A question on the need for determiners

Question

Hi,I came across this sentence while I was reading an article in a newspaper. By the way, when one is using a sentence or two (or a whole paragraph for that matter) to ask questions, do that person have to quote the sources? I think I don't have to if I am using a sentence or two, but maybe I need to mention the name of the newspaper if I want to use a whole paragraph. Am I wise on this? Since I have to get your answer, I have decided not to quote the sentence directly but make up  a sentence.My sentence is:The personal items she had with her were a notebook, pen, funny head covering and false name to pass unnoticed through busy streets. What perplexes me is that when you list these things, mustn't (?) them have determiners in front of them if they are countables and not "grandfathered" in from the determiner "a" of notebook? Also, can I use "mustn't" or "must not" here?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Sources of simple examples to be examined from the viewpoint of grammatical constructions need not be cited. Cite the source when the material quoted is part of your argument for or against some point of view.

As for your question about "mustn't", the more idiomatic phrasing is "When you list these things, don't they have to have determiners in front of them ...?" Also acceptable is "When you list these things, mustn't they have determiners in front of them ...?" I don't recommend "When you list these things, must they not have determiners ...?" And I recommend even less "When you list these things, must not they have ...?". The negative does not normally appear before the subject unless it is in contracted form (n't).

[Note "they", not "them", above.]

Now for your main question. It is not absolutely necessary to place "a" in front of each item in a series, but it does not create the best effect stylistically. Personally, I would repeat "a"/"an" as needed.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

0Thank you. When you list things/items that are mixed in terms of them being countable nouns or uncountable nouns in a list format, how do you deal with them? In those hypothetical situations, you are dealing with the situations where you have to place not only "00a00s" but "00an00s" or "00the00s" or nothing at all. How would you deal with that? 02br
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01font00I have put a green shirt, 01u00some furniture02u00, 01u00can of cola02u00, 01u00vase of flowers02u00, and 01u00some dried fish02u00 on the table for poor children to pick them up. 02font02br
02br
00I can't think of some good uncountable nouns to list, maybe you can put some for me.0-

Clive · Answer

0Hi,02br
02br
00Just put in front of each noun the determiner that is appropriate. eg02br
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01font00I have put a green shirt, some furniture, a can of cola, the vase of flowers from the kitchen, some money and some dried fish on the table for poor children to pick up. 02font02br
02br
00Best wishes, Clive0-

Anonymous · Answer

0Thank you. In your sentence, can it be "a vase of flowers from the kitchen," not only "the vase of flowers from the kitchen"?02br
02br
00Thank you in advance, one more thing, can Tango be a happy thought to dance to sometimes, too?0-

Clive · Answer

0Hi,02br
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01font00In your sentence, can it be "a vase of flowers from the kitchen," not only "the vase of flowers from the kitchen"?02font00 Sure. 'The' suggests there is only one such vase in the kitchen, 'a' suggests there are two or more vases in the kitchen.02br
02br
01font00can Tango be a happy thought to dance to sometimes, too?02font00 Well, yes, but generally speaking, it's a thoughful and reflective dance, a serious and truthful meeting between the two partners. It's a happy dance in the sense that it's fulfilling and satisfying. There are a lotof adjectives here, because it's a difficult thing to describe.02br
02br
00Best wishes, Clive0-

A question on the need for determiners

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