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Hi,1. It is known to me that some proper taken on articles due to the fact that it is so. Let us pretend that I have a studio whose name is "Dong Dong." It  could be known as "Dong Dong Studio," all capitalized, or "Dong Dong studio" with the last part being generic, I don't know.If taken as a fact that the proper name of a studio would take an article if it had a capitalized "Studio" as a part of its name, should I do the same with "Dong Dong" if that is what normally called by -- without "Studio" that is?Where is the Dong Dong that is famous for taking terrific pictures? Can we apply it similarly to similar kinds of that?2. Would it be strange to you if I say this?I am using a cream/a shampoo/a detergent to do this, not your usual brand of cream/shampoo/detergent.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

1. It is known to me that some proper taken on articles due to the fact that it is so. Let us pretend that I have a studio whose name is "Dong Dong." It could be known as "Dong Dong Studio," all capitalized, or "Dong Dong studio" with the last part being generic, I don't know.
I'm not completely sure what you are asking, but I'll do my best to answer.

Let's say that the owner decides to open a studio.
He can decide to have a sign outside that says 'Dong Dong Studio'. Most people would then say 'I went to Dong Dong Studio last night'. They might also just drop the word 'Studio' and say "I went to Dong Dong'.

However, let's now assume that he has a sign outside that just says 'Dong Dong'. Most people would just say 'I went to Dong Dong last night. But if they are speaking to someone who doesn't know that it's a studio and if there are other studios in the town, they might say 'I went to the Dong Dong studio last night'.

If taken as a fact that the proper name of a studio would take an article if it had a capitalized "Studio" as a part of its name, should I do the same with "Dong Dong" if that is what normally called by -- without "Studio" that is?

Where is ~~the~~ Dong Dong, that is famous for taking terrific pictures?

Can we apply it similarly to similar kinds of that?

2. Would it be strange to you if I say this? No, it wouldn't, except I'd omit the repetition of the phrase.
I am using a cream/a shampoo/a detergent to do this, but not your usual brand ~~of cream/shampoo/detergent~~.

Best wishes, Clive

Anonymous · Answer

Hi, Thank you.

Would you have a second look at this sentence, if it were just one sentence like this? I think you would.

I am using a cream/a shampoo/a detergent

If Joe happens to be a laboratory specialist handling a lot of different kinds of shampoo as part of his job. Can he say this?
I am using a shampoo to conduct a test.

Then, why would this be OK? I think I saw in a post that this sentence is good.

I have ordered a pizza.

Is this correct grammatically?

I am eating a pizza.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Would you have a second look at this sentence, if it were just one sentence like this? I think you would. You think I would what?

I am using a cream/a shampoo/a detergent

If Joe happens to be a laboratory specialist handling a lot of different kinds of shampoo as part of his job. Can he say this? Yes, he can, if he means one paricular kind of shampoo.
I am using a shampoo to conduct a test.

Some nouns can be both count and non-count.
eg I went to the drugstore because I needed some shampoo. I bought a shampoo that I have never tried before.

Then, why would this be OK? I think I saw in a post that this sentence is good.

I have ordered a pizza.

Is this correct grammatically? These examples are fine. People used to call what you took out of your oven 'a pizza pie'. Now, we have shortemed the name to just 'a pizza'.

I am eating a pizza.

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you, again.

I might have to word this question carefully. Please take a look at these simple sentences that could be correct or wrong in term of grammar.

1. I am using a cream.
2.I purchased a shampoo.
3. I ordered a pizza.

To me, no. 1. and 2 seem to call for additional context or information, whereas no. 1 could stand alone without any auxiliary element (if I could call it that). They look the same in terms of how they are structured in terms of sentence pattern, yet no. 3 seems to be different than the other two. Am I right in thinking that way.
Your example sentences:
I went to the drugstore because I needed some shampoo. I bought a shampoo that I have never tried before.

If you look at your second example sentence, you will see there is an additional element to the clause "I bought a shampoo." And I feel no. 1 and 2 of the above seem to demand more like you have done, whereas it seems that no. 3 could stand alone.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Generally speaking, I agree with you.

Clive

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