When we train students to take the SAT, we tell them to use a for the indefinite, such as “a number of women went to the theatre.

They use the for definite, such as the number of women at the theatre doubled last night.

I believe that we make such mistakes is because everyday day (English) language that we speak is different from what we write and what we learn from our grammar schools etc etc.

But I did this exercise with my self I was repeating the order in front of a mirror and I think it sounds good when you say ‘The french dressing’ ; ‘The pork chop’; The mixed greens which I say is something natural, but this is my observation but my other observations about poeple says that many people learn or grasp English sentences by listening to people around them and gives little consideration to what they have studied or what is the write way??

However if you see when it comes to writing english we start making a real use of it and start considering what and where article or verb should fit the best…so I think it is all to do with our interaction with the world which makes difference to how we want to make it sound for us …. the more we discuss the more funny it gets and it is good to read all different comments on this topic……I may be wrong on some points that I have mentioned above but that is just my points. Good one Thomas…….

I’m not sure if Big Bad Voodoo Daddy are right when they sing, “you and me and the bottle make three tonight.”

Should it be “you and i” ?

Something else that bothers me:

“I could care less.”

No, actually, it’s “I could not care less. I care so little that I could not care any less.”

Perhaps when restaurants, as we know them today, started (XVIII century?) they’d only have one big steak, one fish, one salad. The waiter would ask: “May I recommend the duck?”

The clients would have to book it or dispute it on-spot: “Yes, I’ll have the duck!” – “No, Sir, I beg your pardon but *I* want to have THE duck! You might have THE pork!” – “I won’t pardon ye, scoundrel, and I’ll never have THE pork! Take a step outside!” – “Fine, Sir – THE blade will show ye what it means to take away THE duck from me!”

Then they’d go outside and fight. And the waiter probably thinking “Well, we do have three ducks in the kitchen, actually.”

Errr… I digress.
Have a good peaceful lunch.