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Gori Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

Use of indefinite articles

0I used to believe that, in general, I should use a singular countable noun with an article. However, reading one book talking about articles, I started to get myself confused whether or not an article should be really omitted (= should not be used) in the cases as follows:02br
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001. This one smells like01b00 old dog02b00. (not "an old dog"?)02br
002. It tastes like 01b00apple02b00./It tastes something like 01b00apple02b00. (not "an apple"?)02br
003. You may put 01b00pineapple02b00 on your pizza.02br
004. Add 01b00carrot02b00 and 01b00onion02b00 after heating the pan. 02br
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00Well, according to the author of this book, he says that "an article is not necessary if the noun specified is not recognized as having its original form."02br
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00As for the above 3 and 4, I kind of understand why "a/an" cannot be used--because we do not mean that we put/add a whole pineapple, carrot, or onion. However, even so, I still have doubts if it is okay to leave the nouns (pineapple/carrot/onion) without any articles or making them plural instead.02br
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00Professional teachers/native speakers, please help me clear this problem.0-
  

Top answer

0 To me, in all these examples singular nouns denote a substance rather than a thing. : Anyway, I'd use "an old dog" for #1... because...

  • 0 To me, in all these examples singular nouns denote a substance rather than a thing.
  • : Anyway, I'd use "an old dog" for #1...
  • because...
  • it doesn't make much sense to speak of the substance (matter) of an old dog.
  • 0-
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5 Answers
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0 To me, in all these examples singular nouns denote a substance rather than a thing. That's why indefinite articles are omitted.02br
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00P.S.: Anyway, I'd use "an old dog" for #1... because... it doesn't make much sense to speak of the substance (matter) of an old dog. 0-
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0 01blockquote
01cite10Ant_22212cite10To me, in all these examples singular nouns denote a substance rather than a thing. That's why indefinite articles are omitted. P.S.: Anyway, I'd use "an old dog" for #1... because... it doesn't make much sense to speak of the substance (matter) of an old dog.12blockquote
10 01font
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0So, do you mean that you would not use an article ("a/an") for #2 to #4 but would use it for #1?02br
00Is it wrong if I used an article ("a/an") for #2 to #4?0-
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0 «So, do you mean that you would not use an article ("a/an") for #2 to #4 but would use it for #1?»02br
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00Yes.02br
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00«Is it wrong if I used an article ("a/an") for #2 to #4?»02br
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00No, but the sentences would assume slightly different meanings. For example:02br
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00«Add a carrot and an onion after
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0 Thank you for your comments and information.02br
00You have helped me a lot! 0-

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