0
Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

I have (a) family



At 0:24, Dory says:
My mom, my dad! I have a family!

Here, Dory suddenly remembers having her mom and dad.
In this context, is it okay to leave out "a" and say "I have family"?
If so, is there any meaning difference?
  

Top answer

"I have family" is also possible, and it means about the same.

— GPY

  • "I have family" is also possible, and it means about the same.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

4 Answers
0
"I have family" is also possible, and it means about the same.
0
0
GPY"I have family" is also possible, and it means about the same.
About the same in this context, that is. With no other information, "I have a family" is normally understood to mean that you have a wife/husband and children. In that case you would not say "I have family".
0
0
GPYAbout the same in this context, that is. With no other information, "I have a family" is normally understood to mean that you have a wife/husband and children. In that case you would not say "I have family".
Thanks. Can I ask why it's not possible to say "I have family" when you mean you have a spouse and children?
0
0
listeneverThanks. Can I ask why it's not possible to say "I have family" when you mean you have a spouse and children?
Generally speaking, "family" (no article) tends to have a wider or vaguer meaning. For example, if you say "I have family in Australia", it means some unspecified relations, but probably not your spouse and children. In your specific example,
0

Related Questions