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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
Omission of indefinite articles
In a sentence with 2-3 countable nouns in a row is it possible to omit some of the definite articles. For instance instead of saying “I have a diploma, a certificate and a degree...“ can I say: „I have a diploma, certificate and degree”?
Top answer
Yes
- Yes
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3 Answers
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For good style, you must keep the first article, and either keep or drop all the others in the sequence.
The lion, the leopard, the cheetah and the zebra are animals of the African savanna.
The lion, leopard, cheetah and zebra are animals of the African savanna.
The lion, the leopard, the cheetah and the zebra are animals of the African savanna.
The lion, leopard, cheetah and zebra are animals of the African savanna.
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It seems to me that if you omit the later articles, the items need to have something in common.
It sounds fine to say eg I have a diploma, certificate and degree.
But it sounds wrong to say eg I have a diploma, snowball and cat..
Note the famous book is called The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Not The Lion, Witch and Wardrobe.
It sounds fine to say eg I have a diploma, certificate and degree.
But it sounds wrong to say eg I have a diploma, snowball and cat..
Note the famous book is called The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Not The Lion, Witch and Wardrobe.
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