"A" vs "the"

subhajit123Member

Which one should I use?

1- This place is a ruin of many poor people.

2- This place is the ruin of many poor people.

3/2/236:49 AM

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David, ModeratorModerator

Hi, Subhajit—The answer depends on what you want your sentence to mean. If you want it to mean that the place brings about the ruin (destruction or demise) or many poor people, use "the." If you want it to mean that many poor people haunt a ruin (perhaps there is a homeless encampment on an architectural ruin), you can use "a." I'm guessing that you want the meaning with "the."

3/2/238:35 AM

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