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(the) electric motor

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


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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
Poland
Local time: 19:16
English translation:Yes, the use of the definite article is correct.
Explanation:
*
Selected response from:

Jack Doughty
Local time: 18:16
Grading comment
Thank you.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +14Yes, the use of the definite article is correct.
Jack Doughty


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +14
Yes, the use of the definite article is correct.


Explanation:
*

Jack Doughty
Local time: 18:16
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 165
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  xxxkathy_phong: kathy_phong
1 hr
  -> Thank you.
agree  xxxmediamatrix: 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  Phong Le
5 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  Andycarruk
10 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  Jenni Lukac: great list of comments from everyone!
11 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  Jeanette Phillips
14 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  Goldcoaster: and here's the lucky 13!
14 hrs
  -> Thank you. Unlucky for some, they say, I hope not for me.
agree  jccantrell: with Tony and Peter above.
18 hrs
  -> Thank you.
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