a/the seed of desire to buy things

[I'm a Chubby Baby]

Hi, everyone. Which version is correct?

1. Advertising plants a/the? seed of desire in consumers’ minds to buy things.

2. Advertising plants a/the? seed of desire to buy things in consumers’ minds.

Please explain why 'a' or 'the' is used. I feel confused.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Hi, everyone. Which version is correct?

1. Advertising plants a/the? seed of desire in consumers’ minds to buy things.

2. Advertising plants a/the? seed of desire to buy things in consumers’ minds.

Please explain why 'a' or 'the' is used. I feel confused.

Chubby, let's see if you can answer that yourself. What's the difference between a and the?

- a dog/the dog
- a lunch/the lunch
- an idea/the idea
- a feeling/the feeling

 

[I'm a Chubby Baby]

Chubby, let's see if you can answer that yourself. What's the difference between a and the?

I think I should use 'the' because I am talking about a specific seed, which is the seed of desire to buy things.

But, where should I put 'to buy things'?

1. Advertising plants the seed of desire in consumers’ minds to buy things.

2. Advertising plants the seed of desire to buy things in consumers’ minds.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I think I should use 'the' because I am talking about a specific seed, which is the seed of desire to buy things.

Yes. But what if there are more than one way to plant that seed of desire? That's why the correct word choice depends on the context.

But, where should I put 'to buy things'?

1. Advertising plants the seed of desire in consumers’ minds to buy things.

2. Advertising plants the seed of desire to buy things in consumers’ minds.

Both are natural. If you want to be exact, use 1. Number 2 can mean that there are things in consumers' minds that you can buy.

I hope that helps.

 

[Tdol]

It sounds a bit over the top to me. How about the wish?

 

[I'm a Chubby Baby]

But what if there are more than one way to plant that seed of desire

Advertisers use different methods such as special effects and super models to plant that seed of desire.

May be 'a seed' is better than 'the seed'?
Advertising plants a seed of desire in consumers’ minds to buy things.

 

[I'm a Chubby Baby]

It sounds a bit over the top to me. How about the wish?

How to use 'wish'?

Advertising plants the seed of wish in consumers’ minds to buy things.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

How to use 'wish'?

Advertising plants the [STRIKE]seed of[/STRIKE] wish [STRIKE]in consumers’ minds[/STRIKE] to buy things.

It's just simpler.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Advertisers use different methods such as special effects and super models to plant that seed of desire.

Yes, but is advertising the only thing that makes consumers want things?

If you think it is, use the. If you thing other things do, use a.

Maybe 'a seed' is better than 'the seed'.

Yes, if you think other things can plant the seed, too. Go back to post #2. Sometimes a dog is right. Sometimes the dog is right.

Neither choice is always right.

Advertising plants a seed of desire in consumers’ minds to buy things.

Yes, or it plants the seed. Do you see the difference?

Where did you find the sentence? Did you make it up? If you did, what is it for?

 

[I'm a Chubby Baby]

Where did you find the sentence? Did you make it up? If you did, what is it for?

I read "plant a seed of desire" in book. I want to use it in my essay. But now I've added 'to buy things'. I didn't know by adding it, should I change 'a' to 'the' or not. I now I know. Thank you!