This is <a/ the> watch

[Taku002]

What nuanced differences do you see between these two sentences?

①This is the watch he gave me
②this is a watch he gave me

In the sentence ①,
is it assumed that the listener has prior knowledge of the watch's existence? Or is it assumed that the listener only learned of the existence of the watch when the speaker told him?

Also, in sentence ②, is it assumed that the speaker received more than one watch?

I would like to hear your opinion and explanation. Thank you.

 

[lingobingo]

In 2, there’s no reason to think the indefinite article implies “only one” watch. It simply names the general type of item being shown.

1 is a case of using the definite article as the determiner of a noun that hasn’t yet been mentioned, but which you’re about to specify in some way. Here, for example, the whole noun phrase, which includes a relative clause, is specific:

I have lots of things my uncle gave me. For example, this is the watch [that] he gave me when I was a kid.​

 

[anthox]

"This is the watch he gave me" implies the speaker has the watch at that moment and is demonstrating it. The listener can observe the watch at the moment of speaking. He doesn't need to have prior knowledge of it, but he might. That information is not determined by the sentence.

"This is a watch he gave me" could imply the speaker received multiple watches, but in that case, someone would be more likely to say, "This is one of the watches he gave me." It's also possible the speaker received just one watch, but he has chosen to use "a" instead of "the" because he does not feel the need to be so specific regarding the watch. Saying "This is a watch he gave me" is similar in meaning to, "This is an example of a watch he gave me," or "This is the variety of watch he gave me."

 

[Taku002]

"This is the watch he gave me" implies the speaker has the watch at that moment and is demonstrating it. The listener can observe the watch at the moment of speaking. He doesn't need to have prior knowledge of it, but he might. That information is not determined by the sentence.

"This is a watch he gave me" could imply the speaker received multiple watches, but in that case, someone would be more likely to say, "This is one of the watches he gave me." It's also possible the speaker received just one watch, but he has chosen to use "a" instead of "the" because he does not feel the need to be so specific regarding the watch. Saying "This is a watch he gave me" is similar in meaning to, "This is an example of a watch he gave me," or "This is the variety of watch he gave me."

Thank you for your answer!

So, in case ②,it is both possible that the speaker received more than one watch, or that the speaker received only one watch?

 

[lingobingo]

Of course it’s possible that there were other watches, but the sentence neither states nor implies that.

 

[Taku002]

In 2, there’s no reason to think the indefinite article implies “only one” watch. It simply names the general type of item being shown.

1 is a case of using the definite article as the determiner of a noun that hasn’t yet been mentioned, but which you’re about to specify in some way. Here, for example, the whole noun phrase, which includes a relative clause, is specific:

I have lots of things my uncle gave me. For example, this is the watch [that] he gave me when I was a ​

Of course it’s possible that there were other watches, but the sentence neither states nor implies that.

Of course it’s possible that there were other watches, but the sentence neither states nor implies that.

Thank you so much for your answer!!

 

[Taku002]

In 2, there’s no reason to think the indefinite article implies “only one” watch. It simply names the general type of item being shown.

1 is a case of using the definite article as the determiner of a noun that hasn’t yet been mentioned, but which you’re about to specify in some way. Here, for example, the whole noun phrase, which includes a relative clause, is specific:

I have lots of things my uncle gave me. For example, this is the watch [that] he gave me when I was a kid.​

Thank you!!