Timeline for Is it not correct to say "I have the brown eyes" instead of "I have brown eyes", and why?
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
5 events
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| Jan 8, 2019 at 21:57 | comment | added | TimR | @Mari-Lou A: You don't need to tell me what you think the OP is asking. I answer as I see fit. Better to spend your efforts coaching the OP not to overlook the single most important thing about articles: CONTEXT. OP glosses over that critical point by asking why it is wrong "here". There is no "here" there. | |
| Jan 8, 2019 at 21:09 | comment | added | supercat | @Mari-LouA: The use of the definite article strongly suggests that the person intends to imply something more than the color of their eyes. What is implied may vary depending upon context, but saying "I have the brown eyes" might in some contexts imply e.g. "The person in the photograph with brown eyes is me". Use of the definite article is only appropriate when such implication is intended, and is inappropriate otherwise. | |
| Jan 8, 2019 at 8:32 | comment | added | Mari-Lou A |
The OP is not asking in which circumstances could "the" be used with a physical trait, but why "I have the brown eyes" is incorrect/inappropriate However, I was told that "I have the brown eyes." is not correct here.
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| Jan 7, 2019 at 17:30 | history | edited | TimR | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
added 129 characters in body
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| Jan 7, 2019 at 17:24 | history | answered | TimR | CC BY-SA 4.0 |