Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[twinspotato]

Hello there,

While reading some textbooks written by native speakers (apparently), I found these sentences:

- A first requirement for any grammar is that it provides a characterization of the language it describes...

- A second aspect of the Language-Culture Connection is the extent to which your students will themselves be affected by the process of acculturation...

I learned at school that we're supposed to use 'the' with numbers such as first, second, third... So I suppose the correct form should be "The first requirement...The second aspect..."

Am I wrong? I'm so confused. Any reply would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Mister Micawber]

.
These are natural collocations. 'A first', 'a second' is a minor courtesy on the part of the writer, who is subtly suggesting that his/her 'first' is not necessarily the only right answer-- that the reader or another may have a different idea as to e.g. 'the first requirement'.

Using 'the' ('the first requirement') causes the writer to appear more authoritative or didactic; it suggests that there is only the one choice as to the correct 'first requirement'.
.
_________________
"I really do not know that anything has ever been more exciting than diagramming sentences." � Gertrude Stein
...............
Canadian-American who teaches English for a living at Mr Micawber's

[twinspotato]

Thank you so much!