Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Junkomama]

Hello, teachers.
Is following "the" in the parenthesis necessary?

1. In the present society, we can't have (the) clear prospects for/of the future.

2. all (the) expressions we need to say what we want to

Thank you in advance!
Junkomama

[2006]

#1...(the) should not be there.
#2...This is just a phrase. It can depend on context, including whether that phrase is a subject or object. (the) may be optional but the phrase alone sounds better with (the).

[Junkomama]

Thank you for your answer, 2006-san!

I found a phrase "the view for the future" in my dictionary.
Does it also depend on the context which to use "the" or "a" before "view"?
Which one is correct?
A. "We can't have the clear view for the future."
B. "We can't have a clear view for the future."
C. "We can't have clear views for the future."

D. Human beings can create all (the) expressions we need to say what we want.
Is (the) needed in sentence D?

Regards,
Junkomama

[2006]

"the view for the future" is a strange phrase; the usual phrase is "(a)(that)(my)(our)...view of the future". So A, B and C should all be changed to "...view(s) of the future.

Yes, whether to use "a" or "the" can depend on what you are talking about.

B is the correct answer. (with "of the future.")
In D, "the" is needed.

[Junkomama]

Thanks a lot, 2006-san!!

Regards,Junkomama