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Aedilis Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
He has a knack for a soccer
Hello all.
I thought a name of sport with an indefinate article means a ball for that sport. For example 'a baseball' means 'a ball used for basefball' not 'baseball as a sport'. Somehow this sentence from my dictionary uses 'a soccer' where I think a name of sport should be used. I have two hypotheses for this problem. First one is that 'have a knack for' is followed by equipments or instruments to say somebody is good at using those stuffs. The other one is that it is just another typo. To me both seem plausible, and I can't find out what is correct by myself. I would appreciate it if any of you shed light on this question.
Thank you in advance.
I thought a name of sport with an indefinate article means a ball for that sport. For example 'a baseball' means 'a ball used for basefball' not 'baseball as a sport'. Somehow this sentence from my dictionary uses 'a soccer' where I think a name of sport should be used. I have two hypotheses for this problem. First one is that 'have a knack for' is followed by equipments or instruments to say somebody is good at using those stuffs. The other one is that it is just another typo. To me both seem plausible, and I can't find out what is correct by myself. I would appreciate it if any of you shed light on this question.
Thank you in advance.
Top answer
If the name of the game already has the word "ball" stuck on the end of it, there's no need to repeat it when speaking only of the ball. " We play racquetball with a racquetball, but we play pool with a set of pool *****. We play beachball with a beachball, but we play badminton with a birdie, and marbles with marbles.
- If the name of the game already has the word "ball" stuck on the end of it, there's no need to repeat it when speaking only of the ball.
- " We play racquetball with a racquetball, but we play pool with a set of pool *****.
- We play beachball with a beachball, but we play badminton with a birdie, and marbles with marbles.
- You play ping-pong with a ping-pong ball, but you play shuffleboard and ice hockey with a puck.
- " I think I'm misunderstanding your question.
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5 Answers
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If the name of the game already has the word "ball" stuck on the end of it, there's no need to repeat it when speaking only of the ball. We don't say "a football ball."
We play racquetball with a racquetball, but we play pool with a set of pool *****. We play beachball with a beachball, but we play badminton with a birdie, and marbles with marbles. You play ping-pong with a ping-pong b
We play racquetball with a racquetball, but we play pool with a set of pool *****. We play beachball with a beachball, but we play badminton with a birdie, and marbles with marbles. You play ping-pong with a ping-pong b
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You said your dictionary uses 'a soccer', but didn't put the whole sentence. So, without knowing what you are reading, it could very well be a typo.
It could be 'a soccer' game, or 'a soccer' ball. But if you are going to play, you would say 'I play soccer'. I suppose that is why so many of us love (and love to hate) the English language!
K.
=^^=
It could be 'a soccer' game, or 'a soccer' ball. But if you are going to play, you would say 'I play soccer'. I suppose that is why so many of us love (and love to hate) the English language!
K.
=^^=
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Thank you all for replying so quickly.
I didn't put the whole sentence in my post, because I thought you could recognize it by the subject.
The sentence was "He has a knack for a soccer."
It is stated below the definition of 'have a knack for'.
I thought it should be "He has a knack for soccer."(not a soccer) So my question was if 'have a knack for' is used in this form
I didn't put the whole sentence in my post, because I thought you could recognize it by the subject.
The sentence was "He has a knack for a soccer."
It is stated below the definition of 'have a knack for'.
I thought it should be "He has a knack for soccer."(not a soccer) So my question was if 'have a knack for' is used in this form
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Hi,
Your explanation was okay. I was just a little slow to accept that that could appear in a dictionary. I would say it's gotta be a mistake. I've never heard it with the article like that.
A higher register synonym for "knack" would be "penchant," althought my dictionary defines "penchant" as "liking," while I think of "knack" as more of an inate ability to perform the skills, m
Your explanation was okay. I was just a little slow to accept that that could appear in a dictionary. I would say it's gotta be a mistake. I've never heard it with the article like that.
A higher register synonym for "knack" would be "penchant," althought my dictionary defines "penchant" as "liking," while I think of "knack" as more of an inate ability to perform the skills, m
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Thanks a million 
I am deeply impressed with your kind explanation. It really helped me a lot.
I'm going to send an email to
I am deeply impressed with your kind explanation. It really helped me a lot.
I'm going to send an email to
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