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

POSSESSIVE?

Anonymous — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:39:37 GMT

Hi,
I am confused as to when you would use what I would call a "proper name" form and when use what I would call a "plural" form.

If you have any inquiries regarding Teacher's/Veteran's benefits, please inquire within.

If you happen to write a sentence using the words 'teacher' and 'veteran', I think it would go like this.

A teacher is someone who teaches. A veteran is someone who served for the country they are in.

And the article would serve to refer to all teachers and veterans, but make what looks like a proper noun and have it serve that purpose?
I think some people equate 'belong to' to 'possessed by'? Do those two terms similar or alike as the case might be?

Use of "the" before plural nouns preceded by an adjective

Neeraj Jain — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:05:39 GMT

Hi All,

I am a little confused about the use of definite article "the" before plural nouns preceded by an adjective.

Which of these sentences uses the correctly?

Ram bought the movie tickets.

To buy the movie tickets, Ram had to stand in the queue.

Re: article dilemma

CalifJim — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:16:43 GMT

I would like to find a job in a (no 'a'?? No. You need "a".) university/school/church/camp. -- if I am thinking in terms of a distinct university, not necessarily the building, can I use 'a'? No. eg, A university next to my store is one with rich history. Sounds very strange. You need The university ... Otherwise, it sounds as if you are saying "One of the (possibly many) universities next to my store ..."

#1 line of hospital tapes -- I think the word 'tape' is uncountable, not variable, and it would seem unlikely to be made a plural without a good adjective or context. The change to the plural tapes here indicates "kinds of tape". A "line" is a series, a variety of different kinds of tape.

The types of jobs favored by people living here are professor, computer programmer, and driver. -- no article OK before the words professor, computer programmer, and driver? Right. No article is good.

Typical definition of a word: An *** is a small box with a microphone which is connected to a ... -- what difference would it make if written as "An *** is the small box with a microphone which is connected to a ... It would not make much difference. Sometimes a change of article doesn't make a lot of difference. Nevertheless, it would sound as if you were saying "An *** is the small box -- you know which box I'm talking about -- with a microphone which is ...". And that would seem a little strange to most speakers of English. It makes the definition lose its generality, which is what we normally want in a definition.

article before a quoted content question

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 01:53:58 GMT

Hi,
I am pretty sure and think Mr. M said something to the effect that putting an article before a quoted content like below or make a plural out of the kind below is to be avoid like a plague but I sometimes see people doing at least the former with a somewhat noticeable frequency. Is this OK? Why would you consider this OK?

he said that he could tack on an "I am John Doe and I wrote this disclaimer."

On a second thought, this can be thought of as an advertisement content -- a sort of writing on an ad. Does it have any effect on the use?

article dilemma

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 01:44:36 GMT

Hi,
Please tell me what differences the inclusion or exclusion of articles would make.

1. I would like to find a job in a (no 'a'??) university/school/church/camp. -- if I am thinking in terms of a distinct university, not necessarily the building, can I use 'a'?
eg,
A university next to my store is one with rich history.

2. #1 line of hospital tapes -- I think the word 'tape' is uncountable, not variable, and it would seem unlikely to be made a plural without a good adjective or context.

3. The types of jobs favored by people living here are professor, computer programmer, and driver. -- no article OK before the words professor, computer programmer, and driver?

4. Typical definition of a word: An *** is a small box with a microphone which is connected to a ... -- what difference would it make if written as "An *** is the small box with a microphone which is connected to a ...

Re: quoted content as noun - long question

Mister Micawber — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 23:04:46 GMT

.
1.You shouldn't use an "-ing" at the end of the verb without knowing what it entails.-- You are speaking of a simple suffix. No problem: One '-ing', two '-ing's.

2. Every day, a "come every two hours and sit in the room" of this 'no-worry', carefree dude is making a lot of people feel uneasy. -- countable by an instance? What is the difference?-- The structure, as I said, is too awkward to be considered.

1. ... involved with modern, western "come every two hours and sit in the room." -- And I don't even know what it means. What room?

2. A highly idiosyncratic "come every two hours and sit in the room" of this carefree dude is taking a heavy toll on my free time. -- countable by a type?-- As with #2 and #1

3. Highly idiosyncratic "come every two hours and sit in the room" of this carefree dude is taking a heavy toll on my free time. -- countable by a type? -- As with #2 and #1

Can you help me to learn how to use adjective before a quoted content or an article before it or make a plural out of it? -- It is to be avoided like the plague.

Re: quoted content as noun - long question

Anonymous — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:33:02 GMT

Thank you for your help.

What is the difference?

1.You shouldn't use a "-ing" at the end of the verb without knowing what it entails.

2. Everyday, a "come every two hours and sit in the toom" of this 'no-worry', carefree dude is making a lot of people feel uneasy. -- countable by an instance?

What is the difference?

1. ... involved with modern, western "come every two hours and sit in the room."

2. A highly idiosyncratic "come every two hours and sit in the room" of this carefree dude is taking a heavey toll on my freetime. -- countable by a type?

3. Highly idiosyncratic "come every two hours and sit in the room" of this carefree dude is taking a heavey toll on my freetime. -- countable by a type?

Can you help me to learn how to use adjective before a quoted content or an article before it or make a plural out of it?

Re: Food / foods

Goodman — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:17:57 GMT

N2G,

Foods and fruits are completely ok with both singular and plural form.

Eat a Variety of Foods A well-balanced diet offers you many mouth-watering food choices. See how easy and fun it is to combine a wide variety of foods to create a well-balanced ...

www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=779 - 40k - ,,'clnk','2','')" href="http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:7cfhJojolqAJ:www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml%3Fidentifier%3D779+%22variety+of+foods+%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us">Cached - Similar pagesFood variety and a healthy diet - Better Health Channel. Food variety means eating a wide variety of foods from each of the five ... Choosing a variety of foods within and across food groups is also important. ...
www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Food_variety_and_a_healthy_diet?OpenDocument - 43k - ,,'clnk','3','')" href="http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:j-dy3_z_bosJ:www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Food_variety_and_a_healthy_diet%3FOpenDocument+%22variety+of+foods+%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=us">Cached - Similar pages

Re: indefinite article before a gerund

Cool Breeze — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:49:43 GMT

I am not sure if the following answers your question but I'll say it anyway. Some grammarians don't distinguish between verbal nouns (= complete nouns formed from verbs with the ing ending) and gerunds (= words that are neither verbs nor nouns but resemble both to some extent). Some apply the term "gerund" to both of them. Perhaps your confusion arises from that?

A verbal noun really is a noun in that it can assume all the characteristics any countable noun has. This means that it can have an article, an adjectival attribute (or more than just one) and it can occur in the plural:

The correct speaking of English is easy.

His old writings don't interest me.

Perhaps some of the "gerunds" that bother you or arouse your interest belong to this category? Mixing in your post certainly does.

Some verbal nouns have become part and parcel of the language and are included in dictionaries, like "beginning" for example. In some cases you have a choice: a happy end/ending.

Gerunds can't be preceded by an article or an adjectival attribute because they are not full-fledged nouns. They bear some resemblance to verbs: they can take an object:

Speaking English correctly is easy.

Re: Article for History

Musicgold — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:00:36 GMT

Quote: Avangi:
I notice your rule breaks down when they, in turn, become adjectives: US Army helicopters flew today . . . ; Canadian stock market analysts said today . . . .

I do not think the rule breaks down here. Since helicopters and analysts are plural nouns, they do not need any article.