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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Articles/Determiners
A. Can I have some Coke, please?
B. Can I have Coke, please?
C. Could you get me some water?
D. Could you get me water?
E. Have you got a lighter?
F. Have you got lighter?
G. Do you have an asparagus soup?
H. Do you have asparagus soup?
Questions:
1. Are the above highlighted articles/determiners always necessary to make the sentence gramatically correct?
2. Removing the articles/determiners, does it change the meaning?
3. Which of the above sentences sound natural?
B. Can I have Coke, please?
C. Could you get me some water?
D. Could you get me water?
E. Have you got a lighter?
F. Have you got lighter?
G. Do you have an asparagus soup?
H. Do you have asparagus soup?
Questions:
1. Are the above highlighted articles/determiners always necessary to make the sentence gramatically correct?
2. Removing the articles/determiners, does it change the meaning?
3. Which of the above sentences sound natural?
Top answer
1. -- It is required grammatically in E; it is grammatically wrong in F and G (unless perhaps you are asking for a can of the soup), and it is native English only in A, C, E and H. 2.
- 1.
- -- It is required grammatically in E; it is grammatically wrong in F and G (unless perhaps you are asking for a can of the soup), and it is native English only in A, C, E and H.
- 2.
- -- No.
- 3.
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10 Answers
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1. Are the above highlighted articles/determiners always necessary to make the sentence gramatically correct?-- It is required grammatically in E; it is grammatically wrong in F and G (unless perhaps you are asking for a can of the soup), and it is native English only in A, C, E and H.
2. Removing the articles/determiners, does it change the meaning?-- No.
3. Wh
2. Removing the articles/determiners, does it change the meaning?-- No.
3. Wh
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Thank you for your explanation. I really appreciate it.
Just a follow up question, why is H (w/o 'some') natural while B & D (with 'some') are not? I believe they all describe noncountable nouns. Kindly clarify.
Does also saying 'Do you have some asparagus soup?' sound natural?
Just a follow up question, why is H (w/o 'some') natural while B & D (with 'some') are not? I believe they all describe noncountable nouns. Kindly clarify.
Does also saying 'Do you have some asparagus soup?' sound natural?
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Should singular countable nouns always have an article? Thanks again.
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Sorry, this is just to edit my prior question...
Should singular countable nouns always have an article like in sentence E?
Should singular countable nouns always have an article like in sentence E?
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AnonymousShould singular countable nouns always have an article like in sentence E?Yes.
CJ
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Thanks CJ for that confirmation.
Mister Micawber / CJ,
Why does H sound natural while B & D do not? They all have noncountable nouns so why do B & D require the determiner 'some' before the noun to make it sound natural while H can do without?
B. Can I have Coke, please?
D. Could you get me water?
H. Do you have asparagus soup?
Mister Micawber / CJ,
Why does H sound natural while B & D do not? They all have noncountable nouns so why do B & D require the determiner 'some' before the noun to make it sound natural while H can do without?
B. Can I have Coke, please?
D. Could you get me water?
H. Do you have asparagus soup?
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B. Can I have Coke, please?
D. Could you get me water?
H. Do you have asparagus soup?
I think that questions B and D are different from H in structure/meaning. In both B and D you're primarily interested in getting some water/Coke (focus on an unspecified but limited quantity) whereas in H the focus of the question is whether or not they have asparagus soup (quantity
D. Could you get me water?
H. Do you have asparagus soup?
I think that questions B and D are different from H in structure/meaning. In both B and D you're primarily interested in getting some water/Coke (focus on an unspecified but limited quantity) whereas in H the focus of the question is whether or not they have asparagus soup (quantity
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Thanks Ivanhr for your helpful explanation. I really appreciate it.
Ivanhr, Mister Micawber or CJ,
Is it appropriate to say to a wait staff, for example, "Can I have some (unspecified) Coke, please?" when I know specifically they serve a bottle of Coke?
I think saying "Can I have some Coke, please?" is more appropriate when asking for refill like when you're on a plane
Ivanhr, Mister Micawber or CJ,
Is it appropriate to say to a wait staff, for example, "Can I have some (unspecified) Coke, please?" when I know specifically they serve a bottle of Coke?
I think saying "Can I have some Coke, please?" is more appropriate when asking for refill like when you're on a plane
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It is perfectly fine to say Can I have some coke? in that situation, but a native would probably say Can I have a coke?
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Okay, I would just say, like natives do, the one with an article when in a similar situation. Thank you. Great help!
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