In this example, what articles do we use?
"Who has got a flat?” “They have.”
“What kind of flat they have got?”
“They have got a very big flat.”
“Where is a flat?”
“A flat is in Murmur Street.”
I want to use "the" but not sure about it.
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1"What kind of flat have they got?" You should use the for the last two, since the speakers have established which flat they are talking about.– Kate BuntingCommented Nov 4, 2022 at 8:50
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So in this example: "What kind of flat they have got?" we will answer "They have got the very big flat.”, right?– VenroCommented Nov 4, 2022 at 12:19
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No, I said the last two (and I showed you the right way to ask the question!). They have [got] a very big flat is correct.– Kate BuntingCommented Nov 4, 2022 at 15:54
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1 Answer
The article is for the noun, not for the adverb or the adjective. Take those away and you'd still use the article:
- A flat
- A big flat
- A very big flat
It isn't your use of adverbs or adjectives that determines which article to use - it is the noun and the context. Use the definite article when you are referring to something specific.
"I have a flat" is correct because you haven't specified which flat it is. However, once you have stated that you have 'a flat', it can now be distinguished from other flats because it is yours. So, you might say:
I have a flat. The flat is big.
answered Nov 3, 2022 at 22:18
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When you say you have "a flat", you are referring to "something specific", so that's not the rule. The rule is to use "the" when you're referring to something previously specified in the context. "Specified" and "specific" aren't the same thing– gotube ♦Commented Nov 3, 2022 at 22:26
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So in this example: "What kind of flat they have got?" we will answer "They have got the very big flat.”, right?– VenroCommented Nov 4, 2022 at 10:02