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Musicgold Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Article before 'battle'
Hi,
The following text is from a book on chess. My question is about the underlined word battle. Why there is no ‘the’ before it. Note that the word ‘battle’ has been used three times with different articles.
The names of the pieces bring to mind the origins of the game—a battle. Imagine soldiers on foot with the pawns leading the charge. Imagine the cavalry on horseback; the Knights jumping into battle. Imagine the general or the King with the Queen at his side. In many battles of yore, when the King died the battle would end. And so it is in the game of chess.
Thanks.
The following text is from a book on chess. My question is about the underlined word battle. Why there is no ‘the’ before it. Note that the word ‘battle’ has been used three times with different articles.
The names of the pieces bring to mind the origins of the game—a battle. Imagine soldiers on foot with the pawns leading the charge. Imagine the cavalry on horseback; the Knights jumping into battle. Imagine the general or the King with the Queen at his side. In many battles of yore, when the King died the battle would end. And so it is in the game of chess.
Thanks.
Top answer
Hi, I would probably have said 'jumping into the battle' in this passage. Clive
- Hi, I would probably have said 'jumping into the battle' in this passage.
- Clive
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3 Answers
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Hi,
I would probably have said 'jumping into the battle' in this passage.
Clive
I would probably have said 'jumping into the battle' in this passage.
Clive
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Hi, I am no savant in English but this is how I see it.
(1) In the first word battle, an article "a" is used as it talks of any kind of battle. They are not talking about any particular battle. Just any battle. Hence, "a battle".
(2) I do not know why they have not cared to use the article "a" here. I wish someone could explain this.
(3) In the third word battle, The us
(1) In the first word battle, an article "a" is used as it talks of any kind of battle. They are not talking about any particular battle. Just any battle. Hence, "a battle".
(2) I do not know why they have not cared to use the article "a" here. I wish someone could explain this.
(3) In the third word battle, The us
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Hi
Number (2) is interesting. The word battle does not always take an article
- We are going into battle
- Tomorrow we will do battle
- At midday we joined battle
Other English words do this also. For example, an actor who is preparing to play a character in a play says..
- I am getting into character
I have no definite answer: it se
Number (2) is interesting. The word battle does not always take an article
- We are going into battle
- Tomorrow we will do battle
- At midday we joined battle
Other English words do this also. For example, an actor who is preparing to play a character in a play says..
- I am getting into character
I have no definite answer: it se
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