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Tomasd Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Shark in the water

Hi, I am writing this:

"This machine looks like a shark's fin as it cuts through the water."

I wrote "the water" because I think it makes the best sense. Not just some water or water in general but the water in which that shark is swimming. I think that by mentioning a shark, I have provided the context for the water.

But looking at it now, maybe it's also correct without the article as well? Or is "the" just better?

Thanks.
  

Top answer

Hello It's exactly good the LONGMAN sentence version: The boat cut effortlessly through the water.

— H.galeh

  • Hello It's exactly good the LONGMAN sentence version: The boat cut effortlessly through the water.
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7 Answers
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Hello
It's exactly good
the LONGMAN sentence version:
The boat cut effortlessly through the water.
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No offence, but I would prefer to hear it from a native speaker. Your Longman example has nothing to do with my question!
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tomasd I think that by mentioning a shark, I have provided the context for the water.
Yes, you have.
But the look of a shark's fin does not change, so you really don't need that last clause.
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The given sentence is grammatical, but the context would have to fit. As it stands, the description is unusual. What kind of machine looks like a shark's fin in the water? I can't visualize such a machine. The context would determine if the article should be used or not.
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AlpheccaStars tomasd I think that by mentioning a shark, I have provided the context for the water.Yes, you have.But the look of a shark's fin does not change, so you really don't need that last clause.
Thank you, AS. So you'd agree that either "the" or no article is correct, but "the" is better (assuming that I insist on the last clause)?
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tomasdSo you'd agree that either "the" or no article is correct,
Agreed.
tomasd but "the" is better
Not necessarily.
Without "the", it seems more poetic, and with "the" it seems more matter-of-fact.
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