In any language proverbs are generalised and fixed phrases expressing ‘folk wisdom’.
(But only a few languages use that articles. )
Could you explain why do you use definite articles in some proverbs: The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
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whereas in others you use indefinite one: An old dog will learn no new tricks.
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and sometimes that articles are both definite and indefinite in the same phrase… with no hope for me to find a rule :lol: : The mouse lordships where a cat is not. :shock:
Your first example of the fox is used as a way of testing a typewriter by using all the letters of the alphabet and is known as a pangram, apparently. As for the others, well that would take a deal of time to work them all out.
possibly any old dog is suggested here.
Never heard that before! I can only suggest that the is used before mouse because that is the creature that’s the boss when there is no cat/not any cat/not a cat around.
Yes, Alan, I know that.
The phase is often used (in software) to demonstrate various fonts – because of that its useful feature – but I mistakenly considered it as a proverb.
OK.
I’ll easily change it, no problem.
The wolf may lose his teeth, but never his nature.
Why the?
In my “dictionary of English proverbs” it is given as an equivalent for When the cat is away the mice play".
Yes…
So… when looking at the list of English proverbs I’m still feeling no hope to cope with articles…
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