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crliu
Joined: 18 May 2003 Posts: 16
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2003 9:03 pm Post subject: under water or under the water? |
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Which is correct?
I can hold my breath under the water for two minutes or
I can hold my breath under water for two minutes.
Please help, thanks. |
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obelix
Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 304
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Posted: Mon May 19, 2003 5:34 am Post subject: |
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Both of them sound OK to me. |
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crliu
Joined: 18 May 2003 Posts: 16
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Posted: Mon May 19, 2003 5:57 am Post subject: |
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Do these two sentences have the same meaning?
Thanks for your reply, obelix. |
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dduck
Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 109 Location: Scotland/Mexico
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Posted: Mon May 19, 2003 11:36 am Post subject: Re: under water or under the water? |
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crliu wrote: |
Which is correct?
I can hold my breath under the water for two minutes or
I can hold my breath under water for two minutes.
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I think there is a subtle difference between these two sentences. If you were standing next to a pool, then both work. However if you were standing in the middle of the desert and you used the first example, some people would wonder "What water?" In this case "the water" is understood to refer to a particular body of water that the listener is familiar with". If there aint no water nearby you have a problem!
So in short, I'd say the second example is better.
Iain _________________
Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.
--Chinese Proverb |
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crliu
Joined: 18 May 2003 Posts: 16
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Posted: Mon May 19, 2003 1:03 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you, Iain. Your explanation is very clear. By the way, why people often say "The child can play the piano well", instead of "The child can play piano well"? Are both correct expressions? |
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bud
Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 2111 Location: New Jersey, US
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Posted: Mon May 19, 2003 6:36 pm Post subject: |
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Both are correct, but to my ears the first is more likely. I can't explain why, though. |
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bud
Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 2111 Location: New Jersey, US
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Posted: Mon May 19, 2003 6:36 pm Post subject: |
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Both are correct, but to my ears the first is more likely. I can't explain why, though. |
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Lib
Joined: 02 May 2003 Posts: 35
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Posted: Mon May 19, 2003 9:17 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Crliu,
At least in British English you use 'play' without 'the' for sports: We play basketball every evening. When he was younger he used to play football.
And we use 'play' with 'the' for musical instruments: Can you play the piano? He plays the guitar in a group.
I can't say if this is the same in American English, but I imagine it is. After all, they're not all that different. |
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crliu
Joined: 18 May 2003 Posts: 16
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2003 7:55 am Post subject: |
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Thanks, Lib, for your usage rules. They are clear and easy to remember.
With regards to the "under water" question, is it also correct to say "I can hold my breath underwater for two minutes", using "underwater" as an adverb in the sentence? Does it express the same meaning as the previous two sentences? Is it preferable? |
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bud
Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 2111 Location: New Jersey, US
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2003 10:23 am Post subject: |
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Yes, crliu, it is correct and it is probably the most natural way to say it.
Yes, Lib, that's how "to play" works in American English, too. |
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crliu
Joined: 18 May 2003 Posts: 16
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2003 10:41 am Post subject: |
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Thanks, bud, for your reply.
Do the following sentences make sense?
Some drivers have a lot of accidents. They must pay closer attention to traffic while driving.
How do I know when to use "traffic" or "the traffic" in a phrase or sentence? |
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bud
Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 2111 Location: New Jersey, US
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2003 12:20 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, they are correct and they make sense. Still, I would probably make two changes: "... drivers get into a lot..." and "They should pay..."
"To get into an accident" is the typical way to express the thought of having a car accident. "To have an accident" could instead mean spilling your coffee in the car, although in context your sentence would not be confused.
I cannot explain why I prefer "should" to "must." It may just be a personal preference.
Also, I'll leave it to someone else to explain when to use "the" or "a/an" or nothing. For me, it would only be a guess.
Way to go, crliu. Your English is excellent. |
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dduck
Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 109 Location: Scotland/Mexico
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2003 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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bud wrote: |
I cannot explain why I prefer "should" to "must." It may just be a personal preference.
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You must fasten you seatbelt.
Some external person or group says that you need to fasten your seatbelt. It doesn't imply agreement on part of the speaker.
You should do you homework.
Whereas here, the speaker is expressing her/his own opinion that you need to do your homework.
Iain _________________
Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.
--Chinese Proverb |
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bud
Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 2111 Location: New Jersey, US
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2003 5:22 pm Post subject: |
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Great explanation, dduck. It makes sense now that you've said it. |
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