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Re: Do you really need to have two different pronunciations of "the"? lyringlas Send a noteboard - 23/03/2010 02:46:41 PM
The university (the noun begins with a vowel)
The house (it doesn't)

My English teacher, an old man, claims that we need to make the distinction in the way we say "the", depending on the following noun, i.e. if the nouns begins with a vowel, we must say "thee". Everybody does this, he says.


Okay, he may well be right, but I'd still like a confirmation. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. I'd like to speak English as well as possible.

Are there two different pronunciations of the word "the", then? Is it necessary to make the distinction?

(Damn. I thought I had posted this earlier today but apparently forgot to submit the message. I'm demented)


Like a lot of English grammar rules, this is disappearing. Although, as a side note, The Ohio State University is always "THEE Ohio State University". I think people tend to emphasize "the" more if it is followed by a vowel, just by making the initial sound harder. "Thee" is more a word used for emphasis now, or so I've come to notice.

One other interesting word is: have. I hate the fact that it is pronounced as "haff" when you are discussing some necessary action. "I haff to go to the store" as opposed to "I have 20 dollars". I dislike doing things without thinking about them, and society has conditioned me to do this. I haff to not say haff anymore
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Do you really need to have two different pronunciations of "the"? Lordling - 23/03/2010 02:06:02 PM 1337 Views
Need? No. Rebekah - 23/03/2010 02:17:09 PM 503 Views
I've never heard of that in my life. LiterateDog - 23/03/2010 02:29:37 PM 597 Views
I pronounce it both ways Sareitha Sedai - 23/03/2010 02:35:45 PM 585 Views
It's like "a". LiterateDog - 23/03/2010 02:45:14 PM 679 Views
Oh. I do that too. Sareitha Sedai - 23/03/2010 02:59:20 PM 610 Views
"all intenstive purposes"...*shudder* LadyLorraine - 23/03/2010 02:45:35 PM 557 Views
Yeah, that makes me shudder, too. People are retarded. *NM* LiterateDog - 23/03/2010 02:50:41 PM 303 Views
I have never actually heard anyone say "all intensive purposes". MightyYT - 23/03/2010 05:25:37 PM 561 Views
Or you could be surrounded by smarter people than I am. *NM* Sareitha Sedai - 23/03/2010 05:26:44 PM 216 Views
Really? I'd say most people say it incorrectly and most don't even know... everynametaken - 23/03/2010 09:35:49 PM 578 Views
I do too damookster - 24/03/2010 04:07:56 AM 475 Views
Or irregardless. *shudders* I saw it in the dictionary but really... globug0822 - 26/03/2010 12:03:13 PM 508 Views
You should a a few words Floffe - 26/03/2010 12:42:36 PM 524 Views
What Joe said, almost. Palatine - 23/03/2010 04:51:08 PM 763 Views
Seems to me that only works if you pronounce "history" without the H. *NM* Legolas - 23/03/2010 05:02:29 PM 370 Views
That's my point. I've never heard anyone say it without the "h." *NM* Palatine - 24/03/2010 04:55:35 PM 307 Views
An history Rebekah - 23/03/2010 05:07:08 PM 734 Views
(h)erb. *NM* everynametaken - 23/03/2010 09:37:58 PM 300 Views
I will not use "an." Palatine - 24/03/2010 04:59:00 PM 506 Views
Never heard that one snoopcester - 23/03/2010 05:09:40 PM 537 Views
Heh. Rebekah - 23/03/2010 05:13:17 PM 666 Views
I wasn't using it as that snoopcester - 23/03/2010 05:19:43 PM 504 Views
OK. Rebekah - 23/03/2010 05:25:22 PM 564 Views
It's enough of a rule. Palatine - 24/03/2010 05:02:46 PM 531 Views
Re: Never heard that one ßelals Girl - 23/03/2010 06:14:21 PM 669 Views
I speak mid-west English and have never said an history or ever heard anyone else use it. everynametaken - 23/03/2010 09:38:53 PM 621 Views
I've heard it spoken that way several times--on TV/radio by someone trying to be "serious." *NM* Palatine - 24/03/2010 05:05:48 PM 313 Views
It seems I use them both. Beqi - 23/03/2010 06:05:30 PM 515 Views
I also don't post in the correct place, it seems. Beqi - 23/03/2010 06:36:59 PM 533 Views
One is sufficient. The Shrike - 23/03/2010 02:30:53 PM 734 Views
Is it possible you do it and don't realize it? Avendesora - 23/03/2010 05:11:28 PM 474 Views
I think I do it in many cases, yeah... Legolas - 23/03/2010 05:19:13 PM 593 Views
That's what we were taught in school as well ironclad - 23/03/2010 02:35:29 PM 570 Views
That's what I thought of, too. Joel - 23/03/2010 05:42:14 PM 580 Views
Re: Do you really need to have two different pronunciations of "the"? lyringlas - 23/03/2010 02:46:41 PM 700 Views
As long as you don't say, "should of" 'cos then I must beat you. Joel - 23/03/2010 05:49:09 PM 610 Views
Re: As long as you don't say, "should of" 'cos then I must beat you. lyringlas - 23/03/2010 06:09:27 PM 497 Views
"Should've" versus "should of" Bored - 23/03/2010 06:46:37 PM 585 Views
Sounds like we're on thee same page. Joel - 23/03/2010 06:58:21 PM 646 Views
I tend to use both Isaac - 23/03/2010 10:06:01 PM 569 Views
I think that there are people who pronounce The with that convention LadyLorraine - 23/03/2010 02:47:59 PM 585 Views
Unfortunately you chose two very bad examples. Tim - 23/03/2010 02:48:42 PM 792 Views
British English is weird oO LadyLorraine - 23/03/2010 02:59:49 PM 600 Views
I don't. Tim - 23/03/2010 03:04:22 PM 599 Views
Right Sareitha Sedai - 23/03/2010 03:10:08 PM 571 Views
duly noted LadyLorraine - 23/03/2010 03:10:16 PM 552 Views
I do! Liam - 23/03/2010 10:57:48 PM 575 Views
Shut up, Frenchie! LiterateDog - 23/03/2010 11:03:21 PM 531 Views
Hehe ironclad - 23/03/2010 03:06:31 PM 524 Views
"Park Life!" *NM* Tim - 23/03/2010 03:09:24 PM 224 Views
*NM* ironclad - 23/03/2010 03:10:35 PM 251 Views
Heh, thanks for bringing this up. *NM* Avendesora - 23/03/2010 04:37:07 PM 295 Views
That was my immediate reaction to this post! *NM* Tom - 23/03/2010 05:21:16 PM 343 Views
"y" is a consonant? or the "u" sound Aeryn - 23/03/2010 09:02:57 PM 703 Views
Hopefully this will explain. Tim - 23/03/2010 11:29:58 PM 631 Views
Re: Hopefully this will explain. Aeryn - 25/03/2010 08:40:21 PM 779 Views
I've only just discovered I do it. Liam - 23/03/2010 11:02:18 PM 509 Views
AH! globug0822 - 26/03/2010 11:48:35 AM 487 Views
Whatever the nativespeakers say Sophy - 23/03/2010 05:01:16 PM 556 Views
Do you mean "consistent"? If not, I can't work out what you mean by "consequent". Tim - 23/03/2010 05:05:38 PM 514 Views
I can testify that that one is a terribly annoying false friend in Dutch. And apparently in Swedish. Legolas - 23/03/2010 05:10:03 PM 663 Views
What do people confuse "eventual" with? "Eventful"? Tim - 23/03/2010 05:12:02 PM 520 Views
You never realize even the most obvious of these things in your own language. Sophy - 23/03/2010 05:16:35 PM 586 Views
"Gift" has amused me ever since I started learning German. Joel - 23/03/2010 05:39:48 PM 476 Views
*NM* ironclad - 23/03/2010 07:45:48 PM 268 Views
Oh, it must be an incredibly important word to know when visiting Europe. Sophy - 23/03/2010 08:12:19 PM 582 Views
Even so. Joel - 23/03/2010 08:29:52 PM 569 Views
I wasnt invited! Sophy - 23/03/2010 09:04:16 PM 564 Views
You were so. Joel - 23/03/2010 09:05:58 PM 493 Views
No, I better finish my stupid essay! Sophy - 23/03/2010 09:08:06 PM 564 Views
I can't imagine a world where that could possibly be as rewarding or invigorating as my company. Joel - 23/03/2010 09:11:49 PM 508 Views
Nah, it's not about EFL, it's about Dutch-English false friends. Legolas - 23/03/2010 05:17:28 PM 694 Views
Wait! The English eventual doesnt mean that? Sophy - 23/03/2010 05:21:19 PM 543 Views
English "eventual" means something like "in the end". Legolas - 23/03/2010 05:23:33 PM 536 Views
Whoops! Sophy - 23/03/2010 05:26:05 PM 573 Views
I think the English "eventual" applies to something that is more certain (or assumed) in the future Sareitha Sedai - 23/03/2010 05:25:39 PM 485 Views
LOL what is it with you today?? *NM* ironclad - 23/03/2010 07:57:33 PM 292 Views
You mean that I'm usually brighter? Sophy - 23/03/2010 08:13:04 PM 559 Views
How would you translate eventueel into English? "Potential"? "The possibility of"? Tim - 23/03/2010 05:23:58 PM 637 Views
I think I'd ditch the adjective and switch the sentence around to a different construction. Legolas - 23/03/2010 05:33:19 PM 678 Views
Do you only use it for future? Or all possible things that may or may not be? Camilla - 23/03/2010 10:27:16 PM 563 Views
Dutch is way closer to Norwegian than to Danish. Legolas - 23/03/2010 11:07:51 PM 512 Views
Re: Dutch is way closer to Norwegian than to Danish. Camilla - 23/03/2010 11:09:54 PM 624 Views
*nods* Similar, but not the same, then. Legolas - 23/03/2010 11:12:37 PM 545 Views
Re: *nods* Similar, but not the same, then. Camilla - 23/03/2010 11:22:52 PM 485 Views
Isn't that T an adverbial marker, then? Legolas - 23/03/2010 11:28:01 PM 560 Views
tim might be able to answer that better than me, as he probably understands what you are referringto Camilla - 23/03/2010 11:33:07 PM 496 Views
Re: Isn't that T an adverbial marker, then? Legolas - 23/03/2010 11:39:37 PM 586 Views
Re: Isn't that T an adverbial marker, then? Camilla - 23/03/2010 11:42:29 PM 926 Views
Nah, I know, that's why I said "eventuell" was a bad example - it makes no sense as a predicate. Legolas - 23/03/2010 11:51:06 PM 635 Views
I would come in and lay the smackdown, but unfortunately I have to leave in a few minutes. Tim - 24/03/2010 09:27:28 AM 469 Views
Re: I would come in and lay the smackdown, but unfortunately I have to leave in a few minutes. Camilla - 25/03/2010 12:15:14 PM 587 Views
Ah, that's the right word, yes. Sophy - 23/03/2010 05:10:19 PM 520 Views
konsekvent Camilla - 23/03/2010 06:22:26 PM 544 Views
We need to make a Dutch-Norwegian-Swedish mixture language to replace English, clearly. *NM* Legolas - 23/03/2010 06:27:23 PM 368 Views
Re: We need to make a Dutch-Norwegian-Swedish mixture language to replace English, clearly. Camilla - 23/03/2010 06:28:47 PM 645 Views
This is an excellent point. Legolas - 23/03/2010 08:23:42 PM 443 Views
*clears throat* *NM* ironclad - 23/03/2010 07:58:21 PM 255 Views
Okay, we'll let Austrian join too. Legolas - 23/03/2010 08:00:26 PM 462 Views
Why dilute a perfectly good language with norwegian, dutch and austrian? *NM* jh - 23/03/2010 08:12:40 PM 327 Views
Cool! I'm in! Sophy - 23/03/2010 08:16:32 PM 549 Views
I've no doubt its grammar is awesome... making more sense, that sounds rather less likely. *NM* Legolas - 23/03/2010 08:23:10 PM 321 Views
Don't listen to her ironclad - 23/03/2010 08:24:06 PM 511 Views
Hmpf! Böse Kartoffel! Sophy - 23/03/2010 09:05:37 PM 608 Views
Like Esperanto but with germanic roots? Me likey! *NM* Floffe - 24/03/2010 04:43:59 PM 307 Views
Nopes. nossy - 23/03/2010 05:03:18 PM 535 Views
In my dialect, it's more or less like that Larry - 23/03/2010 05:35:31 PM 467 Views
I don't, but I'm American, and apparently that makes the difference. Joel - 23/03/2010 05:55:10 PM 604 Views
Try it with a bunch of words starting with vowels, then. Legolas - 23/03/2010 05:59:03 PM 506 Views
"thuh" for the first two, seems like "thee" for the rest. Joel - 23/03/2010 06:08:14 PM 607 Views
The (thuh) for all of them. everynametaken - 23/03/2010 09:53:16 PM 528 Views
Thee for all of them *NM* ironclad - 23/03/2010 09:54:58 PM 318 Views
Me too. *NM* Legolas - 23/03/2010 09:59:16 PM 283 Views
Thee for all! o/ Avendesora - 24/03/2010 08:37:23 PM 571 Views
I don't know if we need to, but it would sound silly if we didn't ßelals Girl - 23/03/2010 06:05:53 PM 500 Views
Re: I don't know if we need to, but it would sound silly if we didn't Lordling - 23/03/2010 06:26:30 PM 679 Views
Just go with instinct Rebekah - 23/03/2010 06:29:52 PM 537 Views
Quit while you're behind... Tom - 23/03/2010 08:58:26 PM 558 Views
Unless you like to use archaic English, that is Larry - 23/03/2010 09:20:26 PM 531 Views
I somehow doubt that Lordling - 25/03/2010 08:09:44 PM 673 Views
I like it Camilla - 23/03/2010 06:23:06 PM 550 Views
You sound like him Lordling - 23/03/2010 06:32:09 PM 576 Views
Re: You sound like him Camilla - 23/03/2010 06:33:03 PM 614 Views
Oh!!! That's just the kind of teacher I'm going to be! *NM* Sophy - 23/03/2010 09:06:26 PM 446 Views
Haha good stuff *NM* ironclad - 23/03/2010 09:24:37 PM 288 Views
Never heard of that before. *NM* Wibble - 23/03/2010 08:18:48 PM 208 Views
I do it AgentOrange - 23/03/2010 09:32:04 PM 487 Views
Same here. *NM* Legolas - 23/03/2010 09:33:51 PM 309 Views
Thuh is what most people I know use although I find that more educated people use thee at times. everynametaken - 23/03/2010 09:58:57 PM 525 Views
I have never heard that before in my life. globug0822 - 26/03/2010 11:46:44 AM 699 Views
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