Zbig Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Article with plate
"A full hour later, the schnitzel arrived on plates. My stomach churning, I took in the meat sizzling on a beautiful porcelain plate."
Is the "a" okay there? This beautiful porcelain plate has already been mentioned - it's one of the plates that arrived and the one that was placed before me. But nothing was said that it was beautiful and porcelain, so can I reintroduce the plate like that? Does this make any sense what I am asking?
Zbignew
Is the "a" okay there? This beautiful porcelain plate has already been mentioned - it's one of the plates that arrived and the one that was placed before me. But nothing was said that it was beautiful and porcelain, so can I reintroduce the plate like that? Does this make any sense what I am asking?
Zbignew
Top answer
Yes, the 'a' is fine. It makes it seem like an introduction of new information. 'The' does not quite have that impact.
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0
Yes, the 'a' is fine. It makes it seem like an introduction of new information.
'The' does not quite have that impact. But 'the' is not wrong either.
It's really a very small stylistic choice made by the writer.
Clive
'The' does not quite have that impact. But 'the' is not wrong either.
It's really a very small stylistic choice made by the writer.
Clive
00
I agree with Clive.
To me it's like saying:
My stomach churning, I took in the meat sizzling on a plate that was beautiful and porcelain.
Although, as you say, the plate was indeed technically mentioned before, the "a" introduces new information.
You can also use "the" - the reader will infer that it's one of the plates that arrived.
Like Clive said, it's a minor st
To me it's like saying:
My stomach churning, I took in the meat sizzling on a plate that was beautiful and porcelain.
Although, as you say, the plate was indeed technically mentioned before, the "a" introduces new information.
You can also use "the" - the reader will infer that it's one of the plates that arrived.
Like Clive said, it's a minor st
00