0
Believer Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
Help with "why"
Why is that when we are writing about body parts, we always seem to modify?? certain parts of the body with the article "a" when almost always we have only one part of that in the body? This causes me a little confusion sometimes. (Is the article "modifying" the noun? If not, what is it doing?)
He has a large forehead.
He has a head.
He has a big stomach.
Sorry, this just came up. When we are using the following underlined phrases to modify non-countables like "dancing," how are the sentences different?
I have a little confusion
I have little confusion.
I did a little dancing.
I did little dancing.
He has a large forehead.
He has a head.
He has a big stomach.
Sorry, this just came up. When we are using the following underlined phrases to modify non-countables like "dancing," how are the sentences different?
I have a little confusion
I have little confusion.
I did a little dancing.
I did little dancing.
Top answer
You may drop the indefinite articles before body parts. "
- You may drop the indefinite articles before body parts.
- "
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
2 Answers
0
You may drop the indefinite articles before body parts.
"He has (a) large forehead."
"He has (a) large forehead."
00
Don't forget that in English a singular countable common noun has to have an article. a can mean one, so there is no contradiction here.
a little = a small amount of (positive direction from 'zero' - more than zero)
little = not much (negative direction from 'much' - less than a lot)
CJ
a little = a small amount of (positive direction from 'zero' - more than zero)
little = not much (negative direction from 'much' - less than a lot)
CJ
0
Related Questions