Константин
Could you please explain the difference between these sentences: Can you take the cups from the table ? Can you take cups from the table? How does the article before cups change the meaning.
2024년 3월 12일 오전 6:50
답변 · 10
4
In the second question (without 'the'), you are asking me if I have ability in general to do this. Am I strong enough maybe? This is because without 'the', 'cups' is just in general or all of them. In the first question (with 'the'), you are asking me to remove a specific set of cups - those on the table right now. 'The' tells me, your listener, that you think I know *which* cups you are talking about (the cups that are currently on the table I'll assume). Of course, if you don't say 'the', and I can see a table with cups on it, I'll know what you mean in that situation. I'll just know that you've made a language error and puck up the cups. But there are situations where it won't be clear and will cause confusion.
2024년 3월 12일
1
Claire's answer is very clear. Here is another example: 1. Have you walked the dogs? 2. Have you walked dogs? #1 only makes sense if it is clear from context which dogs you are talking about. In a family with two dogs, this is the normal way to ask if they have recently been walked. #2 asks if the person has ever in his life walked a dog.
2024년 3월 12일
1
the cups именно чашки, а не ложки и не скатерть
2024년 3월 12일
1
It doesn't really change the meaning, but it is less clear and doesn't sound natural when the article is absent.
2024년 3월 12일
Neither sentence has an unambiguous meaning, and the existence or absence of the article doesn’t change the meaning in a consistent way for every possible meaning. For example, if you’re asking whether it’s permissible for people to take cups from the table, then both sound natural and have the same meaning. But if I’m asking you to take all of the cups from the table, I have to say the first. It’s better to learn by seeing natural and unambiguous examples of the language.
2024년 3월 14일
아직도 답을 찾지 못하셨나요?
질문을 남겨보세요. 원어민이 도움을 줄 수 있을 거예요!