I think we should get rid of 'A', 'AN' and 'THE'.

[Never]

These have to be the three more pointless words in the English language, yet a regular sentence like this one needs three to complete it.

Why do we use them? They add nothing to the meaning of a sentence and they 'basically' say the same thing. I honestly can't think of a sentence that would loose meaning without these three words.

For example.
A left is as good as a right.
Left is as good as right.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
Apple day keeps doctor away.

Sure these sentences sound 'choppy' to English speakers but they mean the something.
While I'm at it how is 'an apple' different from 'the apple' unless someone means 'that apple' or 'our apple' or 'this apple' in which case they should use the latter three just to avoid confusion. Unless 'the [blank]' is the only manifestation of it in the universe 'a [blank]' would be used just as well and someone tell me the difference between 'the universe' and 'universe'? There's only one so we don't need the 'the'.

Anyway, it would be faster and more efficent if we got rid of them all together. Think of all the innocent trees that would be alive today if we had rid ourselves of this sooner.

Naturally, someone is now going to give me the history of the English language and why we have 'a' and 'an' and 'the' and also clue me in as to why we need them.

 

[nasty]

I don't won't to sound rude, but, "Apple day keeps doctor away" doesn't make any sense. At least to me.

 

[Never]

Well.. you're wrong!
Don't you dare dash my ideas like that. I'm certain if someone on the street said that to you you'd understand instantly.

Damn.. Well, they are mostly useless words.

 

[Mensa]

How about mother's day?

If the doctor's away on apple day , is he in on arbor day?

 

[Siren]

Never

 

[nasty]

WHOW!!!!! Calm down. I didn't mean to make you sound wrong. To me, "Apple day" sounds like their's an Apple Day, just like St. Patrick's Day. Again, I apologies for sounding offensive. That's only my opinion. You are right, I WOULD know what someone was talking about, if they didn't use "An." But, that's only because we already have the word in the expression itself. expression.

 

[Starfish]

How many Apples?

 

[nasty]

Re: How about mother's day?

If the doctor's away on apple day , is he in on arbor day?

My post calm in a few seconds late. Never, I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am to upset you like that. I respect your opinion. REALLY, I DO!!!!!!!!

 

[nasty]

Do you think I've apologiesed enough.lol.

 

[cymbidia]

I like Galas the best.
Romes are good, too.
Yep. One each day keeps one's doctor away.

 

[Darowyn]

There is no "a" or "the" in Latin.
e.g.
Servus Terentiae pomum dat
The slave gave an apple to Terentia
or
A slave gave the apple to Terentia
In English they do not have quite the same meaning, so if you wanted to make the same implication in Latin, you would have to rephrase on the lines of:-
It was slave who gave apple to Terentia

I understand that Russian does not use them either.
Any multilinguists know any other article-free languages?

 

[Weird Harold]

While I'm at it how is 'an apple' different from 'the apple' unless someone means 'that apple' or 'our apple' or 'this apple' in which case they should use the latter three just to avoid confusion. Unless 'the [blank]' is the only manifestation of it in the universe 'a [blank]' would be used just as well and someone tell me the difference between 'the universe' and 'universe'? There's only one so we don't need the 'the'.

"an apple" = no particular apple, but just one of them.

"The apple" = a particular apple, like the apple that knocked the idea of gravity into Isaac Newton's head.

There are several languages that make do without any 'articles' at all, and literal translation into English sound foreign to those of us who only speak English (or American).

I do agree that 'A' and 'An' could be combined into just 'An' and avoid all the confusion about which should be used when.

Making the distinction between 'A/An' and 'The' does make sense to me because clarifying the difference betwen a general reference and a specific reference takes too many other words to accomplish.

 

[lavender]

 

[Ezzy]

An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
Apple day keeps doctor away.

That should read

"pple dy keeps doctor wy!" If you truly wish to get rid of the "A."



EZ

Ok so I intentionally red it this weigh.

 

[Doulton]

You answered your own question Never. As Harold already (sort of) pointed out, they are used to differentiate between the unique and the many. Why get rid of the words and create more confusion? You'll end up making sentences longer when people inevitably have to ask "were you saying my breasts were saggy, or just breasts in general?" (Just an example. I'm sure there are many other instances in which the lack of an article would prove confusing. Some of them may not involve breasts at all.)

I think the difference between An and A comes from the practicality if verbalising the words. "A apple" is harder to say and more difficult to understand.

 

[sexy-girl]

i think never is actually right the only reason why we need them is because we're use to them but if they never were used in the first place we would get by just fine ... maybe should ban there use on lit for a week and see if we all live through it


but hey anyway i like the crazy english language its proper init (cockney accent)

 

[doctor_insanus]

Why are you all trying to keep me away?

 

[OUTSIDER]

These have to be the three more pointless words in the English language, yet a regular sentence like this one needs three to complete it.

Why do we use them? They add nothing to the meaning of a sentence and they 'basically' say the same thing. I honestly can't think of a sentence that would loose meaning without these three words.

For example.
A left is as good as a right.
Left is as good as right.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
Apple day keeps doctor away.

Sure these sentences sound 'choppy' to English speakers but they mean the something.
While I'm at it how is 'an apple' different from 'the apple' unless someone means 'that apple' or 'our apple' or 'this apple' in which case they should use the latter three just to avoid confusion. Unless 'the [blank]' is the only manifestation of it in the universe 'a [blank]' would be used just as well and someone tell me the difference between 'the universe' and 'universe'? There's only one so we don't need the 'the'.

Anyway, it would be faster and more efficent if we got rid of them all together. Think of all the innocent trees that would be alive today if we had rid ourselves of this sooner.

Naturally, someone is now going to give me the history of the English language and why we have 'a' and 'an' and 'the' and also clue me in as to why we need them.

Mmmmm...............interesting..................but no thanks, I've just about got used to using this language, I'll be fucked if I'm gonna start on a new one.

 

[bluntforcemama]

Personally, I have a noun marker fetish.

 

[MinkSoul]

Well then...

shouldn't we also get rid of "k"?
"c" sounds like it..... sometimes...

and, double letters..... they should go too....er.... to

"gh" could be replaced by "f" or thrown out compleatly...

enough becomes enuf... thought could be thot...


we use way to many leters and words....


Hi time we started conserving them...


.... that's my 2 sents...

 

[nasty]

There is no "a" or "the" in Latin.

Well, I got Never pissed at me. I HOPE I don't do the same for you. English is our primary language, not Latin.

 

[Never]

I'd have to care before I get pissed. I've only gotten 'pissed' once this year and it involved my birthday and my best friend.. and said person doesn't even know I was angry. If my friends and family can't figure when I'm angry you're not going to be able to either...

Oh, and if you think my response, or the vast majority my posts, are 'serious' you're incorrect.

 

[nasty]

WHEW!!!!! That puts my mind at ease. Thanks.

 

[sexy-girl]

Oh, and if you think my response, or the vast majority my posts, are 'serious' you're incorrect.

oh my god what you mean sometimes your not being serious ?

your sense of humour is alot like my gf's although i dont pretend to "get" you completely yet i maybe got a slight headstart because lisa's humour is similar

 

[nasty]

I'll try to remember that. Sometimes if you don't indicate your,(or anyone,)being funny, I can't tell.