A or the or -es or -s is needed in this case?

Question

1.?This is the cell that was observed by microscope for the first time.

2.?The planet cannot be observed by eye because it's too far away from the Earth.

I heard from a native English teacher that #2 is grammatically correct without "a or the" attached to "eye", so I asked another native speaker whether #1 is correct but said it's wrong and there should be a or the in front of "miscoscrope".

However, I think that both sentences are grammatical without adding a or the to them, in that it's the point of the sentences to emphasizing the funtion of microscope and eye like bus or taxi as below.

3.I'll take you to the hospital by taxi.

4.I'll go back home by bus.

So I would like to hear your opinions on it.

Thank you very much.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

1. The given sentence is correct as written. It would also be correct with "a" in front of "cell," in the right context. Without an article before "cell," it's incorrect.

2. This is correct as written. With "an" or "the" before "eye", it's incorrect.

3. This is correct as written. "A" can be put before "taxi", but "the" cannot.

4. This is correct as written. It would also be correct with "a" or "the" before "bus".

A or the or -es or -s is needed in this case?

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions