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Leiwang81 Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Two nouns share one definite article

Hi,

I've learned at school, e.g.,
"The teacher and writer is ...." These two nouns refer to the same person. Yesterday, I read in a scientific article:
1. The size and shape of the earth ...
2. The earth's size and shape is ...

Why it is not here the size and the shape of the earth in 1. The verb used here is even in a single form in 2. What's the difference if people say the size and the shape of the earth? Are both of them correct?Emotion: sad

Best regards,

Wang, Lei
  

Top answer

Often the determiner is not repeated in a compound noun phrase, particularly if the two nouns are closely connected. The Earth's size and shape = one idea, that is, the Earth's form. At the restaurant: Waiter: I would recommend the fish and chips.

— AlpheccaStars

  • Often the determiner is not repeated in a compound noun phrase, particularly if the two nouns are closely connected.
  • The Earth's size and shape = one idea, that is, the Earth's form.
  • At the restaurant: Waiter: I would recommend the fish and chips.
  • )
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1 Answers
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Often the determiner is not repeated in a compound noun phrase, particularly if the two nouns are closely connected.

The Earth's size and shape = one idea, that is, the Earth's form.

At the restaurant:
Waiter:
I would recommend the fish and chips. (it is one dish - the fish and the chips would be separate items.)
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