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Mowgli Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
breakfast, a nice breakfast, a breakfast?
Hello,
I´m interested in using the indefinite article with the word "breakfast" and the position of the verb of frequency (in this sentence - never) with "to have breakfast").
I have this sentence. What is possible?:
1) I never have breakfast.
2) I have never breakfast.
3) I never have a breakfast. (A friend of mine says it´s American English if you use a breakfast - without an adjective. - Is it true?)
I would use no article in this case because I know what English Grammer in Use by Murphy says: "We do not normally use the with the names of meals (breakfast, lunch etc.):
What did you have for breakfast?
We had lunch in a very nice restaurant.
But we use a if there is an adjective before breakfast, lunch etc.
We ha a very nice lunch. (not ´we had very nice lunch´)"
I believe the first sentence (I never have breakfast.) is OK. But what do you think about the others?
Thank you for your answers Mowgli
I´m interested in using the indefinite article with the word "breakfast" and the position of the verb of frequency (in this sentence - never) with "to have breakfast").
I have this sentence. What is possible?:
1) I never have breakfast.
2) I have never breakfast.
3) I never have a breakfast. (A friend of mine says it´s American English if you use a breakfast - without an adjective. - Is it true?)
I would use no article in this case because I know what English Grammer in Use by Murphy says: "We do not normally use the with the names of meals (breakfast, lunch etc.):
What did you have for breakfast?
We had lunch in a very nice restaurant.
But we use a if there is an adjective before breakfast, lunch etc.
We ha a very nice lunch. (not ´we had very nice lunch´)"
I believe the first sentence (I never have breakfast.) is OK. But what do you think about the others?
Thank you for your answers Mowgli
Top answer
The first sentence is correct, the second needs another verb: "I have never eaten breakfast" or "I have never had breakfast". I haven't heard the third used in American English, but we have a few minor dialects, so it might be used outside California.
- The first sentence is correct, the second needs another verb: "I have never eaten breakfast" or "I have never had breakfast".
- I haven't heard the third used in American English, but we have a few minor dialects, so it might be used outside California.
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3 Answers
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The first sentence is correct, the second needs another verb: "I have never eaten breakfast" or "I have never had breakfast".
I haven't heard the third used in American English, but we have a few minor dialects, so it might be used outside California.
I haven't heard the third used in American English, but we have a few minor dialects, so it might be used outside California.
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Hi Mowgli,
Articles (a,an,the) are not necessary to be added before breakfast,lunch or dinner.
So these sentences hold well:
I never have breakfast
What did you have for breakfast?
In this example of yours, we had a very nice lunch, you are referring to a particular lunch you had which you enjoyed. Hence you n
Articles (a,an,the) are not necessary to be added before breakfast,lunch or dinner.
So these sentences hold well:
I never have breakfast
What did you have for breakfast?
In this example of yours, we had a very nice lunch, you are referring to a particular lunch you had which you enjoyed. Hence you n
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1) I never have breakfast.
2) I have never breakfast.
3) I never have a breakfast. (A friend of mine says it´s American English if you use a breakfast - without an adjective. - Is it true?)
1 is fine; the others are not. (Even in the U.S.!) The only case where I could imagine a struct
2) I have never breakfast.
3) I never have a breakfast. (A friend of mine says it´s American English if you use a breakfast - without an adjective. - Is it true?)
1 is fine; the others are not. (Even in the U.S.!) The only case where I could imagine a struct
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