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SpoonfedBaby Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
as mother, as wife, as hostess
Dear nice persons,
I'm reading the introduction of the Virginia Woolf "To the Lighthouse."
"In this section we see Mrs. Ramsay in her domestic role, knitting a stocking; we see her AS MOTHER, reading a story to James, comforting the younger children when they go to bed; we see her AS HOSTESS, presiding at her own table; and we see her AS WIFE, yielding to but simultaneously triumphing over husband."
I would like to know why there are no articles in front of "mother", "hostess" and "wife." They are countable nouns.
Thanks in advance,
Spoonfedbaby
I'm reading the introduction of the Virginia Woolf "To the Lighthouse."
"In this section we see Mrs. Ramsay in her domestic role, knitting a stocking; we see her AS MOTHER, reading a story to James, comforting the younger children when they go to bed; we see her AS HOSTESS, presiding at her own table; and we see her AS WIFE, yielding to but simultaneously triumphing over husband."
I would like to know why there are no articles in front of "mother", "hostess" and "wife." They are countable nouns.
Thanks in advance,
Spoonfedbaby
Top answer
Hello SFB The rule is as follows: Foramat : S verb (O) as (a/an) X : Here, verb = accept, acknowledge, act, characterize, claim, class, condemn, consider, count, define, describe, intend, interpret, know, look on, recognize, regard, see, serve, take, treat, use, work, etc. 1. When X is a position no other people except the person (S or O) can occupy, don't put 'a/an' before X.
- Hello SFB The rule is as follows: Foramat : S verb (O) as (a/an) X : Here, verb = accept, acknowledge, act, characterize, claim, class, condemn, consider, count, define, describe, intend, interpret, know, look on, recognize, regard, see, serve, take, treat, use, work, etc.
- 1.
- When X is a position no other people except the person (S or O) can occupy, don't put 'a/an' before X.
- ( o ) He served as principal of our school for five years.
- ( x ) He served as a principal of our school for five years.
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5 Answers
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Hello SFB
The rule is as follows:
The rule is as follows:
Foramat : S verb (O) as (a/an) X : Here, verb =accept, acknowledge, act, characterize, claim, class, condemn, consider, count, define, describe, intend, interpret, know, look on, recognize, regard, see, serve, take, treat, use, work, etc.
1. When X is a position no other people except the person (S or O) can occupy, do
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Hello Paco,
I don't know which case I have with "What do you do as profession" or "What do you do as A profession." I th
I don't know which case I have with "What do you do as profession" or "What do you do as A profession." I th
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Hello SFB
Yes you are right. I searched "as a profession" in OED and got 27 quotes but none for "as profession". So it must be "What do you do as a profession". Likewise, we may say "What do you do as a business/a calling/an occupation".
I parse "She teaches English as a profession" as "She teaches English as it (=teaching English)
Yes you are right. I searched "as a profession" in OED and got 27 quotes but none for "as profession". So it must be "What do you do as a profession". Likewise, we may say "What do you do as a business/a calling/an occupation".
I parse "She teaches English as a profession" as "She teaches English as it (=teaching English)
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Perhaps, one can say the 'mother, hostess, and wife' are seen here more as titles of roles, or archetypes --the role of Mother, the role of Hostess, the role of Wife. 'We see him in the role of Guru, Citizen, and Engineer.
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