Search results for 'tag:Images tag:Articles' matching tags 'Images' and 'Articles'

A sequel to an article before a gerund question

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:08:37 GMT

Hi,

Can you please tell me why a person use an indefinite article before a gerund/verbal noun?

I think here people are making an instance of all the gerund/verbal noun "a playing" and not making types of it. Like I have said in the thread named "indefinite article before a gerund," I think native speakers have choices when confronted with the dilemma like this (if we could call it a dilemma); they can make an instance of the gerund/verbal noun or types of it. I think making instances (that is 'separate occurances") is what has been done for these sentences I copied (pasted??) from a Google Book search.

The New Guide to Recorded Music: international edition - 80 íì´ì§

ì ì: Irving Kolodin - 1950 - 524 íì´ì§

German knowledge and English technical skill have produced, in the Clemens Krauss
performance, a playing of this work superlative in its richness of sound ...

ì§§ì ë°ì·ë¬¸ ë³´ê¸° - ëì ì ë³´ - ë´ ìì¬ì ì¶ê°íê¸° - ê¸°í ì¶íë³¸ ëë³´ê¸°

Judicial and Statutory Definitions of Words and Phrases

ì ì: West Publishing Company - 1904 - 7839 íì´ì§

5120 íì´ì§

"Outhouse," as used In a statute prohibiting a playing of cards for money in an
outhouse where people resort does not mean that it should be In the same ...

ë¯¸ë¦¬ë³´ê¸°ê° ììµëë¤. - ëì ì ë³´ - ë´ ìì¬ì ì¶ê°íê¸° - ê¸°í ì¶íë³¸ ëë³´ê¸°

Works of Music: An Essay in Ontology - 35 íì´ì§

ì ì: Julian Dodd - 2007 - 286 íì´ì§

For someone to perform W, she must intend to do so, and a playing of W is a
reproduction of sounds that were produced with that intention; so it follows ...

ì¼ë¶ë³´ê¸° - ëì ì ë³´ - ë´ ìì¬ì ì¶ê°íê¸° - ê¸°í ì¶íë³¸ ëë³´ê¸°

A Celebration of John F. Nash Jr.: Duke Mathematical Journal - 12 íì´ì§

ì ì: Harold W. Kuhn, John F. Nash, Louis Nirenberg, Peter Sarnak, Morris Weisfeld - 1996 - 494 íì´ì§

... the probability that a particular n-tuple of pure strategies will be employed
in a playing of the game should be the product of the probabilities ...

ì¼ë¶ë³´ê¸° - ëì ì ë³´ - ë´ ìì¬ì ì¶ê°íê¸°

America's Musical Life: A History

ì ì: Richard Crawford - 2001 - 976 íì´ì§

284 íì´ì§

... and a playing of The Star-Spangled Banner.2* Mixed with Beethoven symphonies,
Strauss waltzes, and the Midsummer Nights Dream overture, a novelty like ...

ë¯¸ë¦¬ë³´ê¸°ê° ììµëë¤. - ëì ì ë³´ - ë´ ìì¬ì ì¶ê°íê¸° - ê¸°í ì¶íë³¸ ëë³´ê¸°

Information please almanac - 36 íì´ì§

ì ì: Dan Golenpaul, John Kieran, Dan Golenpaul Associates - 1947

... might be associated with a playing of this violin and piano sonata, but their
qualities would be hard to surpass. The reproduction is outstandingly good ...

ì§§ì ë°ì·ë¬¸ ë³´ê¸° - ëì ì ë³´ - ë´ ìì¬ì ì¶ê°íê¸° - ê¸°í ì¶íë³¸ ëë³´ê¸°

The Collected Writings of Michael Snow: the Michael Snow project - 285 íì´ì§

ì ì: Michael Snow, Louise Dompierre - 1994 - 295 íì´ì§

After seeing the footage, I decided to tape separately a playing of the radio,
making a kind of Doppler effect by turning the volume down and up and ...

ì¼ë¶ë³´ê¸° - ëì ì ë³´ - ë´ ìì¬ì ì¶ê°íê¸°

A Portuguese-English dictionary - 613 íì´ì§

ì ì: James Lumpkin Taylor, Priscilla Clark Martin - 1963 - 655 íì´ì§

a playing of musical instruments; a musical rendition; a toccata. toca-viola (m.)
= TANGE-VIOLA. tocha (/.) large ornamental candle; torch, flambeau; ...

ì¼ë¶ë³´ê¸° - ëì ì ë³´ - ë´ ìì¬ì ì¶ê°íê¸° - ê¸°í ì¶íë³¸ ëë³´ê¸°

A Dictionary of the Hawaiian Language: To which is Appended an English ... - 495 íì´ì§

ì ì: Lorrin Andrews - 1865 - 559 íì´ì§

A playing of cards; gambling ; the name of a game. 2. A bag or bundle tied up
for carrying. -KAU-po-Hi-wi, s. Pu, gun, kau, to place, ...

ì ì²´ë³´ê¸° - ëì ì ë³´ - ë´ ìì¬ì ì¶ê°íê¸° - ê¸°í ì¶íë³¸ ëë³´ê¸°

The Phenomenology of Spirit Reader: Critical and Interpretive Essays - 32 íì´ì§

ì ì: Jon Bartley Stewart, Jon Stewart - 1998 - 507 íì´ì§

... excluding the latter from the true in its actuality: "Thus the life of God
and divine knowing may indeed be spoken of as a playing of love with itself; ...

ì¼ë¶ë³´ê¸° - ëì ì ë³´ - ë´ ìì¬ì ì¶ê°íê¸° - ê¸°í ì¶íë³¸ ëë³´ê¸°

Google ëìê²ì ëìë§ | ê³ ê¸ ëìê²ì

Google ëìê²ì ì ë³´ - ë°íì¸ì ìí ì ë³´ - Google í

Re: article in its definition

Clive — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 22:31:33 GMT

Hi,

The online dictionary from Naver.co.kr had this definition of 'diminution':

N-UNCOUNT : usu N of/in n
A diminution of something is its reduction in size, importance, or in ten sity.[ FORMAL ]
despite a slight diminution in asset value.
reduction

Why the definition has the article 'A' in its definition and its example phrase when it is noted as an uncountable noun, which a notation that seems to indicate the usually occuring position of Noun of noun or Noun in noun?

I don't see it as uncountable, although it most often used in the singular. I see it as one of those words that can be used in both a count way (there were many diminutions in the value of his assets in the last 10 years) and a non-count way (I saw some diminution in the amount of flood-water yesterday).

Best wishes, Clive

article in its definition

Anonymous — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:11:05 GMT

The online dictionary from Naver.co.kr had this definition of 'diminution':

N-UNCOUNT : usu N of/in n
A diminution of something is its reduction in size, importance, or in ten sity.[ FORMAL ]
despite a slight diminution in asset value.
reduction

The pronunciation of "a" in a sentence.

Bluealbatross — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 15:53:37 GMT

I have a little pronunciation problem:

Some times I hear in sentences that the indefinite article "a" is pronounced / / and other times /ej/ e.g. "a man who is sick can't work"

What is the proper, correct or educated pronunciation of the I.A. "a"

Thank you in advance!!!!!

A.

Re: Questions

Feebs11 — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 20:00:38 GMT

Belly wrote:
Thanks, when I read Oxford's definition, I assume that retrieval means we get the info back since it has been deleted

But French also means the people of a country?

"the French [people/nation/populace]" - you need the article in this context.

Re: Articles (a, an)

Hoa Thai — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 23:34:52 GMT

Hi Yoong Liat,

Following your advice that I should refer to dictionaries or English usage books to learn the correct thing, I found this:

From http://www.answers.com/topic/advice?cat=biz-fin&method=26&initiator=FFANS

THE AMERICAN HERRITAGE
adÂ·vice (Äd-vÄ«s') hapes="_x0000_i1025" align="middle" border="0" height="18" width="20">
n.

Opinion about what could or should be done about a situation or problem; counsel.
Information communicated; news. Often used in the plural: advices from an ambassador.

HOUGHTON MUFFLIN COMPANY (banking dictionary)
advice

noun

An opinion as to a decision or course of action: counsel, recommendation. See opinion.
New information, especially about recent events and happenings. intelligence, news, tiding (often used in plural), word. Informal scoop. See knowledge/ignorance, words.

Regarding others' replies saying mistakes seem to come from the majority of non-native English speakers, please visit the following web sites:

From the majority of American courts - for example http://www.almb.uscourts.gov/Forms/Forms/statement_payment_advices.pdf
"Statement Under Penalty of Perjury Concerning Payment Advices - Due Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. Â§ 521(A)(1)(B)(iv)"

From a webpage of Cambridge University International Education and Training Society, http://www.societies.cam.ac.uk/iets/
" ... Summarise general situations and common difficulties for students in graduate, undergraduate, A-Levels and GCSE courses, and provide advices and assistances to individual cases."

From the transcript of Senator Robert Hill in Australlia, http://www.minister.defense.gov.au/2004/AVF843F.doc
"Well I understand there were some questions arising out of Mr Downerâs comments regarding Turkey and the travel advices."

According to many gurus at this forum, advices should not be used.

Now, I hope you all understand why ESL learners can easily become confused.

Let's table this and go on to something else, shall we? (I will post another question, using a new thread later).

Thank you all,
Hoa Thai

Re: Articles (a, an)

Yoong Liat — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 13:18:28 GMT

Hoa Thai wrote:
Thank you all for your answers. With your advice and after hours of studying various sentences from Google search, I come to the following conclusions:

- Water takes a plural form, waters, to signify the water drawn from different sources. The same idea is apllied for satisfaction as pointed by Yoong Liat. So advice can actually take a plural form as many people believe it should be treated to separate thoughts from different sources (Google search shows almost 6,000,000 entries that use advices).

Yoong Liat - Do you think I am still confused? Yes.

Always refer to a dictionary or an English usage book if you want to get the correct answer. Don't depend on Google.

advice is never used in the plural: a piece of advice, some advice. (Times-Chambers Junior Dictionary)

advice

adÂ·vice (plural adÂ·vices)

noun

Definition:

1. recommendation about action: somebody's opinion about what another person should do
May I give you some advice?

2. official information: formal or official information about something, usually received from a distance ( often used in the plural )

(EncartaÂ® World English Dictionary, North American Edition)

Re: wish clauses

Goodman — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 17:52:34 GMT

Yoong Liat wrote:
Hi Goodman

You wrote: I have been labeled and called by many descriptions, hinted being âIgnorantâ is the first ...

I'm not hinting that you're ignorant. I say that if a learner tells me "informal" means "wrong", I'll understand that he says so because he is ignorant. But you are not a learner. You're one of the members who have a good command of English. So that's why I say it's not correct for you to say that a usage, which is classified as "informal", is wrong.

I've reproduced below what Michael Swan has to say about "I wish I was ... " and "I wish it wasn't ..." and let the members decide whether you're right to say "I wish it was not raining" or "I wish it wasn't raining" is a wrong usage.

We can use 'wish' to express regrets - to say that we would like things to be different. We use a past tense with a present meaning in this case.
I wish I was better-looking.
I wish it wasn't raining.

In a formal style, we can use 'were' instead of 'was' after 'I wish'.
I wish I were better-looking.

(Basic English Usage by Michael Swan)

Best wishes.

Liat,

With our differences in point of view, I appreciate your reply. For all intents and an purposes, I am still a learner on a different level but I perhaps have the advantage being in a completely English environment and therefore, I may appear to have better command. That said, I do feel there is a certain slight inconsistency among all the different English websites, particularly on the subjunctive. There should not be any argument that âIf I wereâ or âI wish I wereâ is a subjunctive mood. The difference of the agruement really lies in the defining of the rules and the mood expressed in the senstence. The early website quoted âI wish I wasâ as informal.

In reality, after reading this article, that is indeed incorrect. The bottom line, " I wish I was" is against the subjunctive ruels. Take a look at the explanation on this website then you may come to agree with what I said in my earlier threads.

Confusingly enough, in the "self test", some of of the answers are considered "acceptable" or "informal" by some. I should hope that this piece will settle all questions about indicative and subjunctive moods.

Subjunctive Mood

However, if a form of the verb to be were used in that sentence, all polished writers would agree that the subjunctive is necessary: "If he were [not was] ...
www.getitwriteonline.com/archive/073001.htm - 16k - Cached - Similar page



GIW Home		writeDate(); Mon Oct. 8, 2007 \| Tell a Friend \| Subscribe \| Order Our Book
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	Writing Tip: July 30, 2001 The Subjunctive Mood Examine the verbs in each of the following sentences: 1. If Harrison were chosen to be the next chief executive officer of the corporation, several controversial hiring practices would change. 2. If I were you, I would increase my weekly contribution to the company-sponsored retirement fund. 3. I wish that his report were longer. 4. We recommend that the trip be postponed because of violence in the region. 5. The finance department requests that he submit updated budget projections each month. All the above sentences are correct. Two terms apply to the mood of English verbs: indicative and subjunctive. An indicative verb makes a statement that is factual, whereas a verb in the subjunctive mood is used to indicate a situation or condition that is hypothetical, doubtful, or conditional. In the indicative mood, we would never write "Harrison were," "I were," "report were," "trip be," or "he submit," but these verbs are correct in the examples above because each of the sentences is written in the subjunctive mood; that is, in every case, the sentence is describing a situation that is hypothetical or conditional: 1. Harrison is not now the C.E.O., but hypothetically he could be chosen for that position. The conditional nature of the position is suggested by the word if. 2. Again, as the word if makes clear, I am not, in fact, you. So once again the situation is hypothetical and conditional: I would save more only under the condition that I became you. 3. His report is not, in fact, longer, so the sentence speaks of a hypothetical situation. 4. The trip is not currently postponed, so the subjunctive mood is appropriate to suggest a possibility, not an actuality. 5. He is not currently submitting reports monthly, so we use the subjunctive mood to discuss the possibility--not the actuality--of his doing so. For all verbs except to be, the present subjunctive mood is most often made by omitting the characteristic s ending on verbs with third-person singular subjects. Thus, whereas in the indicative mood we would write "man leaves," in the subjunctive mood we would omit the s on the verb leave: "The judge insisted that the man not leave town." For the verb to be, we simply use be for all present tense subjunctive mood verbs and were for all past tense forms, regardless of whether the subject is singular or plural. The Columbia Guide to Standard American English (New York: MJF Books, 1993) points out that while many subjunctive-mood phrases are commonly used in ordinary speech--"if I were you," "if need be," "far be it from me," and so on--strict use of the subjunctive mood is rare, even in the most formal speaking and writing situations (243). Very few people would write, for example, "If he arrive on time, we will have dinner before the show." However, if a form of the verb to be were used in that sentence, all polished writers would agree that the subjunctive is necessary: "If he were [not was] to arrive on time, we could have dinner before the show." The Harbrace College Handbook (13th edition) lists other common, fixed expressions that are stated in the subjunctive mood: "so be it," "be that as it may," "as it were," and "God bless you" (99-100). TEST YOURSELF Which of the following sentences need verbs in the subjunctive mood? 1. If I was Sam, I would hire an assistant now before the hiring freeze takes effect. 2. The committee suggested that Dr. Jones is chosen as the next chief of staff. 3. As August approaches, every school child wishes that his or her vacation was longer. 4. It is critical that every potential donor gives blood during this shortage. ANSWERS 1. If I WERE Sam, I would hire an assistant now before the hiring freeze takes effect. 2. The committee suggested that Dr. Jones BE chosen as the next chief of staff. 3. As August approaches, every school child wishes that his or her vacation WERE longer. This is almost the exact sentence identified as correct in your past post. 4. It is critical that every potential donor GIVE blood during this shortage. Copyright 2001 Get It Write More Tips \| Tell a Friend *Special Request:* Please share these tips with friends and colleagues and encourage them to subscribe. (If you post the tips to an internal distribution list of any size, please tell us the nature of the list and the number of subscribers. We would like to know how many people we are reaching with this service. We appreciate your positive feedback and excellent comments!)

Re: corrections 1b

Mister Micawber — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 01:44:35 GMT

Mister Micawber wrote:
(d) The thirty apples are in the basket. -- OK

Why is the article used here?

You'll have to ask Vincent. There is nothing wrong with it.

develop writing skills on a non-native speakers page

Vitalidle — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 12:58:38 GMT

I have recently set up a non-profit site for English learners like me who are interested in developing writing skills. There is nothing about grammar. The focus is on having fun by sharing articles of different style and about various topics. This might be more appealing to advanced students, but people of every level are welcome. Many tool can be made available if there is enough enthusiasm.



GIW Home		writeDate(); Mon Oct. 8, 2007 \| Tell a Friend \| Subscribe \| Order Our Book
		Resources: Writing Tips \| More Tips
	Writing Tip: July 30, 2001 The Subjunctive Mood Examine the verbs in each of the following sentences: 1. If Harrison were chosen to be the next chief executive officer of the corporation, several controversial hiring practices would change. 2. If I were you, I would increase my weekly contribution to the company-sponsored retirement fund. 3. I wish that his report were longer. 4. We recommend that the trip be postponed because of violence in the region. 5. The finance department requests that he submit updated budget projections each month. All the above sentences are correct. Two terms apply to the mood of English verbs: indicative and subjunctive. An indicative verb makes a statement that is factual, whereas a verb in the subjunctive mood is used to indicate a situation or condition that is hypothetical, doubtful, or conditional. In the indicative mood, we would never write "Harrison were," "I were," "report were," "trip be," or "he submit," but these verbs are correct in the examples above because each of the sentences is written in the subjunctive mood; that is, in every case, the sentence is describing a situation that is hypothetical or conditional: 1. Harrison is not now the C.E.O., but hypothetically he could be chosen for that position. The conditional nature of the position is suggested by the word if. 2. Again, as the word if makes clear, I am not, in fact, you. So once again the situation is hypothetical and conditional: I would save more only under the condition that I became you. 3. His report is not, in fact, longer, so the sentence speaks of a hypothetical situation. 4. The trip is not currently postponed, so the subjunctive mood is appropriate to suggest a possibility, not an actuality. 5. He is not currently submitting reports monthly, so we use the subjunctive mood to discuss the possibility--not the actuality--of his doing so. For all verbs except to be, the present subjunctive mood is most often made by omitting the characteristic s ending on verbs with third-person singular subjects. Thus, whereas in the indicative mood we would write "man leaves," in the subjunctive mood we would omit the s on the verb leave: "The judge insisted that the man not leave town." For the verb to be, we simply use be for all present tense subjunctive mood verbs and were for all past tense forms, regardless of whether the subject is singular or plural. The Columbia Guide to Standard American English (New York: MJF Books, 1993) points out that while many subjunctive-mood phrases are commonly used in ordinary speech--"if I were you," "if need be," "far be it from me," and so on--strict use of the subjunctive mood is rare, even in the most formal speaking and writing situations (243). Very few people would write, for example, "If he arrive on time, we will have dinner before the show." However, if a form of the verb to be were used in that sentence, all polished writers would agree that the subjunctive is necessary: "If he were [not was] to arrive on time, we could have dinner before the show." The Harbrace College Handbook (13th edition) lists other common, fixed expressions that are stated in the subjunctive mood: "so be it," "be that as it may," "as it were," and "God bless you" (99-100). TEST YOURSELF Which of the following sentences need verbs in the subjunctive mood? 1. If I was Sam, I would hire an assistant now before the hiring freeze takes effect. 2. The committee suggested that Dr. Jones is chosen as the next chief of staff. 3. As August approaches, every school child wishes that his or her vacation was longer. 4. It is critical that every potential donor gives blood during this shortage. ANSWERS 1. If I WERE Sam, I would hire an assistant now before the hiring freeze takes effect. 2. The committee suggested that Dr. Jones BE chosen as the next chief of staff. 3. As August approaches, every school child wishes that his or her vacation WERE longer. This is almost the exact sentence identified as correct in your past post. 4. It is critical that every potential donor GIVE blood during this shortage. Copyright 2001 Get It Write More Tips \| Tell a Friend *Special Request:* Please share these tips with friends and colleagues and encourage them to subscribe. (If you post the tips to an internal distribution list of any size, please tell us the nature of the list and the number of subscribers. We would like to know how many people we are reaching with this service. We appreciate your positive feedback and excellent comments!)