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(the) electric motor

English translation: Yes, the use of the definite article is correct.

19:43 Aug 19, 2009

English to English translations [PRO]
Law/Patents - Linguistics / articles before inventions/patents

English term or phrase: (the) electric motor

In the below sentence:
"His inventions include the electric motor, the generator, the autotransformer, the bicycle dynamo, the radio, the hydro-electric power station, the solar panel, the �Tesla coil� (a resonant transformer circuit) and the fluorescent bulb."

is a definite article the best option before each of the inventions? Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Mateusz Pohoryles KudoZ activity Questions: 55 (none open) Answers: 18 Poland
Local time: 19:21

English translation:Yes, the use of the definite article is correct.

Explanation:
*

Selected response from:

Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:21

Grading comment

Thank you.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +14

Yes, the use of the definite article is correct.

Jack Doughty

Discussion entries: 1

Answers

2 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +14

Yes, the use of the definite article is correct.

Explanation:
*

Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:21
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 145

Grading comment

Thank you.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

sibsab

1 min

-> Thank you.

agree

Judith Hehir

3 mins

-> Thank you.

agree

Tony M: Although in your list it might be left out before CERTAIn of the items, you certainyl couldn't leave them ALL out, so if in doubt, best to leave them all in!

12 mins

-> Thank you, Tony. Your erudite comments are always most instructive.

agree

Peter Moor: Yes. Tony is right, as it may be left off all but from the electic motor (the first one). Better leave them all on.

18 mins

-> Thank you.

agree

Jim Tucker: yes, with all of them - tricky for speakers of Slavic languages - they should know the article would *not* be used before a plural in this setting (if there were one here)

20 mins

-> Thank you. Good point.

agree

Armorel Young: An article of some sort is needed, but only context or wider knowledge will show whether it should be "he invented the electric motor" (the only sort there is) or "he invented an electric motor" (one of several types, perhaps not the one in common use now

1 hr

-> Thank you. A very unlikely hypothesis, it seems to me. but not totally impossible.

agree

kathy_phong: kathy_phong

1 hr

-> Thank you.

agree

mediamatrix: The only word in that list which could, perhaps, drop the definite article is 'radio' - but you would be changing the meaning. Use of 'the' in this situation denotes the 'class' of things, as distinct from individual examples of them.

3 hrs

-> Thank you.

agree