give the answer vs give an answer

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'Give the answer' is used when there is a specific answer that is expected or known, while 'give an answer' is more general and can refer to any answer without specifying a particular one.

Last updated: April 03, 2024 • 619 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used when referring to a specific answer that is expected or known.

"give the answer"

This phrase is used when there is a specific answer that is expected or known. It implies that there is only one correct answer to a question.

Examples:

Please give the answer to question number five.
Can you give the answer to the math problem on the board?

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The competitor, once booked, had five seconds to give the answer.
I promised to give the answer in two hours.
Just ask the question, give the answer to graphics.
In the rare cases in which no competitor booked to give the answer, after about 10-15 seconds of listening, the presenter interrupted the motif and another was proposed.
Women who suffer much more with the advancement of ultra macho and totalitarian ideas and able to give the answer.
To him it touched, in a providential way, to give the answer to the deepest questions of his time.
The grandfather it absolutely deprived of courage and he promised the district police officer to give the answer today.
It's much more helpful if the teacher doesn't give the answer instantly because it makes you think about it first, which will develop the quality of examining the teachings yourself.
When someone asked something difficult of her, she would first go pray before the statue of Saint Joseph, in the corridor next to the entrance to the convent, then return and give the answer that the person was waiting for.
But can you raise your hand, please, before you give the answer?
Will the Commission not only give the answer to this question to the tabler of the question but also publish the requested overview on the Commission's website?
Magazine reviews In an ideal world a review would give the answer to the question "How would component Q sound, in my system, my room, with my music, and as perceived by myself?"
Only time will give the answer.
Today I will give the answer that everyone wants.
Choir: we asked our public school to give the answer
Did it prove so in reality? The year 1917 will give the answer.
So you really think you can give the answer?
For other plastic nets, CETAP/SINORGAN appreciate your contact to give the answer to your needs, through the development of new products and new solutions.
I can read it out, or I can give the answer to the MEP.
Fire away, and do not forget that I here challenge you to give the answer that Colonel Van Gilbert has failed to give.

Alternatives:

provide the answer
offer the answer
present the answer
reveal the answer
state the answer

This phrase is correct and commonly used in a more general context when referring to any answer without specifying a particular one.

"give an answer"

This phrase is used in a general context when referring to any answer without specifying a particular one. It allows for multiple possible answers.

Examples:

Can you give an answer to the question?
She always gives an answer, even if she's not sure.

Show examples from the web [+]

Instead we should listen to the world and give an answer .
There is no shortcut to give an answer to this question.
The students could not give an answer.
So I am unable to give an answer.
I am physically and intellectually engaged in the attempt to give an answer to something unknown.
Must be provide all possible questions of a user and give an answer.
You don't have to give an answer now.
All religions try to give an answer to death.
For them it becomes difficult to give an answer.
I tried to give an answer, but everything I said sounded inadequate.
Now man comes himself to find out to give an answer to this question.
and give an answer to a friend
It is difficult to give an answer but I think that it was the "Birth of Venus" by Botticelli.
The first question is that to which is easier to give an answer, even if, still now, in a fairly superficial manner.
Eigen tries to give an answer of a deterministic type: in the prebiotic world must have existed amino acids, ribose and deoxiribose, nucleobases.
A thematic group exhibition at Frankfurter Kunstverein is trying to give an answer by juxtapositioning a range of analog and digital artworks...
Later I would like to give an answer to Mrs Lindeperg, among others, on the question of asylum.
We have to give an answer to this question!
He might also perhaps telephone the Belgian Foreign Ministry, which I think would be obliging enough to give an answer.
First I would like to give an answer to Mr Onyszkiewicz, who raised a very serious issue: that of the minority.

Alternatives:

provide an answer
offer an answer
present an answer
reveal an answer
state an answer

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give the answer vs give an answer

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"give an answer"

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