0
Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Why no articles in front of these count nouns?
Hi. The definition of the word "stump" in Cambridge Dictionaries Online is this and I wonder why there are no Englsih articles in front of nouns like "tree" and "tooth." Thank you for your help in advance.
[C] the part of something such as tree, tooth, arm or leg which is left after most of it has been removed
[C] the part of something such as tree, tooth, arm or leg which is left after most of it has been removed
Top answer
It's unusal but possible. Articles are often dropped in coordinated structures such as "husband and wife", "from top to bottom", "day by day" etc. Writers have been known to take this idea much further, leaving out all the articles in rather long phrases or even sentences, presumably to make it sound more emphatic.
- It's unusal but possible.
- Articles are often dropped in coordinated structures such as "husband and wife", "from top to bottom", "day by day" etc.
- Writers have been known to take this idea much further, leaving out all the articles in rather long phrases or even sentences, presumably to make it sound more emphatic.
- Anyway, it's still unusal.
- You may want to hear a second opinion though.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
4 Answers
0
It's unusal but possible.
Articles are often dropped in coordinated structures such as "husband and wife", "from top to bottom", "day by day" etc. Writers have been known to take this idea much further, leaving out all the articles in rather long phrases or even sentences, presumably to make it sound more emphatic.
Anyway, it's still unusal. You may want to hear a second opinion
Articles are often dropped in coordinated structures such as "husband and wife", "from top to bottom", "day by day" etc. Writers have been known to take this idea much further, leaving out all the articles in rather long phrases or even sentences, presumably to make it sound more emphatic.
Anyway, it's still unusal. You may want to hear a second opinion
00
There could be an article before all the words. However, articles are often omitted in lists. Besides, the definition is shorter without the articles and brevity is appreciated by compilers of dictionaries.
CB
CB
00
That is not omission of articles in a list, because the first one is missing. It is not omission in an expression, either. That is a rarely seen phenomenon that I do not have a name for. Articles will eat your lunch and ask for more.
He strode straight out into the arena, without sword, without shield, without helmet. But even that is not quite it, the
He strode straight out into the arena, without sword, without shield, without helmet. But even that is not quite it, the
00
AnonymousI wonder why there are no Englsih articles in front of nouns like "tree" and "tooth."I attribute it to "dictionary style", which tends to be telegraphic for the sake of brevity.
Outside the context of their dictionary, the Cambridge people would most likely insist on the article (... such as a tree, tooth, ...).
CJ
0
Related Questions