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1) A person who is poor has to face a lot of problems in daily life.

2) The person who is poor has to face a lot of problems in daily life.

As far as rules are concerned, we use "definite article " creating restrictive clause . What's the problem with "Indefinite article ". It's always incorrect to use indefinite article? Sentence number (1) incorrect? Please explain.

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  • Is there an appositive in your sentences?
    – P. E. Dant Reinstate Monica
    Commented Aug 24, 2016 at 8:07
  • #P.E. Dant I edited my post please answer now.
    – dz420
    Commented Aug 24, 2016 at 8:19
  • 1
    What rule are you referring to here? Can you expand your question a little? (Either sentence might be perfectly correct in this case.)
    – P. E. Dant Reinstate Monica
    Commented Aug 24, 2016 at 8:23
  • I am referring to restrective clause.Can you give some examples of restrective clauses with "Indefinite articles"?
    – dz420
    Commented Aug 24, 2016 at 8:36
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    @Rompey The salient interpretation is that when using "the" like that, we are referring to any person, cf. "Any person who is poor has to face ...", and also cf. "the person who steals my possessions steals trash".
    – BillJ
    Commented Aug 24, 2016 at 10:02

1 Answer 1

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An indefinite article before a singular countable noun generalizes its context;

A person (in general) who is poor has to face a lot of problems in daily life.

A definite article the before a singular countable noun specifies its context;

The person (who I am talking about) who (also) is poor has to face a lot of problems in daily life.

P.S. A singular countable noun always comes after a determiner, a possessive, or so; eg;

Person who is poor has to face a lot of problems in daily life. -- Incorrect

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