0
Sophianz Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

"a" or "the"

Hi. Would somone help me with English grammar?

"Ears are part of the head."

My questions are:
Is it correct to use "part" without "a" or "the"?
Is it correct to use singular form "part" though the subject "ears" is plural?
Is it correct to use "face" instead of "head" like "Ears are part of the face" ?

Hope your reply. Thanks in advance.
  

Top answer

Hi Sophianz, What you have written is not very natural, and I would not say that our ears are part of our face. Our eyes, nose, mouth, eyebrows, and even cheekbones are facial features, but not the ears. I'm not even sure I'd say the ears are part of the head, though they certainly are - I'd be more likely to say they are ON our head.

— BarbaraPA

  • Hi Sophianz, What you have written is not very natural, and I would not say that our ears are part of our face.
  • Our eyes, nose, mouth, eyebrows, and even cheekbones are facial features, but not the ears.
  • I'm not even sure I'd say the ears are part of the head, though they certainly are - I'd be more likely to say they are ON our head.
  • Our ears are on either side of our head.
  • We have one ear on each side of our head.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

7 Answers
0
Hi Sophianz,

What you have written is not very natural, and I would not say that our ears are part of our face. Our eyes, nose, mouth, eyebrows, and even cheekbones are facial features, but not the ears.

I'm not even sure I'd say the ears are part of the head, though they certainly are - I'd be more likely to say they are ON our head.

Our ears are on either side of our h
0
0
Is it correct to use "part" without "a" or "the"? In the idiom to be part of, yes.
Is it correct to use singular form "part" though the subject "ears" is plural? Yes, in this idiom.
Her ready smiles are part of her charm.

Is it correct to use "face" instead of "head" like "Ears a
0
0
Thanks again Grammar Geek,

This is a definition of "ear" in Collins COBUID Dictionary.
"Your ears are the two parts of your body, one on each side of your head, with which you hear sounds."

I understood that "to be on either/each side of our/your head" would be more appropriate.
While you are not even sure you
0
0
Thank you for your reply, CalifJim.

It is difficult for me to understand idioms like that, especially when they have "a(n), the or no-article problems". All I can do is get used to them. I appreciate your answer.
0
0
Ah. I agree that "part of your body" sounds natural. For some reason, "part of your head" does not. They are on your head, I know. It just sounds funny to me.
0
0
sophianzWould "part" be for your body, not for your head?
It's fine to say "part of your head", it's just that ears (or more specifically the pinna) are not part of your head but extremities.
  • Shave the upper part of the head.
  • A blow to which part of
0
0
Thank you, Grammar Geek and Huevos. I really appreciate your replies.
0

Related Questions