0
Postmodernbliss Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Quick questions
I just posted a question, but I forgot to log-in. Please forgive me for re-tying the question, as I really want/need to receive a reply.
Many kind thanks in advance for anyone who can answer the following questions:
1. John Stevens, head of cardiology at Summerville Hospital, is in town for the weekend.
John Stevens, the head of cardiology at Summerville Hospital, is in town for the weekend.
My guess is that 'head of / the head of' are both being used as appositives, however, I don't know how to explain this to an EFL student. Are they actually appositives? What the difference?
2. Most students in my class are bright.
Most of the students in my class are bright.
As a general rule 'most' is used to make general statements (e.g. Most women are pretty.), and 'most of the' is used for specific statements (e.g. Most of the women at my company are nice.). However, in the above sentences, they both seem to convey the same info.: there are a large number of bright student in my class. How would one explain the difference between the two?
3. I entered middle school when I moved to Tucson, Arizona.
Is there is no article in this sentence because 'I entered middle school' is being used not to describe physical entry into a middle school but a period of time? Again, I have an EFL student is curious as to this sentence.
I look forward to any / all reply for the aforementioned sentences.
Many kind thanks in advance for anyone who can answer the following questions:
1. John Stevens, head of cardiology at Summerville Hospital, is in town for the weekend.
John Stevens, the head of cardiology at Summerville Hospital, is in town for the weekend.
My guess is that 'head of / the head of' are both being used as appositives, however, I don't know how to explain this to an EFL student. Are they actually appositives? What the difference?
2. Most students in my class are bright.
Most of the students in my class are bright.
As a general rule 'most' is used to make general statements (e.g. Most women are pretty.), and 'most of the' is used for specific statements (e.g. Most of the women at my company are nice.). However, in the above sentences, they both seem to convey the same info.: there are a large number of bright student in my class. How would one explain the difference between the two?
3. I entered middle school when I moved to Tucson, Arizona.
Is there is no article in this sentence because 'I entered middle school' is being used not to describe physical entry into a middle school but a period of time? Again, I have an EFL student is curious as to this sentence.
I look forward to any / all reply for the aforementioned sentences.
Top answer
1. Yes, they are. The first is presumably the job title and the second is a description of position.
- 1.
- Yes, they are.
- The first is presumably the job title and the second is a description of position.
- 2.
- Just a matter of speaker's mindset (the first is a vaguer utterance), and the second remains the usual approach.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
1 Answers
0
1. Yes, they are. The first is presumably the job title and the second is a description of position.
2. Just a matter of speaker's mindset (the first is a vaguer utterance), and the second remains the usual approach.
3. No article because it is not physical entry into a building, but entry into an established level. Is that what you said?
2. Just a matter of speaker's mindset (the first is a vaguer utterance), and the second remains the usual approach.
3. No article because it is not physical entry into a building, but entry into an established level. Is that what you said?
0
Related Questions