Search results for 'tag:Numbers tag:Indefinite articles' matching tags 'Numbers' and 'Indefinite articles'

Re: A sequel to an article before a gerund question

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:25:48 GMT

Hi,

I think I have seen more than enough cases where what people call a verbal noun has the indefinite article 'a' in front of it and at the very least, the sheer number (should it be - sheer numbrs??) of it warrants some good explanations from experts in this forum. I think I can laid out a similar framework of argument for a quoted content too.

These days, students from where I use to live don't study hard. A lot of people seem to feel "sit in your chair and do nothing for eight hours" should be replaced with a quality "sit-in-your-chair-and-do-some-work hours." -- I think I made into a type. I was trying to make it an instance of it though. Do you think all the hyphens in quote in allowed? I think Mr. M said we should use either a hyphen or quotation marks, but usually not both.

I must say, the indefinite article "a" doesn't seem to go well with "hours" in the quotes but see nothing wrong with it, IMO.

Re: To us the Chinese,

26TMNTJG2PG — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 09:30:03 GMT

When a Chinese is asked the question, "What nationality do you belong to?"
The person will reply, "I am a Chinese" Here an indefinite article is used.
In any communication, whey you say, "To us", more than one person is referred to, and you cannot use an indefinite article which is signifying one in number.
As such, you drop the article.
The use of the in the other sentence is the reference is to a specific and unique people.

Article and one

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:47:45 GMT

Hi,

Could I be able to put the indefinite article before the number "one" or "two", so on?

He has one pen in his hand. -- sounds good.
He also has the one pen he had yesterday today with him. -- sounds good too.

Could we use phrases like "a one/two/three pen/pens"?

articles with ordinal numbers

Damir — Sat, 10 May 2008 09:10:08 GMT

Hi there,

I thought that ordinal numbers can have only a definite article. Then I read one post yesterday from a native speaker where he used indefinite article...

"A second text file was used to pry it open"

Why he used indefinite article?

I've also found out that ordinal numbers don't need to have an article at all.

When is then used definite, when indefinite and when zero article with oridnal numbers?

Re: number as adjective or sort of determiner

Believer — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 12:23:20 GMT

Thank you, CB. I might have been confused since I was trying to digest too much information in a too short period of time. (That does sound lame, doesn't it?)

Why is the definite article seems correct to be placed here but an indefinite article doesn't seem to correct to be placed there? I think in most cases, 'a' can be easily replaced with the word 'one'. If 'the' can be used with the countable noun 'apple', it seems logical to assume 'a' can be used in a right situation too.

(to borrow your sentence that served as the corrected sentence of mine)

It is a gigantic apple you've ve got in your hand, but I like the one gigantic apple you had in your hand yesterday.

Always appreciate your help.

Re: Another Word Learning Quiz

Mister Micawber — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 05:18:16 GMT

The indefinite article is inappropriate for 3 answers and the number does not match the illustration in one.

Re: Subject-Verb Agreement: Have been vs. has been

Anonymous — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 17:43:26 GMT

Marius Hancu wrote:
Seven years -> have

but you'll see both.

However:

It's going to be the best Christmas ever because this year I have done everything myself and the horrible atmosphere of the last seven years has lifted.

I agree with Marius. In English the grammatical number of the subject is often of no significance. When the idea of a whole or a period of time is more important, a singular verb or even an indefinite article with a plural is often used:

Ten dollars is not enough.
He spent a happy five days in Phuket.

CB

the 'number and correct' dilemma

Anonymous — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 06:34:42 GMT

Hi,

Can you tell me why do I see a lot of cases where the indefinite article 'a' is used instead of the definite article 'the' when the presumption is that there is only one correct or wrong anything at a moment ?

You should try to find a correct course of action for the situation you are in right now.

Can you also tell me why in this sentence the verb for 'the number' is plural when I think it is known to be 'number transparent' as CalifJim seem to have said?

The attendance at an event is the number of people who are present ...

Re: ufo

Conchita57 — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 12:38:09 GMT

Numbers 1 and 3 are correct.

Note that the abbreviation 'UFO' starts with a consonant sound:

[].

If you say 'unidentified flying object', though, the indefinite article is 'an':

[].

Re: noun

Mister Micawber — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 07:02:16 GMT

Curtains means the items in general or as a kind, without specific reference or specified numbers.

We need curtains = there are no curtains; any (appropriate) ones will do; nonspecified curtains
Lions are dangerous = all lions; any lions; generic lions
We are making plans for the holiday = nonspecified plans; all/any (appropriate) plans
I have rocks in my pockets = nonspecified rocks

Some (= more than one, a sort of plural indefinite article) is often used, where it does not affect the meaning (I have some rocks, we are making some plans, we need some curtains).

Context and common sense will tell you what is meant. We need some curtains, any curtains, but not all curtains-- the windows are not big enough to require 150,000,000,000 curtains.