Definite or indefinite article when describing a historical personDefinite and indefinite articles when introducing a personDefinite or indefinite article in “the/a devil's advocate”Question on indefinite article (Part 2)Definite and indefinite articles when referring to generic abstract objectsWhen is dropping the definite (or indefinite) article permissible and why?Definite Article with Prepositional PhrasesDefinite articleUsing the definite article describing a general thingDefinite and indefinite articles when introducing a persondefinite vs indefinite article before noun + “of”

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Definite or indefinite article when describing a historical person


Definite and indefinite articles when introducing a personDefinite or indefinite article in “the/a devil's advocate”Question on indefinite article (Part 2)Definite and indefinite articles when referring to generic abstract objectsWhen is dropping the definite (or indefinite) article permissible and why?Definite Article with Prepositional PhrasesDefinite articleUsing the definite article describing a general thingDefinite and indefinite articles when introducing a persondefinite vs indefinite article before noun + “of”






.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;








0















According to this question:
Definite and indefinite articles when introducing a person
one can use a definite, indefinite or no article at all when introducing a particular person. Which option is the most natural in case of a historical figure, like




ruins of a medieval castle built by the Polish king Casimir the Great




or




ruins of a medieval castle built by a Polish king Casimir the Great




and generally, are both definite and indefinite articles correct here? It will be used as a one-off sentence describing a picture on a stock photography site. Thanks in advance.










share|improve this question



















  • 1





    Are you ruling out the no article option?

    – Shoe
    Mar 29 at 9:01











  • @Shoe - built by Polish king Casimir... doesn't sound natural to me, but I may be wrong.

    – user342011
    Mar 29 at 9:02







  • 1





    It sounds natural to me. It is also the most succinct, which may be an advantage. Your second option seems to need a comma after king. But I'll await answers from others who have more time to pursue this interesting issue.

    – Shoe
    Mar 29 at 9:15











  • It depends on what you’re trying to say. That it was an historical person is irrelevant. Compare: sandcastle built by a/the/[null] tourist[,] Touristy Tourist.

    – Lawrence
    Mar 29 at 9:21











  • @Lawrence - It should be a one sentence description of a picture, no other context.

    – user342011
    Mar 29 at 9:25

















0















According to this question:
Definite and indefinite articles when introducing a person
one can use a definite, indefinite or no article at all when introducing a particular person. Which option is the most natural in case of a historical figure, like




ruins of a medieval castle built by the Polish king Casimir the Great




or




ruins of a medieval castle built by a Polish king Casimir the Great




and generally, are both definite and indefinite articles correct here? It will be used as a one-off sentence describing a picture on a stock photography site. Thanks in advance.










share|improve this question



















  • 1





    Are you ruling out the no article option?

    – Shoe
    Mar 29 at 9:01











  • @Shoe - built by Polish king Casimir... doesn't sound natural to me, but I may be wrong.

    – user342011
    Mar 29 at 9:02







  • 1





    It sounds natural to me. It is also the most succinct, which may be an advantage. Your second option seems to need a comma after king. But I'll await answers from others who have more time to pursue this interesting issue.

    – Shoe
    Mar 29 at 9:15











  • It depends on what you’re trying to say. That it was an historical person is irrelevant. Compare: sandcastle built by a/the/[null] tourist[,] Touristy Tourist.

    – Lawrence
    Mar 29 at 9:21











  • @Lawrence - It should be a one sentence description of a picture, no other context.

    – user342011
    Mar 29 at 9:25













0












0








0








According to this question:
Definite and indefinite articles when introducing a person
one can use a definite, indefinite or no article at all when introducing a particular person. Which option is the most natural in case of a historical figure, like




ruins of a medieval castle built by the Polish king Casimir the Great




or




ruins of a medieval castle built by a Polish king Casimir the Great




and generally, are both definite and indefinite articles correct here? It will be used as a one-off sentence describing a picture on a stock photography site. Thanks in advance.










share|improve this question
















According to this question:
Definite and indefinite articles when introducing a person
one can use a definite, indefinite or no article at all when introducing a particular person. Which option is the most natural in case of a historical figure, like




ruins of a medieval castle built by the Polish king Casimir the Great




or




ruins of a medieval castle built by a Polish king Casimir the Great




and generally, are both definite and indefinite articles correct here? It will be used as a one-off sentence describing a picture on a stock photography site. Thanks in advance.







articles definite-articles indefinite-articles






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Mar 29 at 13:58









David Robinson

2,814216




2,814216










asked Mar 29 at 8:42









user342011user342011

82




82







  • 1





    Are you ruling out the no article option?

    – Shoe
    Mar 29 at 9:01











  • @Shoe - built by Polish king Casimir... doesn't sound natural to me, but I may be wrong.

    – user342011
    Mar 29 at 9:02







  • 1





    It sounds natural to me. It is also the most succinct, which may be an advantage. Your second option seems to need a comma after king. But I'll await answers from others who have more time to pursue this interesting issue.

    – Shoe
    Mar 29 at 9:15











  • It depends on what you’re trying to say. That it was an historical person is irrelevant. Compare: sandcastle built by a/the/[null] tourist[,] Touristy Tourist.

    – Lawrence
    Mar 29 at 9:21











  • @Lawrence - It should be a one sentence description of a picture, no other context.

    – user342011
    Mar 29 at 9:25












  • 1





    Are you ruling out the no article option?

    – Shoe
    Mar 29 at 9:01











  • @Shoe - built by Polish king Casimir... doesn't sound natural to me, but I may be wrong.

    – user342011
    Mar 29 at 9:02







  • 1





    It sounds natural to me. It is also the most succinct, which may be an advantage. Your second option seems to need a comma after king. But I'll await answers from others who have more time to pursue this interesting issue.

    – Shoe
    Mar 29 at 9:15











  • It depends on what you’re trying to say. That it was an historical person is irrelevant. Compare: sandcastle built by a/the/[null] tourist[,] Touristy Tourist.

    – Lawrence
    Mar 29 at 9:21











  • @Lawrence - It should be a one sentence description of a picture, no other context.

    – user342011
    Mar 29 at 9:25







1




1





Are you ruling out the no article option?

– Shoe
Mar 29 at 9:01





Are you ruling out the no article option?

– Shoe
Mar 29 at 9:01













@Shoe - built by Polish king Casimir... doesn't sound natural to me, but I may be wrong.

– user342011
Mar 29 at 9:02






@Shoe - built by Polish king Casimir... doesn't sound natural to me, but I may be wrong.

– user342011
Mar 29 at 9:02





1




1





It sounds natural to me. It is also the most succinct, which may be an advantage. Your second option seems to need a comma after king. But I'll await answers from others who have more time to pursue this interesting issue.

– Shoe
Mar 29 at 9:15





It sounds natural to me. It is also the most succinct, which may be an advantage. Your second option seems to need a comma after king. But I'll await answers from others who have more time to pursue this interesting issue.

– Shoe
Mar 29 at 9:15













It depends on what you’re trying to say. That it was an historical person is irrelevant. Compare: sandcastle built by a/the/[null] tourist[,] Touristy Tourist.

– Lawrence
Mar 29 at 9:21





It depends on what you’re trying to say. That it was an historical person is irrelevant. Compare: sandcastle built by a/the/[null] tourist[,] Touristy Tourist.

– Lawrence
Mar 29 at 9:21













@Lawrence - It should be a one sentence description of a picture, no other context.

– user342011
Mar 29 at 9:25





@Lawrence - It should be a one sentence description of a picture, no other context.

– user342011
Mar 29 at 9:25










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















0














They are all grammatically correct but they have slightly different meanings. This is inevitably a bit subjective but I would say the difference is in which bit is the main information and which bit is the additional information:




ruins of a medieval castle built by the Polish king Casimir the Great

ruins of a medieval castle built by Casimir the Great (who was a Polish King)




We see this structure whenever we want to add extra information to a particular person




the famous George Washington

George Washington (who was famous)




This would not make sense if we said




a famous George Washington




as that would make George Washington and Casimir indefinite.




ruins of a medieval castle built by Polish king Casimir the Great




is a slightly clunkier way of saying the same thing.



On the other hand,




ruins of a medieval castle built by a Polish king Casimir the Great

ruins of a medieval castle built by a Polish King (whose name was Casimir the Great)




Here it is clear that the emphasis is on the fact that the builder was a Polish king (hence the indefinite article), to which we have added his name as an afterthought.






share|improve this answer
































    0














    Usually, it would be correct to use the definite form. We know that we're talking about a specific Polish King, whose name was 'Casimir the Great'. When you know that you are referring to a specific person or item, or something that is unique (like the Sun) you would use "the". Unless we know that there are a ton of 'Casimir the Great's, we would use "the".



    In case we're not talking about a specific item, or we're introducing an object for the first time in a conversation, you would use an indefinite article, like "I want an apple." If you wanted a specific apple and the other person knew which apple you were talking about, you would say "the apple".



    Think of it this way. Definite articles are when you are speaking about something definite, or something exact or defined (just my own little tip for remembering). Indefinite articles are for something that is not declared, or unspecified. In certain contexts, you might find people using an indefinite article before a proper noun, and that's when there might be more people or things with the same name or identity. I remember an occasion when my English teacher said that there was a certain graveyard with records of "a William Shakespeare" or something of the sort. But for your given example, I believe it would be most appropriate to use a definite article.






    share|improve this answer






























      0














      Notwithstanding anything else, it depends solely on and is governed by the rules for articles as applicable anywhere -- the context and the semantics. All three are grammatically correct and make sense, only they mean different things.



      meta: OP better add some (more) research effort.






      share|improve this answer























        Your Answer








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        3 Answers
        3






        active

        oldest

        votes








        3 Answers
        3






        active

        oldest

        votes









        active

        oldest

        votes






        active

        oldest

        votes









        0














        They are all grammatically correct but they have slightly different meanings. This is inevitably a bit subjective but I would say the difference is in which bit is the main information and which bit is the additional information:




        ruins of a medieval castle built by the Polish king Casimir the Great

        ruins of a medieval castle built by Casimir the Great (who was a Polish King)




        We see this structure whenever we want to add extra information to a particular person




        the famous George Washington

        George Washington (who was famous)




        This would not make sense if we said




        a famous George Washington




        as that would make George Washington and Casimir indefinite.




        ruins of a medieval castle built by Polish king Casimir the Great




        is a slightly clunkier way of saying the same thing.



        On the other hand,




        ruins of a medieval castle built by a Polish king Casimir the Great

        ruins of a medieval castle built by a Polish King (whose name was Casimir the Great)




        Here it is clear that the emphasis is on the fact that the builder was a Polish king (hence the indefinite article), to which we have added his name as an afterthought.






        share|improve this answer





























          0














          They are all grammatically correct but they have slightly different meanings. This is inevitably a bit subjective but I would say the difference is in which bit is the main information and which bit is the additional information:




          ruins of a medieval castle built by the Polish king Casimir the Great

          ruins of a medieval castle built by Casimir the Great (who was a Polish King)




          We see this structure whenever we want to add extra information to a particular person




          the famous George Washington

          George Washington (who was famous)




          This would not make sense if we said




          a famous George Washington




          as that would make George Washington and Casimir indefinite.




          ruins of a medieval castle built by Polish king Casimir the Great




          is a slightly clunkier way of saying the same thing.



          On the other hand,




          ruins of a medieval castle built by a Polish king Casimir the Great

          ruins of a medieval castle built by a Polish King (whose name was Casimir the Great)




          Here it is clear that the emphasis is on the fact that the builder was a Polish king (hence the indefinite article), to which we have added his name as an afterthought.






          share|improve this answer



























            0












            0








            0







            They are all grammatically correct but they have slightly different meanings. This is inevitably a bit subjective but I would say the difference is in which bit is the main information and which bit is the additional information:




            ruins of a medieval castle built by the Polish king Casimir the Great

            ruins of a medieval castle built by Casimir the Great (who was a Polish King)




            We see this structure whenever we want to add extra information to a particular person




            the famous George Washington

            George Washington (who was famous)




            This would not make sense if we said




            a famous George Washington




            as that would make George Washington and Casimir indefinite.




            ruins of a medieval castle built by Polish king Casimir the Great




            is a slightly clunkier way of saying the same thing.



            On the other hand,




            ruins of a medieval castle built by a Polish king Casimir the Great

            ruins of a medieval castle built by a Polish King (whose name was Casimir the Great)




            Here it is clear that the emphasis is on the fact that the builder was a Polish king (hence the indefinite article), to which we have added his name as an afterthought.






            share|improve this answer















            They are all grammatically correct but they have slightly different meanings. This is inevitably a bit subjective but I would say the difference is in which bit is the main information and which bit is the additional information:




            ruins of a medieval castle built by the Polish king Casimir the Great

            ruins of a medieval castle built by Casimir the Great (who was a Polish King)




            We see this structure whenever we want to add extra information to a particular person




            the famous George Washington

            George Washington (who was famous)




            This would not make sense if we said




            a famous George Washington




            as that would make George Washington and Casimir indefinite.




            ruins of a medieval castle built by Polish king Casimir the Great




            is a slightly clunkier way of saying the same thing.



            On the other hand,




            ruins of a medieval castle built by a Polish king Casimir the Great

            ruins of a medieval castle built by a Polish King (whose name was Casimir the Great)




            Here it is clear that the emphasis is on the fact that the builder was a Polish king (hence the indefinite article), to which we have added his name as an afterthought.







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited Mar 29 at 16:56

























            answered Mar 29 at 13:56









            David RobinsonDavid Robinson

            2,814216




            2,814216























                0














                Usually, it would be correct to use the definite form. We know that we're talking about a specific Polish King, whose name was 'Casimir the Great'. When you know that you are referring to a specific person or item, or something that is unique (like the Sun) you would use "the". Unless we know that there are a ton of 'Casimir the Great's, we would use "the".



                In case we're not talking about a specific item, or we're introducing an object for the first time in a conversation, you would use an indefinite article, like "I want an apple." If you wanted a specific apple and the other person knew which apple you were talking about, you would say "the apple".



                Think of it this way. Definite articles are when you are speaking about something definite, or something exact or defined (just my own little tip for remembering). Indefinite articles are for something that is not declared, or unspecified. In certain contexts, you might find people using an indefinite article before a proper noun, and that's when there might be more people or things with the same name or identity. I remember an occasion when my English teacher said that there was a certain graveyard with records of "a William Shakespeare" or something of the sort. But for your given example, I believe it would be most appropriate to use a definite article.






                share|improve this answer



























                  0














                  Usually, it would be correct to use the definite form. We know that we're talking about a specific Polish King, whose name was 'Casimir the Great'. When you know that you are referring to a specific person or item, or something that is unique (like the Sun) you would use "the". Unless we know that there are a ton of 'Casimir the Great's, we would use "the".



                  In case we're not talking about a specific item, or we're introducing an object for the first time in a conversation, you would use an indefinite article, like "I want an apple." If you wanted a specific apple and the other person knew which apple you were talking about, you would say "the apple".



                  Think of it this way. Definite articles are when you are speaking about something definite, or something exact or defined (just my own little tip for remembering). Indefinite articles are for something that is not declared, or unspecified. In certain contexts, you might find people using an indefinite article before a proper noun, and that's when there might be more people or things with the same name or identity. I remember an occasion when my English teacher said that there was a certain graveyard with records of "a William Shakespeare" or something of the sort. But for your given example, I believe it would be most appropriate to use a definite article.






                  share|improve this answer

























                    0












                    0








                    0







                    Usually, it would be correct to use the definite form. We know that we're talking about a specific Polish King, whose name was 'Casimir the Great'. When you know that you are referring to a specific person or item, or something that is unique (like the Sun) you would use "the". Unless we know that there are a ton of 'Casimir the Great's, we would use "the".



                    In case we're not talking about a specific item, or we're introducing an object for the first time in a conversation, you would use an indefinite article, like "I want an apple." If you wanted a specific apple and the other person knew which apple you were talking about, you would say "the apple".



                    Think of it this way. Definite articles are when you are speaking about something definite, or something exact or defined (just my own little tip for remembering). Indefinite articles are for something that is not declared, or unspecified. In certain contexts, you might find people using an indefinite article before a proper noun, and that's when there might be more people or things with the same name or identity. I remember an occasion when my English teacher said that there was a certain graveyard with records of "a William Shakespeare" or something of the sort. But for your given example, I believe it would be most appropriate to use a definite article.






                    share|improve this answer













                    Usually, it would be correct to use the definite form. We know that we're talking about a specific Polish King, whose name was 'Casimir the Great'. When you know that you are referring to a specific person or item, or something that is unique (like the Sun) you would use "the". Unless we know that there are a ton of 'Casimir the Great's, we would use "the".



                    In case we're not talking about a specific item, or we're introducing an object for the first time in a conversation, you would use an indefinite article, like "I want an apple." If you wanted a specific apple and the other person knew which apple you were talking about, you would say "the apple".



                    Think of it this way. Definite articles are when you are speaking about something definite, or something exact or defined (just my own little tip for remembering). Indefinite articles are for something that is not declared, or unspecified. In certain contexts, you might find people using an indefinite article before a proper noun, and that's when there might be more people or things with the same name or identity. I remember an occasion when my English teacher said that there was a certain graveyard with records of "a William Shakespeare" or something of the sort. But for your given example, I believe it would be most appropriate to use a definite article.







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered Mar 29 at 9:26









                    Artemis HunterArtemis Hunter

                    365




                    365





















                        0














                        Notwithstanding anything else, it depends solely on and is governed by the rules for articles as applicable anywhere -- the context and the semantics. All three are grammatically correct and make sense, only they mean different things.



                        meta: OP better add some (more) research effort.






                        share|improve this answer



























                          0














                          Notwithstanding anything else, it depends solely on and is governed by the rules for articles as applicable anywhere -- the context and the semantics. All three are grammatically correct and make sense, only they mean different things.



                          meta: OP better add some (more) research effort.






                          share|improve this answer

























                            0












                            0








                            0







                            Notwithstanding anything else, it depends solely on and is governed by the rules for articles as applicable anywhere -- the context and the semantics. All three are grammatically correct and make sense, only they mean different things.



                            meta: OP better add some (more) research effort.






                            share|improve this answer













                            Notwithstanding anything else, it depends solely on and is governed by the rules for articles as applicable anywhere -- the context and the semantics. All three are grammatically correct and make sense, only they mean different things.



                            meta: OP better add some (more) research effort.







                            share|improve this answer












                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer










                            answered Mar 29 at 10:06









                            KrisKris

                            33k641124




                            33k641124



























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