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Onizo Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

I like ocean

When you talk generally, which do you say?
1. I like ocean.
2. I lke the ocean.
  

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You need 'the'.

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8 Answers
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Thank you.

how about: I like oceans? Would this sound exactly same as I like the ocean?
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Not necessarily. If you live near the ocean (more normally 'sea' in BrE), you might like the ocean you know, but you would not necessarily like oceans in general
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So if I want to express my liking in general, then I like oceans is better than I like the ocean?
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ReegisSo if I want to express my liking in general, then I like oceans is better than I like the ocean?
Yes. Including "the" gives the impression that you are referring to one ocean in particular.
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ReegisI like oceans is better than I like the ocean?
Not in American English.
"I like the ocean" can mean that you like any or all of the seven world's oceans. In the context of a holiday, it means that you enjoy going to a beach or cruising on an ocean. In context of a retirement home, you'd like to live in ocean-front property.

Similarly, "I l
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AlpheccaStars"I like the ocean" can mean that you like any or all of the seven world's oceans
Huh, I guess you meant continents here:) But getting back to the topic:

You say that I like the ocean is not unambiguous, it may mean a specific ocean or all of them.
We compare it to I like oceans which I guess is unambiguous and means that
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ReegisThen why American people prefer the second phrase in this context?
Then why do American people prefer the second phrase in this context?

It's just one of the differences in American English, like saying the hospital, even when not talking about one in particular.
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