0
Stenka25 Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

The use of indefinite pronoun A

The passage below comes from a book, The Art of Thinking Clearly.

https://nicoleboley.wordpress.com/2013/11/25/daily-message-for-monday-november-25-2013/

Are there more English words that start with a K or more words with K as their third letter? Answer: more than twice as many English words have K in third position than start with a K.

I'd like ask a question regarding 'K' vs. 'a K'.
I understand the first K with a.
?In this case a means one.
(Am I right?)

But I cannot understand why there is no a in the second underlined K.
? Can you explain to me why this K has no a?

Last but not least,
? if I put a in front of this K, does it make a wrong sentence?

Regards.
  

Top answer

For me, "K" and "a K" seem interchangeable in those phrases. ) Not really, at least not in the sense that "one" can naturally be substituted.

— GPY

  • For me, "K" and "a K" seem interchangeable in those phrases.
  • ) Not really, at least not in the sense that "one" can naturally be substituted.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

6 Answers
0
For me, "K" and "a K" seem interchangeable in those phrases.
Stenka25In this case a means one.(Am I right?)
Not really, at least not in the sense that "one" can naturally be substituted.
0
0
Actually, the indefinite article "a" is optional in both places. It is most natural to omit it when it is clear we are talking about the letter "K" in a particular position of a word.
When "a" is omitted, I read "the letter" as implied before the glyph "K."

Are there more English words that start with (the letter) K or more words with (the letter) K as the
0
0
Thanks a lot as always, GPY.
0
0
Thanks a lot as always, AlpheccaStars.
0
0
Stenka25a question regarding 'K' vs. 'a K'.
"K" is, you might say, the proper noun form. "K" is the name of that symbol. "K" is the symbol named "K".
"a K" is, you might say, the common noun form. "a K" is any instance of the symbol named "K".

In this kind of case, much less usual than most cases, every instance of a K is named
0
0
Thanks a lot as always, CJEmotion: smile
Thanks to your reply, I have a better picture of my question.
0

Related Questions