Quote:
Originally Posted by tcat075
Explain to me why you would put an 'a' in "give him a chance" but not in "he's young player".
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Well, "a" is not only the indefinite article, it also denotes something as being singular. Since it is obvious that he is only one player, the "a" is completely redundant in the first phrase. But if he wanted to express that Mahinmi has to be given (at least) one chance, it makes some sense to use that article there.
In English (and in German at least as much, probably in other Germanic languages as well) a lot of redundant articles (both definite and indefinite) are used. Slavic languages are much more efficient (and sensible imo) in that regard.