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Reegis Posted 8 years ago
Grammar

Articles: Passed down from [a] parent to [a] parent over generations...

Hello.

Could you please explain which of the sentences below is correct? Should we use the zero or indefinite article in this case?

1a) Some utterances are invented by parents within a particular family unit, or passed down from parent to parent over generations, while others are quite widely known.

1b) Some utterances are invented by parents within a particular family unit, or passed down from a parent to a parent over generations, while others are quite widely known.

  

Top answer

In this pattern there should be no article, but the idea of "passed down from parent to parent" seems a little odd to me. Wouldn't it make more sense to say "passed down from parent to child"? "invented by parents within a particular family unit" also seems slightly oddly specific to me, even though it might be true.

  • In this pattern there should be no article, but the idea of "passed down from parent to parent" seems a little odd to me.
  • Wouldn't it make more sense to say "passed down from parent to child"?
  • "invented by parents within a particular family unit" also seems slightly oddly specific to me, even though it might be true.
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1 Answers
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In this pattern there should be no article, but the idea of "passed down from parent to parent" seems a little odd to me. Wouldn't it make more sense to say "passed down from parent to child"?

"invented by parents within a particular family unit" also seems slightly oddly specific to me, even though it might be true.

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