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Yakawaa Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Table

"An offer on table, Peter still hesitated."
"Offer on the table, Peter still hesitated."

Could the second sentence, with the article "an" dropped, be a more formal, poetic version of the first?
  

Top answer

Hi, I don't thing there is anything poetic about an offer. " As it stands, "An offer on table " is a noun phrase which can't modify a main clause if I remember right. I could be wrong.

— Dimsumexpress

  • Hi, I don't thing there is anything poetic about an offer.
  • " As it stands, "An offer on table " is a noun phrase which can't modify a main clause if I remember right.
  • I could be wrong.
  • I would change it to a preposition (adverbial): With an offer (already) on the table, Peter still hesitated.
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3 Answers
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Hi,

I don't thing there is anything poetic about an offer.
Yakawaa", Peter still hesitated."
As it stands, "An offer on table " is a noun phrase which can't modify a main clause if I remember right. I could be wrong.
I would change it to a preposition (adverbial): With an offer (already) on the table, Peter still hesitated.
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Yakawaawith the article "an" dropped
It just sounds more casual to me without the "an" - almost a little careless. Neither is particularly formal or poetic.

CJ
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"He participated on the report."
"He participated in the report."

How are "in" and "on" different?
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