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Angliholic Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
in mid-air/in the air
Hummingbird can fly forward, backward, upside down and even hover in mid-air.
The eagle hovered in the air looking for food on the ground.
I wonder why it's not "in the mid-air" but "in mid-air" based on "in the air" in the second sentence. Thanks.
The eagle hovered in the air looking for food on the ground.
I wonder why it's not "in the mid-air" but "in mid-air" based on "in the air" in the second sentence. Thanks.
Top answer
Hummingbirds hover at a point in the air - they more or less are stationary. Eagles when hovering are usually high up, and the hover is more of slow sweeping movement as they support themselves on the thermals.
- Hummingbirds hover at a point in the air - they more or less are stationary.
- Eagles when hovering are usually high up, and the hover is more of slow sweeping movement as they support themselves on the thermals.
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8 Answers
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Hummingbirds hover at a point in the air - they more or less are stationary.
Eagles when hovering are usually high up, and the hover is more of slow sweeping movement as they support themselves on the thermals.
Eagles when hovering are usually high up, and the hover is more of slow sweeping movement as they support themselves on the thermals.
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Feebs11Hummingbirds hover at a point in the air - they more or less are stationary.Thanks, Feebs.
Eagles when hovering are usually high up, and the hover is more of slow sweeping movement as they support themselves on the thermals.
Maybe I didn't make myself clear enough; my question is why there in no "the" in the phrase "in mid-air"
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Ah - now you're asking - and I am reading it properly! [H]
I cannot track a precise reason why mid-air does not take an article, but it doesn't - it is one of those idioms that stands as it is. I can only conclude that "mid-" takes the place of the article.
I cannot track a precise reason why mid-air does not take an article, but it doesn't - it is one of those idioms that stands as it is. I can only conclude that "mid-" takes the place of the article.
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This is like the word "aboard" which means on(to) the board, but has transformed into a whole word. And it is not a noun.
Grammarians won't like it, but I'd call it a preposition.
"I went aboard"
"The elephant can hover in mid-air"
Prepositions do not take articles.
Grammarians won't like it, but I'd call it a preposition.
"I went aboard"
"The elephant can hover in mid-air"
Prepositions do not take articles.
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Feebs11it is one of those idioms that stands as it is.Nothing to do with that. Look:
The hummingbird can even hover in cold air.
"The air" is a definite unique thing, whereas "mid-air" is more of an idea or concept.
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BokehI'm sorry, it may be the time of night, but I do not follow your argument. GramFeebs11it is one of those idioms that stands as it is.Nothing to do with that. Look:
The hummingbird can even hover in cold air.
"The air" is a definite unique thing, whereas "mid-air" is more of an idea or concept.
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In reference to "air", here is my take:
You can feel the chill is in the air ...."the" is needed.
The is a sense of optimism in the air – “the” can’t be omitted.
Eagles can stay in the air for a long time by gliding on thermals.
Two small planes co
You can feel the chill is in the air ...."the" is needed.
The is a sense of optimism in the air – “the” can’t be omitted.
Eagles can stay in the air for a long time by gliding on thermals.
Two small planes co
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Feebs11Grammatically, "mid-air" is an idiom that does not require an article. What has this to do with hummingbirds and cold air?Cold air also does not take the definite article which proves that not taking the article has nothing to do with being an idiom. Mid-air, cold air, etc is a description, not a unique, define thing, hence it does not take the de
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