0
Old Man Gordon Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Another usage of 'the'
I just read a very good question about 'the' which prompted some thinking.
Why do we use the in 'What in the hell?' or "What the hell?" and similarly "...the heck?". Heaven and Hell do not usually take an article.
Why do we use the in 'What in the hell?' or "What the hell?" and similarly "...the heck?". Heaven and Hell do not usually take an article.
Top answer
Hi, I just read a very good question about 'the' which prompted some thinking. ". Heaven and **** do not usually take an article.
- Hi, I just read a very good question about 'the' which prompted some thinking.
- ".
- Heaven and **** do not usually take an article.
- Such things are often just idiomatic, done that way for habit more than for any practical reason.
- However, note that without the article one would probably capitalize '****', ie What the **** ?
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
3 Answers
0
Hi,
I just read a very good question about 'the' which prompted some thinking.
Why do we use the in 'What in the ****?' or "What the ****?" and similarly "...the heck?". Heaven and **** do not usually take an article.
Such things are often just idiomatic, done that way for habit more than for any practical reason.
However, note that without t
I just read a very good question about 'the' which prompted some thinking.
Why do we use the in 'What in the ****?' or "What the ****?" and similarly "...the heck?". Heaven and **** do not usually take an article.
Such things are often just idiomatic, done that way for habit more than for any practical reason.
However, note that without t
00
Clive,
Thanks for your answer. I completely agree that it's idiomatic, and it does slide off my tongue more nicely. But we do say, "What on earth?" and "What in the world?" which both follow the rules of other uses of world and earth.
Maybe we should just admit that cussing and swearing are immune to, exempt from, and transcendent of grammar.
omg
Thanks for your answer. I completely agree that it's idiomatic, and it does slide off my tongue more nicely. But we do say, "What on earth?" and "What in the world?" which both follow the rules of other uses of world and earth.
Maybe we should just admit that cussing and swearing are immune to, exempt from, and transcendent of grammar.
omg
00
Hi,
Yes, I agree.
Although note that there is only one 'Earth', while there are various worlds (in the sense of planets).
Clive
Yes, I agree.
Although note that there is only one 'Earth', while there are various worlds (in the sense of planets).
Clive
0
Related Questions