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Thread: a house

  1. #1
    Taka is offline Senior Member
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    Default a house

    This is a house Bob built.
    This is the house Bob built.


    The book I have says the first one implies Bob has more than one house whereas the second one implies he has only one house and he built it himself.

    Is it necessarily true? Would you native speakers agree with this interpretation?
    Last edited by Taka; 09-Feb-2012 at 08:11.

  2. #2
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    amigos4 is offline VIP Member
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    Default Re: a house

    Quote Originally Posted by Taka View Post
    This is a house Bob built.
    This is the house Bob built.

    The book I have says the fist one implies Bod has more than one house whereas the second one implies he has only one house and he built it himself.

    Is it necessary true? Would you native speakers agree with this interpretation?
    I would agree with the interpretation given in your book.
    emsr2d2 likes this.

  3. #3
    Rover_KE is offline VIP Member
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    Default Re: a house

    Quote Originally Posted by Taka View Post
    This is a house Bob built.
    This is the house Bob built.


    The book I have says the first one implies Bob has more than one house whereas the second one implies he has only one house and he built it himself.

    Is it necessarily true? Would you native speakers agree with this interpretation?
    Yes. But they both state - not imply - that he built it himself.

    Rover
    amigos4 and 5jj like this.

  4. #4
    bhaisahab's Avatar
    bhaisahab is offline Moderator
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    Default Re: a house

    This is a house Bob built.
    This is the house Bob built.
    Neither of the above suggest that Bob owns the house in question, only that he built it.
    Tdol, Taka, englishhobby and 3 others like this.

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