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

Re: A ,an, and the usage

Mister Micawber — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 11:40:08 GMT

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It is possible if 'Telecom' is the name of the company -- 'I started working at Telecom Company, Ltd -- but more likely the article is just unstressed and difficult to perceive.

A or an is used before all singular countable nouns except those preceded by demonstrative adjectives (this, that) and possessive adjectives (his, my, etc.)
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Re: June is suffering from darkness phobia.

AlpheccaStars — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 02:30:31 GMT

Definitely #3 is correct. Names of medical conditions or common ailments are used without an article.

I have not seen phobia used with a preceding descriptive noun. The actual name is used, or "fear of"

June is suffering from lygophobia. (the name of this phobia.)

June is suffering from an abnormal fear of darkness.

Re: Down

Mister Micawber — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:08:09 GMT

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To vast a question, d_say-- and the sentences are already in English!

DOWN:

âadverb

1.	from higher to lower; in descending direction or order; toward, into, or in a lower position: to come down the ladder.

2.	on or to the ground, floor, or bottom: He fell down.

3.	to or in a sitting or lying position.

4.	to or in a position, area, or district considered lower, esp. from a geographical or cartographic standpoint, as to the south, a business district, etc.: We drove from San Francisco down to Los Angeles.

5.	to or at a lower value or rate.

6.	to a lesser pitch or volume: Turn down the radio.

7.	in or to a calmer, less active, or less prominent state: The wind died down.

8.	from an earlier to a later time: from the 17th century down to the present.

9.	from a greater to a lesser strength, amount, etc.: to water down liquor.

10.	in an attitude of earnest application: to get down to work.

11.	on paper or in a book: Write down the address.

12.	in cash at the time of purchase; at once: We paid $50 down and $20 a month.

13.	to the point of defeat, submission, inactivity, etc.: They shouted down the opposition.

14.	in or into a fixed or supine position: They tied down the struggling animal.

15.	to the source or actual position: The dogs tracked down the bear.

16.	into a condition of ill health: He's come down with a cold.

17.	in or into a lower status or condition: kept down by lack of education.

18.	Nautical. toward the lee side, so as to turn a vessel to windward: Put the helm down!

19.	Slang. on toast (as used in ordering a sandwich at a lunch counter or restaurant): Give me a tuna down.

âpreposition

20.	in a descending or more remote direction or place on, over, or along: They ran off down the street.

âadjective

21.	downward; going or directed downward: the down escalator.

22.	being at a low position or on the ground, floor, or bottom.

23.	toward the south, a business district, etc.

24.	associated with or serving traffic, transportation, or the like, directed toward the south, a business district, etc.: the down platform.

25.	downcast; depressed; dejected: You seem very down today.

26.	ailing, esp., sick and bedridden: He's been down with a bad cold.

27.	being the portion of the full price, as of an article bought on the installment plan, that is paid at the time of purchase or delivery: a payment of $200 down.

28.	Football. (of the ball) not in play.

29.	behind an opponent or opponents in points, games, etc.: The team won the pennant despite having been down three games in the final week of play.

30.	Baseball. out.

31.	losing or having lost the amount indicated, esp. at gambling: After an hour at poker, he was down $10.

32.	having placed one's bet: Are you down for the fourth race?

33.	finished, done, considered, or taken care of: five down and one to go.

34.	out of order: The computer has been down all day.

ânoun

35.	a downward movement; descent.

36.	a turn for the worse; reverse: The business cycle experienced a sudden down.

37.

Football.

a.	one of a series of four plays during which a team must advance the ball at least 10 yd. (9 m) to keep possession of it.

b.	the declaring of the ball as down or out of play, or the play immediately preceding this.

38.	Slang. an order of toast at a lunch counter or restaurant.

39.	Slang. downer (defs. 1a, b).

âverb (used with object)

40.	to put, knock, or throw down; subdue: He downed his opponent in the third round.

41.	to drink down, esp. quickly or in one gulp: to down a tankard of ale.

42.	Informal. to defeat in a game or contest: The Mets downed the Dodgers in today's game.

43.	to cause to fall from a height, esp. by shooting: Antiaircraft guns downed ten bombers.

âverb (used without object)

44.	to go down; fall.

âinterjection

45.	(used as a command to a dog to stop attacking, to stop jumping on someone, to get off a couch or chair, etc.): Down, Rover!

46.	(used as a command or warning to duck, take cover, or the like): Down! They're starting to shoot!

âIdioms

47.	down and out, down-and-out.

48.	down cold or pat, mastered or learned perfectly: Another hour of studying and I'll have the math lesson down cold.

49.	down in the mouth, discouraged; depressed; sad.

50.	down on, Informal. hostile or averse to: Why are you so down on sports?

51.

down with!

a.	away with! cease!: Down with tyranny!

b.	on or toward the ground or into a lower position: Down with your rifles!

Re: when we use "the"

Cool Breeze — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:18:22 GMT

There isn't always a reason why the is used before certain words. According to Wikipedia, the country used to be referred to as the Ukraine but the article is nowadays often dropped in diplomacy and journalism.

Names of countries in the plural take the article: the United States, the Philippines.

The is also used if there is a common noun in the name: the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union.

Re: read

AlpheccaStars — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 04:03:58 GMT

B is correct An article is required, since book is a count noun.

The article can be definite (the) or indefinite (a).

I would like to read a book that he read.

I would like to read the book that he read.

Re: One of many problems faced by English learners is their own misconceptions.

AlpheccaStars — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 02:57:01 GMT

Jackson6612
Avangi
either "learners of the English language," or "English language learners."

Why is article the essential here? There is only one English language. e.g. I'm learning Chinese language these days. Is there any need to specify Chinese language using the? The use of the is justified in sentences as in ''I'm learning the Southern American English dialect nowadays.

Avangi, Jackson:

The rule is that articles (definite, indefinite) are omitted in the case of mass nouns (non-count), and required for count nouns.

"Language" is a count noun. Thus, I can say: I speak two languages - Spanish and Greek.

I am studying the language of the tribal peoples of Tanzania.

When English, Chinese, Polish, Russian, etc. are adjectives modifying "language", you say:

I am studying the Russian language.

In contrast, English (as well as Polish, Russian, Chinese) is a mass (non-count ) noun.

So then you can omit the definite article (the):

I am studying English, Chinese and Russian.

I am a native speaker of English.

There are exceptions: Fowler wrote a book on grammar titled: The King's English

But this is distinguishing the King's English from other Englishes (American, the Queen's, Old English, Middle English etc.)

Re: One of many problems faced by English learners is their own misconceptions.

Avangi — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 23:27:00 GMT

Jackson6612

Avangi
either "learners of the English language," or "English language learners."
Why is article the essential here? There is only one English language. e.g. I'm learning Chinese language these days. Is there any need to specify Chinese language using the? The use of the is justified in sentences as in ''I'm learning the Southern American English dialect nowadays. The article is required in all of these. I honestly have no idea why. My guess is that "language" is the object of the verb "to learn," and would require an article if it were used without "English" as a modifier. To qualify for standing without the article, a "subject of study" must be one of a few very well-established courses. "I'm majoring in Romance Languages at university." Here, Romance Languages is the recognized name of a well-established course of study, as is Chinese. In the case of a dialect, the indefinite article would be used if there were more than one. Avangi
<<One - - is their own misconceptions.>> IMO there should be number agreement here. Possibly, "One - - - is dealing with their own misconceptions."
Yes, there should be number agreement between verb and object. If I followed your suggestion then the sentence would read: One of many problems faced by learners of the English language is that they are dealing with their own misconceptions. Is that what you suggested? That would be fine. I was considering "that they are" to be optional, as the gerund "dealing" may serve by itself as predicate nominative following the being verb "is." Avangi
This is about "learners." You refer back five times with "they." At some point you might remind the reader who "they" are. Eg, "these learners," "the students," something else of your choosing.
Is choosing'' used as a present participle in the above context? I'd say functionally it's a gerund, serving as object of the preposition "of." The other option, "choice," would of course be a noun.
Avangi
<<During the learning process, they should stop taking the machinery of their native tongue for granted.>> As the final sentence of the first paragraph, this seems enigmatic. It's very well phrased, but the meaning is less than obvious (to me.) I feel like I want an additional sentence by way of (=as means of, as a type of) explanation, or clarification. Optionally, you could make your "machinery" image a little easier to connect up.
How can I make the machinery image a little easier to connect up? How did I know you were going to ask me that danged question?? During the learning process they should remind themselves that the machinery of their native tongue was a long time in [the] building and fine-tuning, and they must be willing to devote an equal effort to the new language. (I'm not sure I have your intention right.)
Avangi
In the second paragraph, at first blush (=when first thought of or considered) the antecedent (=a word or phrase which a pronoun refers back to) of "They" would seem to be "English speakers."
Yes, you are right. I will be more careful about such constructions in future.
Avangi
Have you verified that "idiomaticness" is a word? Or is it a "nonce (=occurring, used, or made only once or for a special occasion) word"?
It is a proper word according to the Merriam-Webster's dictionary.

Congratulations on your hard work. - A.

Edit. "Why is the article "the" essential here?"

Re: One of many problems faced by English learners is their own misconceptions.

Jackson6612 — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:13:32 GMT

Hi Avangi,

Avangi
either "learners of the English language," or "English language learners."

Why is article the essential here? There is only one English language. e.g. I'm learning Chinese language these days. Is there any need to specify Chinese language using the? The use of the is justified in sentences as in ''I'm learning the Southern American English dialect nowadays.

Avangi
<<One - - is their own misconceptions.>> IMO there should be number agreement here. Possibly, "One - - - is dealing with their own misconceptions."

Yes, there should be number agreement between verb and object. If I followed your suggestion then the sentence would read: One of many problems faced by learners of the English language is that they are dealing with their own misconceptions. Is that what you suggested?

Avangi
This is about "learners." You refer back five times with "they." At some point you might remind the reader who "they" are. Eg, "these learners," "the students," something else of your choosing.

Is choosing'' used as a present participle in the above context?

Avangi
<<During the learning process, they should stop taking the machinery of their native tongue for granted.>> As the final sentence of the first paragraph, this seems enigmatic. It's very well phrased, but the meaning is less than obvious (to me.) I feel like I want an additional sentence by way of (=as means of, as a type of) explanation, or clarification. Optionally, you could make your "machinery" image a little easier to connect up.

How can I make the machinery image a little easier to connect up?

Avangi
In the second paragraph, at first blush (=when first thought of or considered) the antecedent (=a word or phrase which a pronoun refers back to) of "They" would seem to be "English speakers."

Yes, you are right. I will be more careful about such constructions in future.

Avangi
Have you verified that "idiomaticness" is a word? Or is it a "nonce (=occurring, used, or made only once or for a special occasion) word"?

It is a proper word according to the Merriam-Webster's dictionary.

Re: Pronoun Case. Please Help.

AlpheccaStars — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 04:15:10 GMT

I have always heard in conversation - that must be him / her on the phone.

Of course we say:He is on the phone now.

Grammatically, "that must be him" it is not strictly correct, since the case of a pronoun after "be" is nominative.

However, in this case (must be ***), we make an exception to this rule in all but very formal writing

Here is some insight from the site: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/cases.htm

In formal or academic text, we need the nominative or subject form of the pronoun after a linking verb: "It was he who represented the United Nations during the 1960s," "That must be she on the dock over there." In casual speech and writing, however, that sounds awfully stuffy. Imagine the detective who's been looking for the victim's body for days. He jimmies open the trunk of an abandoned car and exclaims, "It's she!" No self-respecting detective since Sherlock Holmes would say such a thing.

Eddie88
However, this raises another problem for me. When there is a preposition, the pronoun is meant to be in the objective case. Is this only true when the preposition PRECEEDS the pronoun? Because in this case, ON follows the pronoun, so I wasn't sure if the rule applied.

The preposition always precedes its object, except when the preposition is at the end of a sentence or clause:

Example:

The man we bought the gift for is on the train now.

Example:

In the sentence, "that must be him on the phone", phone is the object of the proposition "on".

In the sentence, "The elephant sat on him.", him is the object of the proposition "on". .

Eddie88
2) Could you please tell me the rules for the usage of were and was? For example, in line 4 of this writing piece is it 'if I were to say...' or 'if I was to say... ' WHY?

The above is the subjunctive mood. Example:

If I were rich, I would not be living in this dump.

If I were you, I would not put any money on that nag.

Eddie88
3) Finally, in academic prose one is not to use the word that too often, if at all. Once again in line 4, the word that is used here. It sounds correct to use that rather than which. Should I use which to be more formal, even though it sounds weird?

"That" is an essential word in English and is used in formal and informal writing. Choosing which word to use is a tricky subject, and the link below has good guidance. It goes into the details on restrictive and non-restrictive clauses and when this rule is likely to be violated.

Restrictive clauses are introduced by that and are not separated from the rest of the sentence by commas.
Non-restrictive clauses are introduced by which and must be separated by commas from the rest of the sentence to indicate parenthesis.

http://www.worldwidewords.org/articles/which.htm

Re: Pronoun question

CalifJim — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:42:32 GMT

Eddie88
What I was meaning with the preposition and objective case query, is that I want to know if the pronoun is still the objective case if it comes before the preposition.

No. A preposition governs case only in one direction. The preposition cannot govern a word that comes before it.

_____

One exception is the fronted pronoun whom. As I mentioned in a previous post, you can have whom in a question or in a relative clause.

[For whom are you waiting]?

The man [for whom I am waiting] is the head of the finance department.

But you can put whom at the beginning and the preposition at the end of the structure, like this:

[Whom are you waiting for]?

The man [whom I am waiting for] is the head of the finance department.

In these cases, the pronoun whom is governed by the preposition that comes at the end of the structure.

____

But be careful with phrasal verbs. They have an adverbial particle that sometimes looks like a preposition, and they often have a pronoun in the objective case that comes between the verb and the particle, so it looks like there's a preposition governing a pronoun before it. This is an illusion; it's the verb that is governing the case of its object.

Lucy found two stray kittens and decided to take them in.