a/an is optional?

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Maple  #480191  Fri, 22 Feb 08 10:28 AM
Sentence: 

Which of the following favours organic bowel disease rather than a functional condition,such as irritable bowel syndrome?

 

My confusion: before function condition, there is an a, but before organic bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome, there're no article at all. Do you think it is a good sentence?

 

Thanks in advance! 

 PS: As to the expression of my question, do you think I need there're no article or there is no article?

 

  
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Anonymous  #480209  Fri, 22 Feb 08 11:57 AM
 Hey there!

Your example sentence is very good, and the article is in exactly the right place. 

Articles can also be referred to as 'determiners,' since they determine specifically which object (noun) is being talked about.  For example, when talking about a boy riding his bicycle, using 'a boy' tells that there is one specific boy that is riding his bike.  However, when talking about John riding his bicycle, the name 'John' does not need an article ('a John' is never correct in English).  The name itself is enough to tell that there is one specific person riding his bike.

In your sentence, 'organic bowel disease' is the name of a specific disease, so it does not need an article.  "A functional condition" refers to a group of conditions, and does not specify which one is being discussed (since that is the task of the person who will answer the question).  Since there are multiple functional conditions, and the question is asking for the identification of only one, it requires an article, 'a functional condition.'

Does that make sense?

Also, you are right to second-guess the grammar in your own question.  It should be "there is no article," since 'article' is singular.

  
Cool Breeze  #480215  Fri, 22 Feb 08 12:06 PM
 Hi Maple

Articles are very tricky and usage varies from region to region somewhat; in fact it varies even from person to person. Disease is often used without a as if it were uncountable (which it isn't!). I would put an before irritable bowel syndrome. A functional condition seems fine to me even though it is true that zero article is usually used in some expressions that have the word condition, such as in good condition.

CB 

  
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Maple  #480229  Fri, 22 Feb 08 01:01 PM

Thank you Anon, and Thank you Cool Breeze!

 

Your comments are very helpful. I'll think them over!

 

Best Regards!

  
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