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Teleostomi Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

"plays guitar in his combo": why without "the"?

1font01b01blockquote
00In AmE we would normally use "the" before guitar. Exception: he plays guitar in his combo.12blockquote
10Could you tell me why "he plays guitar in his combo." OK without a "the" before "guitar"?02br
02b02font0-
  

Top answer

0I don't think it's a particular exception. I have heard it both ways in AmE. In any case, '01i 01b 00the02b 00 guitar02i 00' is simply naming his instrument, while '01i 00guitar02i 00' names the musical ensemble position, like 'second violin'-- 01i 00She is second violin for the Plattsville Philharmonic02i 00.

— Mister Micawber

  • 0I don't think it's a particular exception.
  • I have heard it both ways in AmE.
  • In any case, '01i 01b 00the02b 00 guitar02i 00' is simply naming his instrument, while '01i 00guitar02i 00' names the musical ensemble position, like 'second violin'-- 01i 00She is second violin for the Plattsville Philharmonic02i 00.
  • 270cAnne Simons
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2 Answers
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0I don't think it's a particular exception. I have heard it both ways in AmE. In any case, '01i01b00the02b00 guitar02i00' is simply naming his instrument, while '01i00guitar02i00' names the musical ensemble position, like 'second violin'-- 01i00She is second violin for the Plattsville Philharmonic02i00. Or
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0 Hi Teleostomi02br
02br
00In theory, 01i00the02i00 is used after 01i00play02i00 with 01font00musical intruments02font00:02br
02br
01i00He can't play 01b00the02b00 01font00piano02font00.02b
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