Why is “the” used here? I would use not article in this dialog
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It upsets Sheldon when you play with the food...It upsets Sheldon when you play with the Sheldon. First sentence I kinda can justify the, second one - just don't get it.
(The big bang theory. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCK6ZwpNICQ)
articles
edited Dec 7 at 10:19
Tushar Raj
17.7k863111
asked Dec 7 at 7:42
Oksana
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add a comment |
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It upsets Sheldon when you play with the food...It upsets Sheldon when you play with the Sheldon. First sentence I kinda can justify the, second one - just don't get it.
(The big bang theory. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCK6ZwpNICQ)
articles
edited Dec 7 at 10:19
Tushar Raj
17.7k863111
asked Dec 7 at 7:42
Oksana
11
New contributor
Oksana is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
It's used for comedic effect. While correct grammar prohibitsthebefore a person's name; by usingtheSheldon is given the status of an object, a robot. It has the added advantage of being a symmetrical callback to the last line.
– Tushar Raj
Dec 7 at 10:21
add a comment |
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favorite
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
It upsets Sheldon when you play with the food...It upsets Sheldon when you play with the Sheldon. First sentence I kinda can justify the, second one - just don't get it.
(The big bang theory. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCK6ZwpNICQ)
articles
edited Dec 7 at 10:19
Tushar Raj
17.7k863111
asked Dec 7 at 7:42
Oksana
11
New contributor
Oksana is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
It upsets Sheldon when you play with the food...It upsets Sheldon when you play with the Sheldon. First sentence I kinda can justify the, second one - just don't get it.
(The big bang theory. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCK6ZwpNICQ)
articles
articles
edited Dec 7 at 10:19
Tushar Raj
17.7k863111
asked Dec 7 at 7:42
Oksana
11
New contributor
Oksana is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited Dec 7 at 10:19
Tushar Raj
17.7k863111
asked Dec 7 at 7:42
Oksana
11
New contributor
Oksana is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited Dec 7 at 10:19
Tushar Raj
17.7k863111
edited Dec 7 at 10:19
Tushar Raj
17.7k863111
edited Dec 7 at 10:19
Tushar Raj
17.7k863111
17.7k863111
asked Dec 7 at 7:42
Oksana
11
New contributor
Oksana is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked Dec 7 at 7:42
Oksana
11
asked Dec 7 at 7:42
Oksana
11
11
New contributor
Oksana is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Oksana is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Oksana is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
It's used for comedic effect. While correct grammar prohibitsthebefore a person's name; by usingtheSheldon is given the status of an object, a robot. It has the added advantage of being a symmetrical callback to the last line.
– Tushar Raj
Dec 7 at 10:21
add a comment |
1
It's used for comedic effect. While correct grammar prohibitsthebefore a person's name; by usingtheSheldon is given the status of an object, a robot. It has the added advantage of being a symmetrical callback to the last line.
– Tushar Raj
Dec 7 at 10:21
1
1
It's used for comedic effect. While correct grammar prohibits
the before a person's name; by using the Sheldon is given the status of an object, a robot. It has the added advantage of being a symmetrical callback to the last line.– Tushar Raj
Dec 7 at 10:21
It's used for comedic effect. While correct grammar prohibits
the before a person's name; by using the Sheldon is given the status of an object, a robot. It has the added advantage of being a symmetrical callback to the last line.– Tushar Raj
Dec 7 at 10:21
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
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oldest
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0
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It's just a jokey continuation of the conversation. Prior to this there are several instances where they say, "It upsets Sheldon when you play with the X."
It also jokingly insinuates that there is only one 'Sheldon' in the world and at the same time dehumanises him somewhat.
answered Dec 7 at 10:22
chasly from UK
22.7k13068
Thanks a lot! It was very helpful.
– Oksana
Dec 7 at 11:15
add a comment |
up vote
-1
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'the' is known as the definite article (as opposed to the indefinite 'a' or 'an') and implies that something is special, important, significant or one of a kind. You can't go to an Eiffel Tower, but you can go to the Eiffel tower. Often in speech we misuse this article in order to imply that something is more important than it is. 'the Sheldon' is probably mocking Sheldon's self-important perspective of himself.
It's also a rhetorical technique known as parallelism, to emphasise the place value of the word as an object in the sentence.
answered Dec 7 at 10:26
Joseph Paduch
1206
Thank you very much, Joseph!
– Oksana
Dec 7 at 11:15
The definite article does not in any way imply that something special, important or one of a kind. It only implies that the thing you’re talking about is expected to be familiar and recognisable by the listener in the scope of the current conversation. For example, in your last sentence, you use it no less than three times (“the place value” [whatever exactly that is], “the word”, and “the sentence”), none of which denote things that are special, important, or one of a kind.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Dec 7 at 17:13
To Oksana: no worries, glad it helped. @JanusBahsJacquet you're absolutely correct (in certain contexts, including this), but that level of detail isn't really necessary for a question like this - the asker is interested in an aberration in normal speech patterns, not detailed grammatical laws. Saying that 'the' means something specific (i.e. special) is as good as saying that it defines it as familiar/recognisable/ specific. Thanks for pointing it out, but I don't think any amendment is called for.
– Joseph Paduch
2 days ago
@JanusBahsJacquet in other contexts, you get constructions like 'the one and only', which more clearly demonstrates how 'the' makes something special. He was the one. Worship a god, I'll worship the God. It's not common, but when 'the' is used out of place - such as the Sheldon, it can imply uniqueness.
– Joseph Paduch
2 days ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
0
down vote
It's just a jokey continuation of the conversation. Prior to this there are several instances where they say, "It upsets Sheldon when you play with the X."
It also jokingly insinuates that there is only one 'Sheldon' in the world and at the same time dehumanises him somewhat.
answered Dec 7 at 10:22
chasly from UK
22.7k13068
Thanks a lot! It was very helpful.
– Oksana
Dec 7 at 11:15
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
It's just a jokey continuation of the conversation. Prior to this there are several instances where they say, "It upsets Sheldon when you play with the X."
It also jokingly insinuates that there is only one 'Sheldon' in the world and at the same time dehumanises him somewhat.
answered Dec 7 at 10:22
chasly from UK
22.7k13068
Thanks a lot! It was very helpful.
– Oksana
Dec 7 at 11:15
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
It's just a jokey continuation of the conversation. Prior to this there are several instances where they say, "It upsets Sheldon when you play with the X."
It also jokingly insinuates that there is only one 'Sheldon' in the world and at the same time dehumanises him somewhat.
answered Dec 7 at 10:22
chasly from UK
22.7k13068
It's just a jokey continuation of the conversation. Prior to this there are several instances where they say, "It upsets Sheldon when you play with the X."
It also jokingly insinuates that there is only one 'Sheldon' in the world and at the same time dehumanises him somewhat.
answered Dec 7 at 10:22
chasly from UK
22.7k13068
answered Dec 7 at 10:22
chasly from UK
22.7k13068
answered Dec 7 at 10:22
chasly from UK
22.7k13068
answered Dec 7 at 10:22
chasly from UK
22.7k13068
22.7k13068
Thanks a lot! It was very helpful.
– Oksana
Dec 7 at 11:15
add a comment |
Thanks a lot! It was very helpful.
– Oksana
Dec 7 at 11:15
Thanks a lot! It was very helpful.
– Oksana
Dec 7 at 11:15
Thanks a lot! It was very helpful.
– Oksana
Dec 7 at 11:15
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
'the' is known as the definite article (as opposed to the indefinite 'a' or 'an') and implies that something is special, important, significant or one of a kind. You can't go to an Eiffel Tower, but you can go to the Eiffel tower. Often in speech we misuse this article in order to imply that something is more important than it is. 'the Sheldon' is probably mocking Sheldon's self-important perspective of himself.
It's also a rhetorical technique known as parallelism, to emphasise the place value of the word as an object in the sentence.
answered Dec 7 at 10:26
Joseph Paduch
1206
Thank you very much, Joseph!
– Oksana
Dec 7 at 11:15
The definite article does not in any way imply that something special, important or one of a kind. It only implies that the thing you’re talking about is expected to be familiar and recognisable by the listener in the scope of the current conversation. For example, in your last sentence, you use it no less than three times (“the place value” [whatever exactly that is], “the word”, and “the sentence”), none of which denote things that are special, important, or one of a kind.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Dec 7 at 17:13
To Oksana: no worries, glad it helped. @JanusBahsJacquet you're absolutely correct (in certain contexts, including this), but that level of detail isn't really necessary for a question like this - the asker is interested in an aberration in normal speech patterns, not detailed grammatical laws. Saying that 'the' means something specific (i.e. special) is as good as saying that it defines it as familiar/recognisable/ specific. Thanks for pointing it out, but I don't think any amendment is called for.
– Joseph Paduch
2 days ago
@JanusBahsJacquet in other contexts, you get constructions like 'the one and only', which more clearly demonstrates how 'the' makes something special. He was the one. Worship a god, I'll worship the God. It's not common, but when 'the' is used out of place - such as the Sheldon, it can imply uniqueness.
– Joseph Paduch
2 days ago
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
'the' is known as the definite article (as opposed to the indefinite 'a' or 'an') and implies that something is special, important, significant or one of a kind. You can't go to an Eiffel Tower, but you can go to the Eiffel tower. Often in speech we misuse this article in order to imply that something is more important than it is. 'the Sheldon' is probably mocking Sheldon's self-important perspective of himself.
It's also a rhetorical technique known as parallelism, to emphasise the place value of the word as an object in the sentence.
answered Dec 7 at 10:26
Joseph Paduch
1206
Thank you very much, Joseph!
– Oksana
Dec 7 at 11:15
The definite article does not in any way imply that something special, important or one of a kind. It only implies that the thing you’re talking about is expected to be familiar and recognisable by the listener in the scope of the current conversation. For example, in your last sentence, you use it no less than three times (“the place value” [whatever exactly that is], “the word”, and “the sentence”), none of which denote things that are special, important, or one of a kind.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Dec 7 at 17:13
To Oksana: no worries, glad it helped. @JanusBahsJacquet you're absolutely correct (in certain contexts, including this), but that level of detail isn't really necessary for a question like this - the asker is interested in an aberration in normal speech patterns, not detailed grammatical laws. Saying that 'the' means something specific (i.e. special) is as good as saying that it defines it as familiar/recognisable/ specific. Thanks for pointing it out, but I don't think any amendment is called for.
– Joseph Paduch
2 days ago
@JanusBahsJacquet in other contexts, you get constructions like 'the one and only', which more clearly demonstrates how 'the' makes something special. He was the one. Worship a god, I'll worship the God. It's not common, but when 'the' is used out of place - such as the Sheldon, it can imply uniqueness.
– Joseph Paduch
2 days ago
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
up vote
-1
down vote
'the' is known as the definite article (as opposed to the indefinite 'a' or 'an') and implies that something is special, important, significant or one of a kind. You can't go to an Eiffel Tower, but you can go to the Eiffel tower. Often in speech we misuse this article in order to imply that something is more important than it is. 'the Sheldon' is probably mocking Sheldon's self-important perspective of himself.
It's also a rhetorical technique known as parallelism, to emphasise the place value of the word as an object in the sentence.
answered Dec 7 at 10:26
Joseph Paduch
1206
'the' is known as the definite article (as opposed to the indefinite 'a' or 'an') and implies that something is special, important, significant or one of a kind. You can't go to an Eiffel Tower, but you can go to the Eiffel tower. Often in speech we misuse this article in order to imply that something is more important than it is. 'the Sheldon' is probably mocking Sheldon's self-important perspective of himself.
It's also a rhetorical technique known as parallelism, to emphasise the place value of the word as an object in the sentence.
answered Dec 7 at 10:26
Joseph Paduch
1206
answered Dec 7 at 10:26
Joseph Paduch
1206
answered Dec 7 at 10:26
Joseph Paduch
1206
answered Dec 7 at 10:26
Joseph Paduch
1206
1206
Thank you very much, Joseph!
– Oksana
Dec 7 at 11:15
The definite article does not in any way imply that something special, important or one of a kind. It only implies that the thing you’re talking about is expected to be familiar and recognisable by the listener in the scope of the current conversation. For example, in your last sentence, you use it no less than three times (“the place value” [whatever exactly that is], “the word”, and “the sentence”), none of which denote things that are special, important, or one of a kind.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Dec 7 at 17:13
To Oksana: no worries, glad it helped. @JanusBahsJacquet you're absolutely correct (in certain contexts, including this), but that level of detail isn't really necessary for a question like this - the asker is interested in an aberration in normal speech patterns, not detailed grammatical laws. Saying that 'the' means something specific (i.e. special) is as good as saying that it defines it as familiar/recognisable/ specific. Thanks for pointing it out, but I don't think any amendment is called for.
– Joseph Paduch
2 days ago
@JanusBahsJacquet in other contexts, you get constructions like 'the one and only', which more clearly demonstrates how 'the' makes something special. He was the one. Worship a god, I'll worship the God. It's not common, but when 'the' is used out of place - such as the Sheldon, it can imply uniqueness.
– Joseph Paduch
2 days ago
add a comment |
Thank you very much, Joseph!
– Oksana
Dec 7 at 11:15
The definite article does not in any way imply that something special, important or one of a kind. It only implies that the thing you’re talking about is expected to be familiar and recognisable by the listener in the scope of the current conversation. For example, in your last sentence, you use it no less than three times (“the place value” [whatever exactly that is], “the word”, and “the sentence”), none of which denote things that are special, important, or one of a kind.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Dec 7 at 17:13
To Oksana: no worries, glad it helped. @JanusBahsJacquet you're absolutely correct (in certain contexts, including this), but that level of detail isn't really necessary for a question like this - the asker is interested in an aberration in normal speech patterns, not detailed grammatical laws. Saying that 'the' means something specific (i.e. special) is as good as saying that it defines it as familiar/recognisable/ specific. Thanks for pointing it out, but I don't think any amendment is called for.
– Joseph Paduch
2 days ago
@JanusBahsJacquet in other contexts, you get constructions like 'the one and only', which more clearly demonstrates how 'the' makes something special. He was the one. Worship a god, I'll worship the God. It's not common, but when 'the' is used out of place - such as the Sheldon, it can imply uniqueness.
– Joseph Paduch
2 days ago
Thank you very much, Joseph!
– Oksana
Dec 7 at 11:15
Thank you very much, Joseph!
– Oksana
Dec 7 at 11:15
The definite article does not in any way imply that something special, important or one of a kind. It only implies that the thing you’re talking about is expected to be familiar and recognisable by the listener in the scope of the current conversation. For example, in your last sentence, you use it no less than three times (“the place value” [whatever exactly that is], “the word”, and “the sentence”), none of which denote things that are special, important, or one of a kind.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Dec 7 at 17:13
The definite article does not in any way imply that something special, important or one of a kind. It only implies that the thing you’re talking about is expected to be familiar and recognisable by the listener in the scope of the current conversation. For example, in your last sentence, you use it no less than three times (“the place value” [whatever exactly that is], “the word”, and “the sentence”), none of which denote things that are special, important, or one of a kind.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Dec 7 at 17:13
To Oksana: no worries, glad it helped. @JanusBahsJacquet you're absolutely correct (in certain contexts, including this), but that level of detail isn't really necessary for a question like this - the asker is interested in an aberration in normal speech patterns, not detailed grammatical laws. Saying that 'the' means something specific (i.e. special) is as good as saying that it defines it as familiar/recognisable/ specific. Thanks for pointing it out, but I don't think any amendment is called for.
– Joseph Paduch
2 days ago
To Oksana: no worries, glad it helped. @JanusBahsJacquet you're absolutely correct (in certain contexts, including this), but that level of detail isn't really necessary for a question like this - the asker is interested in an aberration in normal speech patterns, not detailed grammatical laws. Saying that 'the' means something specific (i.e. special) is as good as saying that it defines it as familiar/recognisable/ specific. Thanks for pointing it out, but I don't think any amendment is called for.
– Joseph Paduch
2 days ago
@JanusBahsJacquet in other contexts, you get constructions like 'the one and only', which more clearly demonstrates how 'the' makes something special. He was the one. Worship a god, I'll worship the God. It's not common, but when 'the' is used out of place - such as the Sheldon, it can imply uniqueness.
– Joseph Paduch
2 days ago
@JanusBahsJacquet in other contexts, you get constructions like 'the one and only', which more clearly demonstrates how 'the' makes something special. He was the one. Worship a god, I'll worship the God. It's not common, but when 'the' is used out of place - such as the Sheldon, it can imply uniqueness.
– Joseph Paduch
2 days ago
add a comment |
Oksana is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Oksana is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Oksana is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Oksana is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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1
It's used for comedic effect. While correct grammar prohibits
thebefore a person's name; by usingtheSheldon is given the status of an object, a robot. It has the added advantage of being a symmetrical callback to the last line.– Tushar Raj
Dec 7 at 10:21