[Grammar] Is these two definite artiles necessary here?

[cubezero3]

This invariably wins them the love and respect of others, for they add colour to the dull routine of everyday life.

I can understand we can't manage without the the in the dull routine of everyday life. Everybody have their own routines. The dull routine of everyday life narrows the meaning of routine down, and it deserves to have the the here. But love and respect are uncountable abstract nouns. Will love and respect be different, when it comes from a specific person, instead of others? Seemingly no. I would think here in this particular sentence, the the can be omitted, without materially changing the meaning.

PS:Are others and the others interchangeable in the sentence quoted above? I'd say no. To me, the latter sounds like you're talking about all the people on eartu minus I and the other word may suggest many people and that's about it.

Thanks

Richard

 

[emsr2d2]

I can understand we can't manage without the the in the dull routine of everyday life. Everybody have their own routines. The dull routine of everyday life narrows the meaning of routine down, and it deserves to have the the here. But love and respect are uncountable abstract nouns. Will love and respect be different, when it comes from a specific person, instead of others? Seemingly no. I would think here in this particular sentence, the the can be omitted, without materially changing the meaning.

PS:Are others and the others interchangeable in the sentence quoted above? I'd say no. To me, the latter sounds like you're talking about all the people on eartu minus I and the other word may suggest many people and that's about it.

Thanks

Richard

"The" is used in the first part because the writer is not talking about "love and respect" as general uncountable nouns. He is specifically talking about "the love and respect of others".

I encourage love and respect.
I encourage the love and respect of my friends and family.

I demand respect at all times.
I demand the respect of my peers.

He thinks [that] respect is very important.
He thinks [that] the respect of his wife is very important.

 

[BobK]

Well put.:up: I wouldn't have thought of it that way, but you're right.

b