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18:10 Aug 28, 2009
English to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Linguistics / Usage of \
English term or phrase:The
I hope I can ask this question here.
The translator was not an English native speaker.
I stopped worrying about articles usage for the last 4 years, but I remember how! concerned is everybody in Europe about English 'the" and 'a'.
Do I need and article before"Reversibility"
in
Reversibility of the inhibiting effect of MTX allows became the basis of the development of special treatment regimes of chemotherapy with high doses of MTX
P.S. Please pay no attention to the quality of translation, I am not finished yet
Explanation: It makes an abstract noun more specific. "The reversibility of MTX" is the topic being considered, not "reversibility" in general. Maybe it would be clearer with "The reversible nature".
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 34 mins (2009-08-28 18:44:43 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
A more concrete example (based on Swan's Practical English Usage).
"Books are expensive" (general statement). "The books on the table are expensive" (specific statement about particular books).
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 36 mins (2009-08-28 18:47:05 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
I strongly recommend Swan's Practical English Usage, both for non-native speakers wishing to understand the finer points of English and for native speakers trying to explain the peculiarities they don't normally think about!
You asked (in the discussion for your other question) why I cannot participate in the discussion; this is due to the fact that I am a German native speaker, and this linguistic discussion about 'the' needed in the sentence in question, or not, has to be solved by English native speakers.
((I have a 'feeling' of what is correct here, but cannot support it by quoting grammatical rules, and I would agree with -> 'the reversibility of MTX'.))
Right, I know. But isn't it strange that, actually the rule should be used fir defining flowers, but in both cases it refers to all flowers in English, and if it is still definite which flowers, there should be 'the' in the first case too. Ah, rules...
I think it should not be used, but if you could tell me why you answered like this. Thank you a lot
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Answers
26 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +10
Needed here
Explanation: It makes an abstract noun more specific. "The reversibility of MTX" is the topic being considered, not "reversibility" in general. Maybe it would be clearer with "The reversible nature".
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 34 mins (2009-08-28 18:44:43 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
A more concrete example (based on Swan's Practical English Usage).
"Books are expensive" (general statement). "The books on the table are expensive" (specific statement about particular books).
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 36 mins (2009-08-28 18:47:05 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
I strongly recommend Swan's Practical English Usage, both for non-native speakers wishing to understand the finer points of English and for native speakers trying to explain the peculiarities they don't normally think about!
David Knowles Local time: 15:05 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 40
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Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you so much! Yes, Swan!. I love his book, unfortunately I left it at home.
Asker: I left it at home for my sister to study. I need to buy one again.
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +10