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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
Dirt from outside
Hi. "There is sleet and snow outside. Please take off your shoes before you coming in so that you don't bring dirt from outside".
I did not put the definite article before "dirt". Is that OK? The way I see this, if I do, it means all the sleet and snow from outside, which is impossible.
Does that make sense?
I did not put the definite article before "dirt". Is that OK? The way I see this, if I do, it means all the sleet and snow from outside, which is impossible.
Does that make sense?
Top answer
Please take off your shoes before you come in / before coming in so that you don't bring in ( the ) dirt from outside. I see little difference between saying "dirt" and "the dirt". Sleet and snow is not itself "dirt".
- Please take off your shoes before you come in / before coming in so that you don't bring in ( the ) dirt from outside.
- I see little difference between saying "dirt" and "the dirt".
- Sleet and snow is not itself "dirt".
- However, dirt can get mixed up in the snow.
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4 Answers
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Please take off your shoes before you come in / before coming in so that you don't bring in (the) dirt from outside.
I see little difference between saying "dirt" and "the dirt".
Sleet and snow is not itself "dirt". However, dirt can get mixed up in the snow.
I see little difference between saying "dirt" and "the dirt".
Sleet and snow is not itself "dirt". However, dirt can get mixed up in the snow.
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Thank you, GPY. What if I said:
Please take off your shoes before you come in / before coming in so that you don't bring snow/sleet from outside.
I omit the article. I wouldn't say "the snow/sleet". Correct?
Please take off your shoes before you come in / before coming in so that you don't bring snow/sleet from outside.
I omit the article. I wouldn't say "the snow/sleet". Correct?
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so that you don't bring in (the) snow/sleet from outside
Again, I don't see much difference between using "the" and not using "the".
I tend to think of "sleet" as existing mainly when falling. The idea of bringing sleet in one one's shoes seems slightly odd to me (I'm not certain whether everyone would agree). If you mean a mixture of snow/ice and water, I would say
Again, I don't see much difference between using "the" and not using "the".
I tend to think of "sleet" as existing mainly when falling. The idea of bringing sleet in one one's shoes seems slightly odd to me (I'm not certain whether everyone would agree). If you mean a mixture of snow/ice and water, I would say
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