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Believer Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
two floating questions
1. In the case of putting the determiner "the" in front of nouns, I think the criteria we would apply are 1) the case of specificity and 2) the case of a prior precedent. OK. In applying the stated criteria, can we use a "either one" approach or a "either or both" approach? In other words, can both criteria exist in one contextual case as to necessitate the inclusion of one "the" determiner?
2. What is the difference between the two phrases "on top" and "on the top"?
There is an alarm clock on top of the dresser.
There is an alarm clock on the top of the dresser.
The physicist found the bodies on top of a volcano last month.
He says the geologist made the discovery after searching on the top of the volcano ...
2. What is the difference between the two phrases "on top" and "on the top"?
There is an alarm clock on top of the dresser.
There is an alarm clock on the top of the dresser.
The physicist found the bodies on top of a volcano last month.
He says the geologist made the discovery after searching on the top of the volcano ...
Top answer
1. I would think so. 2.
- 1.
- I would think so.
- 2.
- I prefer to think of on top (of) as meaning on the uppermost surface and on the top (of) as meaning on the part of the object called its 'top' .
- If your dresser were lying on its back (you had thrown it over, perhaps, to install casters), I could lay a screwdriver on top of it (that is, on the uppermost part of it at the moment, which would be what is normally its front face-- where the drawers are); I could not, however, lay my screwdriver on the top of it , because that surface is vertical at the moment.
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2 Answers
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1. I would think so.
2. I prefer to think of on top (of) as meaning on the uppermost surface and on the top (of) as meaning on the part of the object called its 'top'. If your dresser were lying on its back (you had thrown it over, perhaps, to install casters), I could lay a screwdriver on top of it (that is, on the uppermost part of it
2. I prefer to think of on top (of) as meaning on the uppermost surface and on the top (of) as meaning on the part of the object called its 'top'. If your dresser were lying on its back (you had thrown it over, perhaps, to install casters), I could lay a screwdriver on top of it (that is, on the uppermost part of it
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PS: It would save me a bit of work if you would post in the General English Grammar forum, Believer. Your questions are too sophisticated for the Basic forums.
Thanks.
Thanks.
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