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Posts: 4495

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Q: English grammar question...

a friend of mine, Chinese English teacher @ a public Middle School in Shandong, just asked me a grammar question and I can't answer it.  Maybe I could if I strained the brain, but I'm not feeling like it, so I thought I would ask here.

She asks why do we use the article 'the' for the word combination 'a map of the USA; a map of the world; etc. etc.,,, but we don't use 'the' for china, canada, australia, germany, etc. etc.,,,,

Any easy way to explain this crazy Anglais to our second-language learner friends?

6 years 10 weeks ago in  Teaching & Learning - China

 
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One is tempted to be a jerk and just say "No why!" Seriously though, icnif77's link to the British Council is probably the way to go.

icnif77:

I am sitting in strange country's (Bulgaria) motel room, waiting for new Invitation letter. Today is day 5 since it was submitted to cops .... some 15 more days to go.

I am also broke ... I mean, not really broke, but it's Sunday and all banks are closed, so I don't have any paper money of local currency ... with lite snow outside .... 

6 years 10 weeks ago
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ambivalentmace:

beautiful ladies in Bulgaria, your making me jealous, had some great times there in the 80's when everything including the women were very cheap. one of the best drives in the world was crazy trip by car from Amsterdam to Bulgaria. If you want a girlfriend there, check out the bars near the medical school in Sofia, women from all over the world , damn we can swap places.

6 years 10 weeks ago
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ambivalentmace:

If you get some money, check out the ancient city of Nesebar and drink some local (brandy wine) Rakia while your there.

6 years 10 weeks ago
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icnif77:

Since, I am hanging online all the time, I have problems with 'days of the week' ... I never know which 'day is today' ...  unless puter's Calendar alerts me to some duties at particular day.

 

I missed 'Friday' and 'Saturday' and last night I realised 'tomorrow is Sunday' and no local money in my pocket.

It's cold (some -2*C or more), so I am in my bed since 2 AM.

 

Ladies are beautiful anywhere you go.... I spoke to my boss about Anatolia as possibility of new visa pick-up. I had a look online and Anatolians are lassies, too. All brunettes.

Even in Istanbul, I saw some 'movie stars' without masks on the faces ...

Rakia is fruit schnapps (40 vol. alch., sometimes more ..), very heavy feelings next day ...

6 years 10 weeks ago
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6 years 10 weeks ago
 
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Show this A:

 

''In complete sentence definite article '' ..... the USA ...'' must be used, and in your example could be 'map of USA' or ''map of 'insert name of any other country."

 

https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/8169/the-usa-versus-usa

 

Also show this one on "usage of definite article 'the'':

 

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/determiners-a...

 

 

Same in example 'a map of the world': " In complete sentence definite article must be used and in your example I'd say 'world map', instead ...."

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6 years 10 weeks ago
 
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One is tempted to be a jerk and just say "No why!" Seriously though, icnif77's link to the British Council is probably the way to go.

icnif77:

I am sitting in strange country's (Bulgaria) motel room, waiting for new Invitation letter. Today is day 5 since it was submitted to cops .... some 15 more days to go.

I am also broke ... I mean, not really broke, but it's Sunday and all banks are closed, so I don't have any paper money of local currency ... with lite snow outside .... 

6 years 10 weeks ago
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ambivalentmace:

beautiful ladies in Bulgaria, your making me jealous, had some great times there in the 80's when everything including the women were very cheap. one of the best drives in the world was crazy trip by car from Amsterdam to Bulgaria. If you want a girlfriend there, check out the bars near the medical school in Sofia, women from all over the world , damn we can swap places.

6 years 10 weeks ago
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ambivalentmace:

If you get some money, check out the ancient city of Nesebar and drink some local (brandy wine) Rakia while your there.

6 years 10 weeks ago
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icnif77:

Since, I am hanging online all the time, I have problems with 'days of the week' ... I never know which 'day is today' ...  unless puter's Calendar alerts me to some duties at particular day.

 

I missed 'Friday' and 'Saturday' and last night I realised 'tomorrow is Sunday' and no local money in my pocket.

It's cold (some -2*C or more), so I am in my bed since 2 AM.

 

Ladies are beautiful anywhere you go.... I spoke to my boss about Anatolia as possibility of new visa pick-up. I had a look online and Anatolians are lassies, too. All brunettes.

Even in Istanbul, I saw some 'movie stars' without masks on the faces ...

Rakia is fruit schnapps (40 vol. alch., sometimes more ..), very heavy feelings next day ...

6 years 10 weeks ago
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6 years 10 weeks ago
 
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yep,,,, looks like 77 saved the day again!   damn good article explaining 'The'.

 

Благодаря

icnif77:

I recognise some of the Russian letters, buTT .... it doesn't help if you don't know all, i.e if you don't know Russian 'B' is actually 'V' ...

 

I can find most answers on English grammar on web. Just stick any Q you have in 'search' and you'll get many answers.

 

I can't remember Q I got in China considering two English words 'hero' and 'EUR'. It was some pronunciation mimic ....

... Chinese Qs on English Grammar were always peculiar.

6 years 10 weeks ago
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6 years 10 weeks ago
 
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map of america ,

map of the United States of America, formal name is the article "The United States of America"

 

 

map of China

map of the Republic of China formal name is "The Republic of China".

 

 

 

ambivalentmace:

map of Germany

map of "The Federal Republic of Germany"

6 years 10 weeks ago
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ambivalentmace:

map of Australia

 

map of "The Commonwealth of Australia"

6 years 10 weeks ago
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icnif77:

Stop reading out of my web link .... 

 

6 years 10 weeks ago
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ambivalentmace:

Canada official name is just "Canada", no article in the formal name.

6 years 10 weeks ago
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ambivalentmace:

I did not read your link, sorry, I just got the official names from wikipedia, why would I ever take advice from a website in Britain, I don't speak the queen's English.

6 years 10 weeks ago
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icnif77:

I am kidding! Your explanation is the same/similar as at BC web link. 

You must be 'Orange joo's' supporter ... LOLOLOL

6 years 10 weeks ago
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ambivalentmace:

yes, i want to buy my wife a "Trump Chi" car but they dont come in orange, cool, the world so unfair sometimesbut I think I can get some good acrylic enamel auto paint from Japan and a paint sprayer from Gemany and repaint the car myself.

6 years 10 weeks ago
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icnif77:

Ambi, do you know how to edit your comment and add some text to the same comment?

 

You are keep 'commenting' but you could all post under one comment.

 

1. Click 'edit' at your comment.

2. Add '<p>' to the ending of comment '</p>'.

3. Write addition to the old comment and finish it with '</p>' at the end of addition. Voila!

6 years 10 weeks ago
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ambivalentmace:

I am just lazy but if someone reads a comment and then you edit it, they may not go back and read the re-edit and get the point.

6 years 10 weeks ago
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icnif77:

I am keep editing my writings and sometimes mark it as 'add-it' ... 

6 years 10 weeks ago
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icnif77:

I missed flight with Pegasus at my first attempt to reach Istanbul ...

 

Plane With 162 On Board Skids Off Turkish Runway, Nearly Falls Into Black Sea

The passenger jet of a Turkish low-cost carrier with 162 passengers on board slid off the slippery runway in the Turkish city of Trabzon Saturday night, nearly falling into the Black Sea.

 
  • 12708
  • JAN 14, 2018 11:57 AM

Click on link to see plane's pic ...

6 years 10 weeks ago
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6 years 10 weeks ago
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diverdude1:

yeah, just reading that story. close call!  haha,,, so, that's why they bug you about wearing seatbelts?

6 years 10 weeks ago
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6 years 10 weeks ago
 
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Who needs a Map of The Middle Kingdom?
Or the Islands of Hawaii?

icnif77:

ras-Putin said, Pot-Belly Jr. is the winner ... in chatting with Orange joo ... 

6 years 10 weeks ago
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Answer of the DayMORE >>
A:  "... through ..."?  Only "through" comes to mind is "S
A: "... through ..."?  Only "through" comes to mind is "Shenzhen agent can connect you with an employer, who's authorized to hire waigouren ... and can sponsor Z visa." It's not like every 10th person you meet in Shenzhen's hood can sponsor work visa ...  The only way to change from student to labourer visa is just a regular way by: 1. Finding an employer, who'll apply for an Invitation letter; 2. Exit China and apply for Z visa in your home country's Chinese embassy; 3. Enter China in 30-days after Z visa was stamped into your travelling instrument ...As I am aware, you won't be able to switch to Working permit by remaining in China....,so make ready for a return to your home .... -- icnif77