A computer/the computer/computer

[Rachel Adams]

I read if I am talking about an invention and it's countable I can use it with the definite article and in plural when speaking generally. For example, "The computer was invented in" or "Computers were invented in" "The wheel was invented in" or "Wheels were invented in", but can I also use the indefinite article or omit the article? For example "A wheel was invented in.." and "Wheel was invented in.." "A computer was invented" and "Computer was invented in"?
If I am talking about a famous inventor and say "He is considered to be the inventor of the telephone. He made many discoveries including the invention of an audiometer, a metal detector, an electric piano and an aeroplane. In this context would be wrong to use the indefinite article. Should I again use the definite article before each noun?

I often read different opinions of different native speakers. I have asked this question on two forums, but I didn't receive the answer I was expecting.

 

[5jj]

can I also use the indefinite article or omit the article? For example "A wheel was invented in.." and "Wheel was invented in.." "A computer was invented" and "Computer was invented in"?

No.

 

[5jj]

I have asked this question on two forums, but I didn't receive the answer I was expecting.

Please provide links so that we don't waste time repeating what has already been said elsewhere.

 

[teechar]

but can I also use the indefinite article or omit the article?

No.

For example "A wheel was invented in.."

That's grammatical, but it's talking about a particular wheel (one item or one type of item), not about the wheel in general.

and "Wheel was invented in.."

That's not grammatical.

the invention of an audiometer, a metal detector, an electric piano and an aeroplane.

Again, that's grammatical, but the reference is to one item of those things or one type of item. For example, if you say "the invention of an audiometer", then you're implying there are various types of audiometers and he invented one of them.

I often read different opinions of different native speakers. I have asked this question on two forums, but I didn't receive the answer I was expecting.

Links?

 

[Rachel Adams]

"Again, that's grammatical, but the reference is to one item of those things or one type of item. For example, if you say "the invention of an audiometer", then you're implying there are various types of audiometers and he invented one of them."




If I mean that these things had not been invented before the person I am talking about invented them then is the definite article the only correct choice? This hasn't been answered on English Stack Exchange. It's in the comments section.

https://ell.stackexchange.com/quest...as-invented?noredirect=1#comment532849_285163

https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/a-computer-computer-a-wheel-wheel.3828579/#post-19560691

 

[Rover_KE]

I have asked this question on two forums, but I didn't receive the answer I was expecting.

What answer were you expecting?

 

[Rachel Adams]

What answer were you expecting?

If I mean that these things had not been invented before the person I am talking about invented them, then is the definite article the only correct choice?
For example, I am talking about a famous inventor and say "He is considered to be the inventor of the/a telephone. He made many discoveries including the invention of an/the audiometer, the/a metal detector, an/the electric piano and an/the aeroplane. In this context would be also wrong to use the indefinite article. Should I again use the definite article or the indefinite one?

 

[teechar]

In this context, would it be also wrong to use the indefinite article?

Yes, it would be wrong.

Should I again use the definite article or the indefinite one?

Use the definite article.