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Deepak chop Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Pizza? The pizza? Article help

My dear teachers!

My coworker always leave the office at lunch and comes back with pizza (or wonton soup, or anything else) for his lunch every day. Once he says to me:
"I am off to Tom's".
"What's there?" I ask.
He responds:
1. "Oh, that's where I buy pizza". (I think it's OK)
2. "Oh, that's where I buy my pizza." (I think it's OK)
3. "Oh, that's where I buy all the/that pizza". (I think it's OK)
4. "Oh, that's where I buy the pizza". (Not sure about that one)

I think #1-3 are correct for this context. But I am not sure about #4. It could mean "the pizza [hat I have for lunch]." But without that [that I have daily for lunch] I think "the pizza" is about strange.

What do you think, dear teachers? Can someone please help?

Thank you very much.
  

Top answer

deepak chop Pizza? The pizza? Both are fine.

— CalifJim

  • deepak chop Pizza?
  • The pizza?
  • Both are fine.
  • If he says "the pizza", he's counting on the fact that you already know his habit of buying pizza for lunch.
  • If he had no idea that you were familiar with his habit, he might say just "pizza".
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7 Answers
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deepak chopPizza? The pizza?
Both are fine. If he says "the pizza", he's counting on the fact that you already know his habit of buying pizza for lunch. If he had no idea that you were familiar with his habit, he might say just "pizza".
deepak chopIt could mean "the pizza [that I have for lunch]."
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CalifJimBoth are fine. If he says "the pizza", he's counting on the fact that you already know his habit of buying pizza for lunch. If he had no idea that you were familiar with his habit, he might say just "pizza".
Thank you, dear CJ. So even if he knows that I know that he always buys pizza for lunch, it's still OK for him to say,
"Oh, that's where I buy
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deepak chopSo even if he knows that I know ...
Yes.

Besides, it's also possible that he may have forgotten that you know and therefore think he has to inform you again, so to speak.

CJ
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Thank you very much for answer this. One final Q: what would you say? Am I right when I say that most native speakers would say, "my pizza"?
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deepak chopAm I right when I say that most native speakers would say, "my pizza"?
Probably not most, but certainly many.
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deepak chopmost
It's hard to say, but my guess is 'no'.

CJ
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Thank you, dear Mister Micawber and CJ, for your valuable feedback.
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