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Senroeash Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Why the zero article in the following example?
I posted this the other day before registering and it's a pain to track it without ownership, so please excuse me reposting it now under my profile:
Hi there,
Could anyone explain why the zero article is used in the following example?
"...companies find it surprisingly difficult to translate standards in their codes of practice into ____ case studies that employees can take away and apply to their everyday existence"
The example comes from Business Benchmark Advanced (Bec Higher) Student's Book by Guy Brook-Hart (Cambridge University Press, 2007) page 103, Grammar Workshop: Articles. The Grammar Workshop on page 116 offers the following 'rules':
The definite article is used:
- when the noun is followed by a defining relative clause
The example sentence is indeed a defining relative clause, yet the use of the zero article is correct here.
The following 'rule' is also offered:
Do not use the definite article:
-when talking in general and in the plural.
But can we be said to be talking in general in the example sentence? Does not the very nature of the defining relative clause make 'case studies' something specific as opposed to something general?
Another teacher has suggested that the rule with the defining relative clause only applies if the noun is the subject, and here it is the object.
What do you all think?
Any help would be most appreciated.
Cheers.
Robert
Many thanks.
Hi there,
Could anyone explain why the zero article is used in the following example?
"...companies find it surprisingly difficult to translate standards in their codes of practice into ____ case studies that employees can take away and apply to their everyday existence"
The example comes from Business Benchmark Advanced (Bec Higher) Student's Book by Guy Brook-Hart (Cambridge University Press, 2007) page 103, Grammar Workshop: Articles. The Grammar Workshop on page 116 offers the following 'rules':
The definite article is used:
- when the noun is followed by a defining relative clause
The example sentence is indeed a defining relative clause, yet the use of the zero article is correct here.
The following 'rule' is also offered:
Do not use the definite article:
-when talking in general and in the plural.
But can we be said to be talking in general in the example sentence? Does not the very nature of the defining relative clause make 'case studies' something specific as opposed to something general?
Another teacher has suggested that the rule with the defining relative clause only applies if the noun is the subject, and here it is the object.
What do you all think?
Any help would be most appreciated.
Cheers.
Robert
Many thanks.
Top answer
Hi, Y ou can speak in general of specifically defined things. eg I like cars that are red with yellow stripes. eg She knits sweaters that have three sleeves.
- Hi, Y ou can speak in general of specifically defined things.
- eg I like cars that are red with yellow stripes.
- eg She knits sweaters that have three sleeves.
- Clive
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4 Answers
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Hi,
You can speak in general of specifically defined things.
eg I like cars that are red with yellow stripes.
eg She knits sweaters that have
You can speak in general of specifically defined things.
eg I like cars that are red with yellow stripes.
eg She knits sweaters that have
00
I checked this out. The other teacher was correct. The "rule" with the defining relative clause (see below) only applies if the noun is the subject, and here it is the object. Here's how it works:
Object: "...companies find it surprisingly difficult to translate standards in their codes of practice into ____ case studies that employees can take away and apply to their everyday existence"
Object: "...companies find it surprisingly difficult to translate standards in their codes of practice into ____ case studies that employees can take away and apply to their everyday existence"
00
Hi,
'These are the case studies that were referred to in the meeting yesterday.' Yes, this is fine. 'The' suggests these are all of them, and also that the listener is already aware that case studies were referred to in the meeting.
Yet you can say '
'These are the case studies that were referred to in the meeting yesterday.' Yes, this is fine. 'The' suggests these are all of them, and also that the listener is already aware that case studies were referred to in the meeting.
Yet you can say '
00
True, but perhaps overly complex for a Bec Higher class. And what I really needed was a reason as to why there was an apparent contradiction in the rule.
Anyway, thanks for your help.
Anyway, thanks for your help.
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