He was a/the ....

English translation: [See below.]

14:06 Nov 20, 2017
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / English Grammar, Articles
English term or phrase: He was a/the ....
"His voice was rising, both hands waving through the air. On top of everything else, Mordecai was the consummate storyteller. I suspected he was very effective in front of a jury...."
Street Lawyer by John Grisham, Chapter 9

Could you explain to me why a definite artricle is used in "Mordecai was the consummate storyteller"?
How would it be different if an indefinite article was used, i.e. "He was a consummate storyteller"?

Thank you in advance.
Sterk
Ukraine
Local time: 23:52
Selected answer:[See below.]
Explanation:
The meaning would be essentially the same if “a” had been used instead. The use of “the” strengthens the meaning, conveying not just that he was a “great” storyteller, but “among the very greatest.”

(I read this book in a Spanish translation some years ago, and I enjoyed it.)

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Note added at 21 mins (2017-11-20 14:28:31 GMT)
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Since “consummate” is an adjective that means “showing a high degree of skill,” the shade of meaning conveyed by the use of one or the other word is subtle indeed.

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Note added at 1 hr (2017-11-20 15:31:25 GMT)
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In sum, and as Phil suggests, it is unclear that using “the” rather than “a” would indicate a different intended meaning in this particular context.” “The” may be intended to convey the stronger meaning I originally suggested. Then again, it may not.

The one thing certain is that the use of the definite rather than the indefinite article in such contexts does not “weaken” the meaning.

Such are the nuances and complexities of language.
Selected response from:

Robert Forstag
United States
Local time: 17:52
Grading comment
Thank you very much. It's really such nuances and complexities that make learning the language a life-long process.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +6[See below.]
Robert Forstag
4highly, almost uniquely
Daniel Frisano
2the one
Alžbeta Takácsová
Summary of reference entries provided
This may help explain it
Sheila Wilson

  

Answers


6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
he was a/the ....
the one


Explanation:
This is to emphasis this strong characteristic of him, not to tell he was an ordinary/common storyteller

Alžbeta Takácsová
Slovakia
Local time: 22:52
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in SlovakSlovak
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26 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
he was a/the ....
highly, almost uniquely


Explanation:
Using "a" you simply state his virtues, but he still ranks among most good storytellers.

With "the" you make him stand from the crowd - you will hardly ever meet anyone as good as him.

Well worded by Robert: among the very greatest.

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Note added at 31 mins (2017-11-20 14:37:55 GMT)
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Agree with Robert's addendum too. Then again, it's Grisham, no surprise if he goes a bit over the top at times.

Daniel Frisano
Italy
Local time: 22:52
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  philgoddard: No, I don't agree with this. It's a difference of style, not meaning.
38 mins
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17 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +6
he was a/the ....
[See below.]


Explanation:
The meaning would be essentially the same if “a” had been used instead. The use of “the” strengthens the meaning, conveying not just that he was a “great” storyteller, but “among the very greatest.”

(I read this book in a Spanish translation some years ago, and I enjoyed it.)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 mins (2017-11-20 14:28:31 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Since “consummate” is an adjective that means “showing a high degree of skill,” the shade of meaning conveyed by the use of one or the other word is subtle indeed.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2017-11-20 15:31:25 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

In sum, and as Phil suggests, it is unclear that using “the” rather than “a” would indicate a different intended meaning in this particular context.” “The” may be intended to convey the stronger meaning I originally suggested. Then again, it may not.

The one thing certain is that the use of the definite rather than the indefinite article in such contexts does not “weaken” the meaning.

Such are the nuances and complexities of language.


Robert Forstag
United States
Local time: 17:52
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 40
Grading comment
Thank you very much. It's really such nuances and complexities that make learning the language a life-long process.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  philgoddard: I'm not sure there's any difference at all. It's like "always a gentleman" and "always the gentleman".
3 mins
  -> Perhaps not. See the comment I just added. Thank you, Phil.

agree  Daniel Frisano
7 mins
  -> Thank you, Daniel.

agree  acetran
1 hr

agree  Jack Doughty
2 hrs

agree  B D Finch: The use of the definite article implies that he was a reference point in this respect: someone to whom others might try to measure up, or be measured against.
2 hrs

agree  AllegroTrans
2 days 9 hrs
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Reference comments


31 mins peer agreement (net): +4
Reference: This may help explain it

Reference information:
https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/282637/johns-qui...

"Quite" in this discussion is being used in the same way as "very much" is used in this context. The difference is that "quite the" is more likely to be used in a sarcastic way than "very much the".

These extracts are particularly useful:

"... quite a hero" seems to be a simple prosaic statement while "... quite the hero" has more emotion behind it, whether admiration or sarcasm. – Lawrence Oct 25 '15 at 22:57

Try 'John's a hero' alongside 'John's the hero'. The first, 'a hero' carries an implication that the quality of heroism in John is an assessment or judgement made and held by the person speaking. Whereas, the second version 'the hero' carries an implication that this is a title of acclaim, given and held to be true by the speaker AND others, or perhaps only by others (when said with a certain dismissive inflection), or perhaps by nobody (when said sarcastically).

Essentially it's a subtle shift in meaning from a personally held judgement of quality which doesn't carry so much weight because it remains subjective, to a recognition of a shared (and usually more emphatic and influential) judgement of many.


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Note added at 33 mins (2017-11-20 14:39:57 GMT)
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Just to be clear, there are two extracts above - a one-liner, plus the rest.

Sheila Wilson
Spain
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 28

Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)
agree  philgoddard
34 mins
  -> Thanks, Phil
agree  Tina Vonhof (X): Good explanation of a very subtle difference in meaning.
1 hr
  -> Thanks, Tina.
agree  acetran
1 hr
  -> Thanks
agree  Charles Davis: Useful, though I don't think the "judgement of many" criterion always applies. I think the key concept is that "the" implies a model or touchstone, as BDF says above.
20 hrs
  -> Thanks, Charles. I didn't agree with every word of the exchanges in that ref., but I did think it would be a good one for the Asker to check out
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