of the day'. |
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kiwikid
Joined: 28 Mar 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue May 22, 2012 12:13 am Post subject: |
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| Thank you all. |
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kiwikid
Joined: 28 Mar 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue May 22, 2012 12:14 am Post subject: |
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| Thank you all. |
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YTMND
Joined: 16 Jan 2012
Location: You're the man now dog!!
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| Posted: Tue May 22, 2012 12:26 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| " We have 'a' nice grilled chicken special on the menu". |
To the restaurant, it probably is "the" grilled chicken special. And, for that reason, I would change it to "the" to convey that message.
The reason why they are using "a" instead is not to convey that message, but to introduce the topic. The patron would not say, "Ok. Then, I'll have a grilled chicken special." They are more likely to say, "Ok, I'll have that."
If there was a question, then they would say something like, "Does the chicken special come (with) ____ ?"
This is the same with things like, "I saw a movie" or "I saw a new store open up on the way home/work." First, you use "a", then "the". |
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some waygug-in
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue May 22, 2012 5:52 am Post subject: |
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In agreement with what's been already said;
YTMND is right. We use "a" when making suggestions and then "the" after the decision is made.
We have a nice grilled chicken on special.
OK, I'll have the grilled chicken special.
Would you like a bowl of soup? We have several kinds on the menu.
Yes, I'll have the chicken soup please. |
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Troglodyte
Joined: 06 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 4:53 am Post subject: Re: Having a grammar stupidity moment |
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| kiwikid wrote: |
| A student asked my why is 'a' used in the sentence " We have 'a' nice grilled chicken special on the menu". I can't think how to explain it. She thinks it's specific because it's on the menu so hould be 'the'... Anybody know how I can simply explain this for my student? |
They said "a nice grilled chicken special" because we presume that there are many "nice grilled chicken specials" in existence (even if that restaurant is only offering one of them today).
Once that nice grilled chicken special has been identified, then the waiter or customer would use "the" because it referred to the specific grilled chicken special that the waiter mentioned.
If the waiter said, "We have the nice grilled chicken special on the menu." then it would probably suggest that the eating establishment from time to time offers two (or more) grilled chicken specials but only one of them is actually nice (the one which is on the menu today). Maybe the chef at a prison in a third world country might actually use this sentence.
If the waiter said, "We have the grilled chicken special on the menu" then it would suggest that restaurant sometimes offers a grilled chicken special (only one type) and that the customer is familiar with this specific grilled chicken special. |
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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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| Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 1:27 am Post subject: Re: Having a grammar stupidity moment |
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| kiwikid wrote: |
| A student asked my why is 'a' used in the sentence " We have 'a' nice grilled chicken special on the menu". I can't think how to explain it. |
This is a case of direct and indirect articles. Here is a useful link: http://esl.about.com/od/thebasics/a/a_an_the.htm. Article usage can more complex than this. I recommend further reading on this topic.
Troglodyte covered this particular question.
Typically, mastering these occurs towards the end of mastering English. Translation = expect a lot of errors here while teaching. |
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