Grammar Check for a 7-Year-Old
Here are the two sentences and which one is better, plus a short note on capitalization.
- Sentence 1: Reindeer can smell lichen even when it's hidden under snow.
- Sentence 2: Reindeer can smell lichen even when it's hidden under the snow.
Which sentence is correct? Both sentences are understandable and mostly correct, but there is a small difference:
- Sentence 1 uses the snow without needing a specific snow reference. It sounds natural and is commonly used in general statements.
- Sentence 2 adds the before snow, which can also be correct, but it makes the snow feel like a specific snow that has already been talked about. In many general facts, we say under snow without the.
Recommendation for a simple, general statement: "Reindeer can smell lichen even when it's hidden under snow."
Tip on contraction: The sentence uses it's as a contraction for it is, which is fine here. If you want to be very formal, you could write it is instead of it's.