Katya
A question about articles Hello folks! I have a bit weird question. Imagine a situation - I have a chair, but I want to replace it with a couch, for example. While I'm replacing it, I want to say a phrase: "Goodbye chair. Hello couch." Do I need to say any articles before these nouns in the phrase? For example, "Goodbye the chair. Hello the couch". My intuition says that I don't need to use any articles in this case, but I want to be sure about it.
Apr 25, 2016 3:30 PM
Answers · 8
3
Your instinct is correct. When we address people (or things!) we use names. We don't have a vocative case in English - or any real cases for that matter - but if we did have a vocative case, this would be it. Just as you might make a name out of 'dog' and say 'Hello, dog' to a dog you see in the park, you'd say "Goodbye chair. Hello couch" to your furniture. It's fine. Don't spend too much time talking to inanimate objects, though. It probably isn't healthy. :)
April 25, 2016
3
No you don't need to use the definite article. However, you are probably not going to get a response.
April 25, 2016
1
I think you don't need to use the article
April 25, 2016
Drake, yeah, I know. It's a hypothetical situation. :) Don't worry, I don't talk to my furniture. :)
April 25, 2016
You don't even have to talk.
April 25, 2016
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