"a big house" or "the big house"

[aspirant90]

Recently I saw a question to use the correct article .
Which is the correct usage:

1) We live in a big house with a white door

2) We live in the big house with a white door

The question didn't provide any extra context . It is just a simple sentence. which is the right answer?

 

[JulianStuart]

Both are "correct" nbut would be used in different contexts with different meanings.

 

[velisarius]

2 We live in the big house with the white door.

We live in the big house with a white door (?) - They live in the big house, and they have a white door for company. I would prefer to keep a dog or a cat.

 

[JulianStuart]

We definitely don't live in the little house next door which also has a white door But we have a big white dog!

 

[aspirant90]

Both are "correct" nbut would be used in different contexts with different meanings.

Please give detail explanation. In the given question context not available.

 

[JulianStuart]

Velisarius indicated the usual form for #2. However, my following comment was based on a context where the are two houses next to each other, each with a white door - I live in the big house with a white door. This is why the forum places so much emphasis on context and why tests, such as yours, (without context) are flawed, sometimes badly

 

[Hercules Grytpype-Thynne]

2 We live in the big house with the white door.

We live in the big house with a white door (?) - They live in the big house, and they have a white door for company. I would prefer to keep a dog or a cat.

There's a big house with a white door, a little house with a white door, and a big house with a green door. I think I'd accept We live in the big house with a white door from someone who lives in the first of these houses.

 

[velisarius]

Since the OP stated that there was no context, I think the answer should be the obvious one.

Sentence #1 is fine - but sentence #2 (as it stands) sounds odd or unidiomatic.

 

[JulianStuart]

Since the OP stated that there was no context, I think the answer should be the obvious one.

Sentence #1 is fine - but sentence #2 (as it stands) sounds odd or unidiomatic.

I agree - and I'm sure that's what the person who set the test intended. That's why a "contextless" test is flawed if it leads the student to think # 2 is always "INCORRECT".