Why adding the article “the” when it is not needed?
There are many sentences, most are titles, that have the before nouns when they seem okay without it. I assume it is added to over-define them but not very sure.
Here is a title that uses "the" excessively:
GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE
"People" by itself is defined and doesn't need an article.
And here is another title that has the same issue:
About the Java Technology
So, why it is added?
sentence-construction usage definite-article
add a comment |
There are many sentences, most are titles, that have the before nouns when they seem okay without it. I assume it is added to over-define them but not very sure.
Here is a title that uses "the" excessively:
GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE
"People" by itself is defined and doesn't need an article.
And here is another title that has the same issue:
About the Java Technology
So, why it is added?
sentence-construction usage definite-article
I think the second example may just be poor writing. The very next sentence is, "Java technology is both a programming language and a platform."
– David K
8 hours ago
I find it the same as writing an article with a title like: "Let's talk about the weather". And then defining the weather -for some reasons- like this: Weather is climate conditions...etc. It wouldn't be: The weather is climate...etc
– Tasneem Zh
8 hours ago
Maybe, except that "talk about the weather" has a specific idiomatic meaning. For example, if I say it rained in my town yesterday, I am talking about the weather. If it were normal to say, "The Java technology was particularly fine today," then "talking about the weather" would be a proper analogy for talking "about the Java technology."
– David K
6 hours ago
add a comment |
There are many sentences, most are titles, that have the before nouns when they seem okay without it. I assume it is added to over-define them but not very sure.
Here is a title that uses "the" excessively:
GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE
"People" by itself is defined and doesn't need an article.
And here is another title that has the same issue:
About the Java Technology
So, why it is added?
sentence-construction usage definite-article
There are many sentences, most are titles, that have the before nouns when they seem okay without it. I assume it is added to over-define them but not very sure.
Here is a title that uses "the" excessively:
GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE
"People" by itself is defined and doesn't need an article.
And here is another title that has the same issue:
About the Java Technology
So, why it is added?
sentence-construction usage definite-article
sentence-construction usage definite-article
asked 13 hours ago
Tasneem ZhTasneem Zh
655117
655117
I think the second example may just be poor writing. The very next sentence is, "Java technology is both a programming language and a platform."
– David K
8 hours ago
I find it the same as writing an article with a title like: "Let's talk about the weather". And then defining the weather -for some reasons- like this: Weather is climate conditions...etc. It wouldn't be: The weather is climate...etc
– Tasneem Zh
8 hours ago
Maybe, except that "talk about the weather" has a specific idiomatic meaning. For example, if I say it rained in my town yesterday, I am talking about the weather. If it were normal to say, "The Java technology was particularly fine today," then "talking about the weather" would be a proper analogy for talking "about the Java technology."
– David K
6 hours ago
add a comment |
I think the second example may just be poor writing. The very next sentence is, "Java technology is both a programming language and a platform."
– David K
8 hours ago
I find it the same as writing an article with a title like: "Let's talk about the weather". And then defining the weather -for some reasons- like this: Weather is climate conditions...etc. It wouldn't be: The weather is climate...etc
– Tasneem Zh
8 hours ago
Maybe, except that "talk about the weather" has a specific idiomatic meaning. For example, if I say it rained in my town yesterday, I am talking about the weather. If it were normal to say, "The Java technology was particularly fine today," then "talking about the weather" would be a proper analogy for talking "about the Java technology."
– David K
6 hours ago
I think the second example may just be poor writing. The very next sentence is, "Java technology is both a programming language and a platform."
– David K
8 hours ago
I think the second example may just be poor writing. The very next sentence is, "Java technology is both a programming language and a platform."
– David K
8 hours ago
I find it the same as writing an article with a title like: "Let's talk about the weather". And then defining the weather -for some reasons- like this: Weather is climate conditions...etc. It wouldn't be: The weather is climate...etc
– Tasneem Zh
8 hours ago
I find it the same as writing an article with a title like: "Let's talk about the weather". And then defining the weather -for some reasons- like this: Weather is climate conditions...etc. It wouldn't be: The weather is climate...etc
– Tasneem Zh
8 hours ago
Maybe, except that "talk about the weather" has a specific idiomatic meaning. For example, if I say it rained in my town yesterday, I am talking about the weather. If it were normal to say, "The Java technology was particularly fine today," then "talking about the weather" would be a proper analogy for talking "about the Java technology."
– David K
6 hours ago
Maybe, except that "talk about the weather" has a specific idiomatic meaning. For example, if I say it rained in my town yesterday, I am talking about the weather. If it were normal to say, "The Java technology was particularly fine today," then "talking about the weather" would be a proper analogy for talking "about the Java technology."
– David K
6 hours ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
Good question. When you say "the people", rather than just "people", the meaning is something like "all people" as opposed to "some people". That is,
Government of people, by people, for people
would mean that the government is made up of and is intended for some people. That's not a very effective or inspiring message. I would also say that "the people" usually means "the common masses", as in, ordinary, non-elite people.
Also see definition 4 in Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the :
used as a function word before a noun or a substantivized adjective to indicate reference to a group as a whole
// the elite
As for "the Java technology", I think that's more like definition 2a1 in Merriam-Webster (same link as above):
used as a function word with a noun modified by an adjective or by an attributive noun to limit the application of the modified noun to that specified by the adjective or by the attributive noun
// the right answer
// Peter the Great
"Java Technology" doesn't really have a different meaning from "the Java Technology", but I think the the emphasizes the fact that it is Java and not some other technology.
add a comment |
The answer is - Emphasis
Dictionary result for emphasis
/ˈɛmfəsɪs/
noun
noun: emphasis; plural noun: emphases
1.
special importance, value, or prominence given to something.
"they placed great emphasis on the individual's freedom"
synonyms: prominence, importance, significance; More
stress, weight, attention, priority, urgency, force, forcibleness, insistence, underlining, underscoring, intensity;
import, power, moment, mark, pre-eminence;
weightage
"the curriculum for 16-year-olds gave more emphasis to reading and writing"
2.
stress given to a word or words when speaking to indicate particular importance.
"inflection and emphasis can change the meaning of what is said"
synonyms: stress, accent, accentuation, weight, force, prominence; More
beat;
ictus
"the emphasis is on the word ‘little’"
vigour or intensity of expression.
"he spoke with emphasis and with complete conviction"
Example one, with the emphasis -
GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE
The article "The" is used to signify that the Government that is made by (non-political/common) people, and only for people (and no one else). 'The' is talking about specific people. (This means people like the reader of the message)
However, without the emphasis -
GOVERNMENT OF PEOPLE, BY PEOPLE, FOR PEOPLE
This is true for any government. As far as I know, there are no governments for aliens, by aliens or of aliens. Every government is of some people, by some people, and for some people.
Thank you for answering. You have attached all the possible meanings that would come out when using emphasis. Then, you explained that it is used for specification in example #1, but that wasn't mentioned in the gray box. So, could you clarify that more since I happened to think that too?
– Tasneem Zh
9 hours ago
2
As both this and the slightly later answer explain, the meaning of a sentence can be changed significantly by replacing "people" by "the people." That is not an example of "emphasis." Setting a sentence in bold face, as I just did, is an example of emphasis.
– David K
8 hours ago
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "481"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fell.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f199217%2fwhy-adding-the-article-the-when-it-is-not-needed%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Good question. When you say "the people", rather than just "people", the meaning is something like "all people" as opposed to "some people". That is,
Government of people, by people, for people
would mean that the government is made up of and is intended for some people. That's not a very effective or inspiring message. I would also say that "the people" usually means "the common masses", as in, ordinary, non-elite people.
Also see definition 4 in Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the :
used as a function word before a noun or a substantivized adjective to indicate reference to a group as a whole
// the elite
As for "the Java technology", I think that's more like definition 2a1 in Merriam-Webster (same link as above):
used as a function word with a noun modified by an adjective or by an attributive noun to limit the application of the modified noun to that specified by the adjective or by the attributive noun
// the right answer
// Peter the Great
"Java Technology" doesn't really have a different meaning from "the Java Technology", but I think the the emphasizes the fact that it is Java and not some other technology.
add a comment |
Good question. When you say "the people", rather than just "people", the meaning is something like "all people" as opposed to "some people". That is,
Government of people, by people, for people
would mean that the government is made up of and is intended for some people. That's not a very effective or inspiring message. I would also say that "the people" usually means "the common masses", as in, ordinary, non-elite people.
Also see definition 4 in Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the :
used as a function word before a noun or a substantivized adjective to indicate reference to a group as a whole
// the elite
As for "the Java technology", I think that's more like definition 2a1 in Merriam-Webster (same link as above):
used as a function word with a noun modified by an adjective or by an attributive noun to limit the application of the modified noun to that specified by the adjective or by the attributive noun
// the right answer
// Peter the Great
"Java Technology" doesn't really have a different meaning from "the Java Technology", but I think the the emphasizes the fact that it is Java and not some other technology.
add a comment |
Good question. When you say "the people", rather than just "people", the meaning is something like "all people" as opposed to "some people". That is,
Government of people, by people, for people
would mean that the government is made up of and is intended for some people. That's not a very effective or inspiring message. I would also say that "the people" usually means "the common masses", as in, ordinary, non-elite people.
Also see definition 4 in Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the :
used as a function word before a noun or a substantivized adjective to indicate reference to a group as a whole
// the elite
As for "the Java technology", I think that's more like definition 2a1 in Merriam-Webster (same link as above):
used as a function word with a noun modified by an adjective or by an attributive noun to limit the application of the modified noun to that specified by the adjective or by the attributive noun
// the right answer
// Peter the Great
"Java Technology" doesn't really have a different meaning from "the Java Technology", but I think the the emphasizes the fact that it is Java and not some other technology.
Good question. When you say "the people", rather than just "people", the meaning is something like "all people" as opposed to "some people". That is,
Government of people, by people, for people
would mean that the government is made up of and is intended for some people. That's not a very effective or inspiring message. I would also say that "the people" usually means "the common masses", as in, ordinary, non-elite people.
Also see definition 4 in Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the :
used as a function word before a noun or a substantivized adjective to indicate reference to a group as a whole
// the elite
As for "the Java technology", I think that's more like definition 2a1 in Merriam-Webster (same link as above):
used as a function word with a noun modified by an adjective or by an attributive noun to limit the application of the modified noun to that specified by the adjective or by the attributive noun
// the right answer
// Peter the Great
"Java Technology" doesn't really have a different meaning from "the Java Technology", but I think the the emphasizes the fact that it is Java and not some other technology.
answered 12 hours ago
MixolydianMixolydian
1,60118
1,60118
add a comment |
add a comment |
The answer is - Emphasis
Dictionary result for emphasis
/ˈɛmfəsɪs/
noun
noun: emphasis; plural noun: emphases
1.
special importance, value, or prominence given to something.
"they placed great emphasis on the individual's freedom"
synonyms: prominence, importance, significance; More
stress, weight, attention, priority, urgency, force, forcibleness, insistence, underlining, underscoring, intensity;
import, power, moment, mark, pre-eminence;
weightage
"the curriculum for 16-year-olds gave more emphasis to reading and writing"
2.
stress given to a word or words when speaking to indicate particular importance.
"inflection and emphasis can change the meaning of what is said"
synonyms: stress, accent, accentuation, weight, force, prominence; More
beat;
ictus
"the emphasis is on the word ‘little’"
vigour or intensity of expression.
"he spoke with emphasis and with complete conviction"
Example one, with the emphasis -
GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE
The article "The" is used to signify that the Government that is made by (non-political/common) people, and only for people (and no one else). 'The' is talking about specific people. (This means people like the reader of the message)
However, without the emphasis -
GOVERNMENT OF PEOPLE, BY PEOPLE, FOR PEOPLE
This is true for any government. As far as I know, there are no governments for aliens, by aliens or of aliens. Every government is of some people, by some people, and for some people.
Thank you for answering. You have attached all the possible meanings that would come out when using emphasis. Then, you explained that it is used for specification in example #1, but that wasn't mentioned in the gray box. So, could you clarify that more since I happened to think that too?
– Tasneem Zh
9 hours ago
2
As both this and the slightly later answer explain, the meaning of a sentence can be changed significantly by replacing "people" by "the people." That is not an example of "emphasis." Setting a sentence in bold face, as I just did, is an example of emphasis.
– David K
8 hours ago
add a comment |
The answer is - Emphasis
Dictionary result for emphasis
/ˈɛmfəsɪs/
noun
noun: emphasis; plural noun: emphases
1.
special importance, value, or prominence given to something.
"they placed great emphasis on the individual's freedom"
synonyms: prominence, importance, significance; More
stress, weight, attention, priority, urgency, force, forcibleness, insistence, underlining, underscoring, intensity;
import, power, moment, mark, pre-eminence;
weightage
"the curriculum for 16-year-olds gave more emphasis to reading and writing"
2.
stress given to a word or words when speaking to indicate particular importance.
"inflection and emphasis can change the meaning of what is said"
synonyms: stress, accent, accentuation, weight, force, prominence; More
beat;
ictus
"the emphasis is on the word ‘little’"
vigour or intensity of expression.
"he spoke with emphasis and with complete conviction"
Example one, with the emphasis -
GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE
The article "The" is used to signify that the Government that is made by (non-political/common) people, and only for people (and no one else). 'The' is talking about specific people. (This means people like the reader of the message)
However, without the emphasis -
GOVERNMENT OF PEOPLE, BY PEOPLE, FOR PEOPLE
This is true for any government. As far as I know, there are no governments for aliens, by aliens or of aliens. Every government is of some people, by some people, and for some people.
Thank you for answering. You have attached all the possible meanings that would come out when using emphasis. Then, you explained that it is used for specification in example #1, but that wasn't mentioned in the gray box. So, could you clarify that more since I happened to think that too?
– Tasneem Zh
9 hours ago
2
As both this and the slightly later answer explain, the meaning of a sentence can be changed significantly by replacing "people" by "the people." That is not an example of "emphasis." Setting a sentence in bold face, as I just did, is an example of emphasis.
– David K
8 hours ago
add a comment |
The answer is - Emphasis
Dictionary result for emphasis
/ˈɛmfəsɪs/
noun
noun: emphasis; plural noun: emphases
1.
special importance, value, or prominence given to something.
"they placed great emphasis on the individual's freedom"
synonyms: prominence, importance, significance; More
stress, weight, attention, priority, urgency, force, forcibleness, insistence, underlining, underscoring, intensity;
import, power, moment, mark, pre-eminence;
weightage
"the curriculum for 16-year-olds gave more emphasis to reading and writing"
2.
stress given to a word or words when speaking to indicate particular importance.
"inflection and emphasis can change the meaning of what is said"
synonyms: stress, accent, accentuation, weight, force, prominence; More
beat;
ictus
"the emphasis is on the word ‘little’"
vigour or intensity of expression.
"he spoke with emphasis and with complete conviction"
Example one, with the emphasis -
GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE
The article "The" is used to signify that the Government that is made by (non-political/common) people, and only for people (and no one else). 'The' is talking about specific people. (This means people like the reader of the message)
However, without the emphasis -
GOVERNMENT OF PEOPLE, BY PEOPLE, FOR PEOPLE
This is true for any government. As far as I know, there are no governments for aliens, by aliens or of aliens. Every government is of some people, by some people, and for some people.
The answer is - Emphasis
Dictionary result for emphasis
/ˈɛmfəsɪs/
noun
noun: emphasis; plural noun: emphases
1.
special importance, value, or prominence given to something.
"they placed great emphasis on the individual's freedom"
synonyms: prominence, importance, significance; More
stress, weight, attention, priority, urgency, force, forcibleness, insistence, underlining, underscoring, intensity;
import, power, moment, mark, pre-eminence;
weightage
"the curriculum for 16-year-olds gave more emphasis to reading and writing"
2.
stress given to a word or words when speaking to indicate particular importance.
"inflection and emphasis can change the meaning of what is said"
synonyms: stress, accent, accentuation, weight, force, prominence; More
beat;
ictus
"the emphasis is on the word ‘little’"
vigour or intensity of expression.
"he spoke with emphasis and with complete conviction"
Example one, with the emphasis -
GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE
The article "The" is used to signify that the Government that is made by (non-political/common) people, and only for people (and no one else). 'The' is talking about specific people. (This means people like the reader of the message)
However, without the emphasis -
GOVERNMENT OF PEOPLE, BY PEOPLE, FOR PEOPLE
This is true for any government. As far as I know, there are no governments for aliens, by aliens or of aliens. Every government is of some people, by some people, and for some people.
edited 12 hours ago
answered 12 hours ago
HolyprogrammerHolyprogrammer
379111
379111
Thank you for answering. You have attached all the possible meanings that would come out when using emphasis. Then, you explained that it is used for specification in example #1, but that wasn't mentioned in the gray box. So, could you clarify that more since I happened to think that too?
– Tasneem Zh
9 hours ago
2
As both this and the slightly later answer explain, the meaning of a sentence can be changed significantly by replacing "people" by "the people." That is not an example of "emphasis." Setting a sentence in bold face, as I just did, is an example of emphasis.
– David K
8 hours ago
add a comment |
Thank you for answering. You have attached all the possible meanings that would come out when using emphasis. Then, you explained that it is used for specification in example #1, but that wasn't mentioned in the gray box. So, could you clarify that more since I happened to think that too?
– Tasneem Zh
9 hours ago
2
As both this and the slightly later answer explain, the meaning of a sentence can be changed significantly by replacing "people" by "the people." That is not an example of "emphasis." Setting a sentence in bold face, as I just did, is an example of emphasis.
– David K
8 hours ago
Thank you for answering. You have attached all the possible meanings that would come out when using emphasis. Then, you explained that it is used for specification in example #1, but that wasn't mentioned in the gray box. So, could you clarify that more since I happened to think that too?
– Tasneem Zh
9 hours ago
Thank you for answering. You have attached all the possible meanings that would come out when using emphasis. Then, you explained that it is used for specification in example #1, but that wasn't mentioned in the gray box. So, could you clarify that more since I happened to think that too?
– Tasneem Zh
9 hours ago
2
2
As both this and the slightly later answer explain, the meaning of a sentence can be changed significantly by replacing "people" by "the people." That is not an example of "emphasis." Setting a sentence in bold face, as I just did, is an example of emphasis.
– David K
8 hours ago
As both this and the slightly later answer explain, the meaning of a sentence can be changed significantly by replacing "people" by "the people." That is not an example of "emphasis." Setting a sentence in bold face, as I just did, is an example of emphasis.
– David K
8 hours ago
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language Learners Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fell.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f199217%2fwhy-adding-the-article-the-when-it-is-not-needed%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
I think the second example may just be poor writing. The very next sentence is, "Java technology is both a programming language and a platform."
– David K
8 hours ago
I find it the same as writing an article with a title like: "Let's talk about the weather". And then defining the weather -for some reasons- like this: Weather is climate conditions...etc. It wouldn't be: The weather is climate...etc
– Tasneem Zh
8 hours ago
Maybe, except that "talk about the weather" has a specific idiomatic meaning. For example, if I say it rained in my town yesterday, I am talking about the weather. If it were normal to say, "The Java technology was particularly fine today," then "talking about the weather" would be a proper analogy for talking "about the Java technology."
– David K
6 hours ago