Tagged Questions
-1
votes
1answer
86 views
Do you feel any subtle changes in meaning with the addition or omission of article(s) in this sentence? [closed]
I'm translating a short story that is a parody of Kafka's 'Report to an Academy.' A chimp is called to present a report to an academy about the time when he was a chimp. I'm to translate into English ...
2
votes
3answers
180 views
Difference between “an” and “one”
Forgive me if I miss something very obvious; English is not my native language.
I am currently taking an online (sort of) Math class that aims to teach creating/writing unambiguous Mathematical ...
0
votes
2answers
105 views
“This is a song by Lady Gaga” or “this is the song by Lady Gaga”? [closed]
Which article is appropriate in the blank below, a or the?
— What are you singing? I've heard the song many times.
— This is __ song by Lady Gaga.
0
votes
5answers
346 views
“Is of the view that” vs. “is of a view that” [closed]
Is there any significant difference in the meanings of sentence 1 and sentence 2 below?
Mr. Jones is of a view that the project is unnecessary.
Mr. Jones is of the view that the project is ...
1
vote
1answer
420 views
“Against traffic” or “Against the traffic”
The following first sentence comes from Wikipedia, which 'the' is not used before 'traffic', while the second one comes from BBC, which has 'the' before 'traffic'. I wonder if both usages are correct ...
-2
votes
2answers
130 views
“Win the lottery”, “win a lottery”, “win lottery” [closed]
Should it be win the lottery or win a lottery or just win lottery?
The sentences below sound the same to me. Are they?
I lost $5000 to lottery.
I lost $5000 for lottery.
10
votes
5answers
204 views
What is the radical difference between ‘this’ and ‘a’ when telling a story?
The following quotation is a line from Ron to Harry after the first stage of the Triwizard Tournament. (p359, Harry Potter 4, US edition)
“You were the best, you know, no competition. Cedric did ...
5
votes
2answers
193 views
What are “a” and “certain” adding in meaning to the phrase “a certain Mr. Ripley”?
Consider the following sentences:
I had my identity stolen by Mr. Ripley.
and
I had my identity stolen by a Mr. Ripley.
and
I had my identity stolen by a certain Mr. Ripley.
In what ...
-1
votes
2answers
2k views
“A English nerd” versus “an English nerd” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When should I use “a” vs “an”?
“a” or “an” for words that don't start with vowels but sound like they're starting ...
10
votes
4answers
586 views
New Oxford American Dictionary describes “the” as an adjective
When I look at the definition given from the Mac OS X Dictionary (I have set American English as interface language, and the dictionary used is then the New Oxford American Dictionary), I read:
...
