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HMFindlay Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
First time, second time, third time...
I read this from the BBC Ticker on BBC World:
Nepal under curfew for a third time.
The question is why it is not 'for the third time' instead?
Nepal under curfew for a third time.
The question is why it is not 'for the third time' instead?
Top answer
Hi, They are both rather idiomatic expressions. You could easily say either. Then again, perhaps they are placed under curfew several times every month, and this is the seventh month that they've had three curfews.
- Hi, They are both rather idiomatic expressions.
- You could easily say either.
- Then again, perhaps they are placed under curfew several times every month, and this is the seventh month that they've had three curfews.
- In other words, a 'third curfew' might not be unique.
- Best wishes, Clive
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5 Answers
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Hi,
They are both rather idiomatic expressions. You could easily say either.
Then again, perhaps they are placed under curfew several times every month, and this is the seventh month that they've had three curfews. In other words, a 'third curfew' might not be unique.
Best wishes, Clive
They are both rather idiomatic expressions. You could easily say either.
Then again, perhaps they are placed under curfew several times every month, and this is the seventh month that they've had three curfews. In other words, a 'third curfew' might not be unique.
Best wishes, Clive
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Findlay, you may use "a" with ordinal numerals if they imply "another".
Nepal under curfew for a third time (means another time).
A second (another) man entered the room.
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Well I'm still not so clear. Does that mean perhaps last year there was a third curfew so this year another third curfew so they can't use 'the' so use 'a' because things that happened last year count?
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Hi,
It's possible. In such a case, you'd need to use 'a'.
But Ruslana's explanation is better. Consider: I bought a computer It didn't work, so I took it back. I bought a second computer. It didn't work. I took it back. I bought a third computer. . . . .
Here, I'm counting, but I'm really stressing 'another . . . another . . . another .
It's possible. In such a case, you'd need to use 'a'.
But Ruslana's explanation is better. Consider: I bought a computer It didn't work, so I took it back. I bought a second computer. It didn't work. I took it back. I bought a third computer. . . . .
Here, I'm counting, but I'm really stressing 'another . . . another . . . another .
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