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When should you write „the“?
Message from eugen posted on 08-01-2010 at 11:19:00 (D | E | F)
Hello,could you help me with 'the' please?
Mr Meyer is on the telephone.
Mr Meyer is on telephone. (Wrong, why?)
When should one write “the” and when not?
Thank you for your answers.
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Edited by lucile83 on 08-01-2010 11:49
Message from eugen posted on 08-01-2010 at 11:19:00 (D | E | F)
Hello,could you help me with 'the' please?
Mr Meyer is on the telephone.
Mr Meyer is on telephone. (Wrong, why?)
When should one write “the” and when not?
Thank you for your answers.
-------------------
Edited by lucile83 on 08-01-2010 11:49
Re: When should you write „the“? from ariette, posted on 08-01-2010 at 12:36:40 (D | E)
to use 'THE' the noun has to be determined
here it is determined because the telephone is an invention known by everybody
I hope it helps
Re: When should you write „the“? from smartway, posted on 09-01-2010 at 12:44:03 (D | E)
hello;
here the telephone is determined because it is known by the person who talks and the person who he talks with,so we say the telephone not a telephone
Re: When should you write „the“? from eugen, posted on 13-01-2010 at 10:34:09 (D | E)
Hi, thank you.
Ok, with „the” you write if a person, place is specified by the speaker.
Ex. Mr Meyer is on the telephone.
If the phone is not known by Mr. Meyer, how you should write?
Mr Meyer is on telephone?
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Edited by lucile83 on 13-01-2010 12:18
No, you are on the phone whenever you use it.
Re: When should you write „the“? from eugen, posted on 13-01-2010 at 10:38:43 (D | E)
Sorry, mistake.
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Edited by lucile83 on 13-01-2010 12:17
Re: When should you write „the“? from patpoussin, posted on 13-01-2010 at 11:49:19 (D | E)
Hello, eugen !
First, "It's write" is not exact ; Is that right ? (right/wrong)
Second, as written by ariette, a telephone is an object already welknown therefore you write "Mr Meyer is on telephone" or "Mr Meyer is on phone".
I hope it helps you better to understand
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Edited by lucile83 on 13-01-2010 12:20
Your answer is not correct,sorry.
Re: When should you write „the“? from dolfine56, posted on 13-01-2010 at 12:02:50 (D | E)
Hi, patpoussin,
it seems to me that what you wrote is the opposite of what ariette wrote above!
she said you have to use "the" in this sentence: Mr Meyer is on the telephone.
and you wrote:"Mr Meyer is on telephone" or "Mr Meyer is on phone".
it isn't clear for anybody....
Re: When should you write „the“? from lucile83, posted on 13-01-2010 at 12:24:43 (D | E)
Hello,
To make it quite clear we say:
to be on the phone/to be on the telephone.
Regards.
Re: When should you write „the“? from patpoussin, posted on 13-01-2010 at 12:28:36 (D | E)
Sorry ! You're right dolfine56, I
In fact, in the past we used to write "the" telephone but, nowadays as the telephone is an object very well known and used by every body, it's not necessary to write "the". So, or you write "Mr. Meyer is on telephone" or "Mr. Meyer is on the phone".
If I'm wrong, please tell me.
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Edited by lucile83 on 13-01-2010 13:38
Sorry but yes, you are wrong.
Re: When should you write „the“? from patpoussin, posted on 13-01-2010 at 12:47:01 (D | E)
lucile83 Henceforth when American friends
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Edited by lucile83 on 13-01-2010 13:30
+
Yes they will be welcome!
Re: When should you write „the“? from lucile83, posted on 13-01-2010 at 13:37:54 (D | E)
Hello patpoussin,
Here are 2 links to help you just in case:
Lien Internet
Lien Internet
Regards.
Re: When should you write „the“? from patpoussin, posted on 13-01-2010 at 15:57:03 (D | E)
Thank you very much lucile83 for the 2 links.
Next time, I will try to do my best and not to answer without
Best regards
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Edited by lucile83 on 13-01-2010 15:59
You are welcome !
Re: When should you write „the“? from eugen, posted on 13-01-2010 at 21:03:39 (D | E)
Hi,patpoussin.
Thank you for your correction. But right is: Mr Meyer is on the telephone.
I would know why not: Mr Meyer is on telephone? No, patpoussin, that help me not.
Hi, patpoussin, …If the object is known, then we used “the” and not without “the”. ??
Re: When should you write „the“? from traviskidd, posted on 14-01-2010 at 07:36:24 (D | E)
Hello.
The simple fact is, it is not always so simple. In some, but not all, fixed expressions, "the" is lost:
- In school, in bed, on television.
In other cases, "the" is kept:
- On the radio, on the telephone, on the road.
It should be noted that, in each of the examples where "the" is omitted, putting it changes the meaning:
- In the school (building), in the bed (between or in the mattresses), on the television (set).
Sometimes US and UK English differ in the use of "the": in the hospital (US), in hospital (UK). (In the US, smeone who is visiting a patient is said to be "at the hospital".)
Regards.
Re: When should you write „the“? from mie, posted on 14-01-2010 at 11:48:43 (D | E)
Hello,
You say "the phone", the television... when you can see (or imagine) the object the person is using.
I'm watching the television. I'm on the phone
I am at school = it could be any school...
I'm at the junior school = there are several schools, the person is saying which one he/she's at
I'm in bed = je suis au lit...
I'm in the double bed = we know exactly which bed he is talking about
Re: When should you write „the“? from ariette, posted on 14-01-2010 at 12:11:12 (D | E)
Not so simple indeed ! as Traviskid wrote.
I saw it on television is an exception as far as inventions are concerned.
Indeed the television means the T.V set
When putting ‘the’ with school or bed we mean the building
I live not far from the school
But would it be about classes, sleeping (i.e human activities), we should omit ‘the’
School starts at 8
It’s time to go to bed (to sleep)
We wouldn’t use it either with sport/music/cooking etc.
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