Restaurant

Question

Hello, teachers!
Would you please tell me if these are correct?

1. We ate out at Nora's.
2. We ate out at Nora's restaurant.
3. We ate out at the Nora's.
4. We ate out at the Nora's restaurant.

Thank you very much.
Peace!

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

"the" and a possessive don't go together.

So 1 and 2 are OK. 3 and 4 are not OK.

CJ

Jandi · Answer

What about this case?

1. We ate out at McDonald's.
2. We ate out at a McDonald's.
3. We ate out at the McDonald's.
4. We ate out at McDonald's fast food shop
5. We ate out at a McDonald's fast food shop
6. We ate out at the McDonald's fast food shop

I think all are correct except #4. Am I right?

Thank you very much.
Peace!

Mister Micawber · Answer

All are OK, including 4, depending on how many McDonald's there are to choose from in the immediate vicinity-- but no one would EVER say 4, 5 or 6:  it would be difficult to find a greater modern redundancy.

Jandi · Answer

Sorry, help me one more time please!
What about this case?

1. We ate out at Pizza Inn.
2. We ate out at a Pizza Inn.
3. We ate out at the Pizza Inn.
Especially, is #1 correct or incorrect?

Thank you very much.
Peace!

Mister Micawber · Answer

These three forms will always be right if you use the proper name of a chain restaurant, and 'the' is not an intrinsic part of that name, Ms. Jandi.

(1) indicates that you chose that chain for your meal; (2) indicates that you chose an unspecified member of that chain; (3) indicates that you chose a specified (perhaps previously-mentioned or commonly-known) member of the chain.

PS: You might notice in my previous post (as I just did) that McDonald's is so well-known as such that even though it is possessive, the 'the' still does not grate-- 'I had an Egg McMuffin at the McDonald's near the station' is perfectly acceptable-- nay, a popular expression.

Jandi · Answer

Thank you, teachers!!!

Teacher Eric · Answer

Number 3 would be a lot better if you added a modifier. You may use either an adjective or noun.

We ate at the new Pizza Hut.
We ate at the Pizza Hut on Times Street.
We ate at the new Pizza Hut on Times Street.

Saying "We ate at the McDonald's." or "Let's have a frap at the Starbucks." sounds strange. Do away with the "the" unless that particular place has been established. If you're using a common noun, insert an "a" before it but only if you're not referring to a particular place.

We had dinner at a restaurant.
They went to a coffee shop.

Some common nouns usually work better with "the", even if there are several such places in a given area.

I'm going to the park.
I'll be at the bank.
Please bring this to the post office.
Let's all go to the mall.

Regarding the common nouns listed above, you would have to insert an "a" if you don't have a certain one in mind or when you're not familiar with the area.

I'm looking for a park where I can walk my dog.
I need to change money, is there a bank near here?
Is there a post office near your office?
Are you sure there's a mall on 63rd?

Other places don't need any article.

I'll be in church.
He's in school.

Jandi · Answer

Thank you for your useful information!
I'd like to ask you a question; help me again please!
- Saying "We ate at the McDonald's." or "Let's have a frap at the Starbucks." sounds strange.
Is it true? Don't we use 'the' in everyday expressions? Don't "The" and "McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, etc without any modifier" come together?
Please confirm this!

Mister Micawber · Answer

As Eric explained, and as you know, 'the' indicates a specific noun, or a noun previously referred to, or a noun whose identity is known by both speaker and listener. 'We ate at the McDonald's' or 'Let's have a frap at the Starbucks' sounds strange only out of context. The context might be:

'Where did you have lunch?'
'We ate at the McDonald's in the mall.' (specificity--to differentiate from other McDonald's nearby)

'Let's have a frappe at the Starbuck's on the next corner.' (common knowledge)

Or, add a modifier, as Eric suggested: 'We ate at the original McDonald's in San Bernardino'.

In 'everyday expressions', however, most restaurants, as with many proper nouns, take no article: 'I ate at Mcdonald's /Coco's / Burger King etc. It could be simply because so many restaurant names are constructed similarly. I hesitate to generalize, because I do not see normal English-named restaurants here, so am short of examples, but perhaps the main exception would be restaurants with the word 'Restaurant' but no possessive in the name: 'I ate at the Hollywood Restaurant / the Bandolier Restaurant / the *** As You Are Diner'.

Jandi · Answer

Thank you as always, MM!
Happy Sunday!

Restaurant

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions