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kerstin · Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 241 Location: Taiwan

I have a problem of using what preposition to modify a noun.

the eleventh hour=an important moment

in , at ,or on the eleventh hour?

thank you ~

CP · Joined: 12 Jun 2006 Posts: 2875 Location: California

If something occurs at the eleventh hour, it happens with very little time left, almost at the last moment. It doesn't necessarily mean an important moment, just a late moment.
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kerstin · Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 241 Location: Taiwan

Why the 11th hour, not 12th? Is it because there are 12 hours in half of a day?

Thanks

iitimone7 · Joined: 09 Aug 2005 Posts: 400 Location: Indiana, USA

i think the 11th hour is used in referring to the end of the day. it doesn't make much sense, i know, but that's the only way i've heard it used. again, this is not an every day phrase. i'm sorry i don't have a better explanation. iitimone7

ad-miral · Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Posts: 1488

There is also a movie about 11th hour. It's about
Global warming, deforestation, mass species extinction, and depletion of the oceans' habitats.

http://wip.warnerbros.com/11thhour/

So iitimone's guess is proved. See the 11th hour would mean everything after 22:59 and before 0:00. The 0:00 is a comparison for the World End caused by Global warming, deforestation etc.
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If I say "I love you" to someone, then I also have to say "I also love everyone else inside you, I love the whole world because of you, I also love myself inside you." -- Erich Fromm, the Art of Love

ad-miral · Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Posts: 1488

Oh I have a question: Do we say "an 11th hour" or "a 11th hour?" Because if we write it in letters it would be: "eleventh" and then we should use "an eleventh hour", but what if we write it in arabic number?
_________________
If I say "I love you" to someone, then I also have to say "I also love everyone else inside you, I love the whole world because of you, I also love myself inside you." -- Erich Fromm, the Art of Love

bud · Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 2111 Location: New Jersey, US

Admiral, does the pronunciation of the word start with a vowel? If yes, then "an" is required. It doesn't matter how the word is spelled.

an honor
an 11th
a useful tool
an usher

Hope that helps.

ad-miral · Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Posts: 1488

oh yeahr! Thanks very much
_________________
If I say "I love you" to someone, then I also have to say "I also love everyone else inside you, I love the whole world because of you, I also love myself inside you." -- Erich Fromm, the Art of Love

bud · Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 2111 Location: New Jersey, US

You're very welcome!

CP · Joined: 12 Jun 2006 Posts: 2875 Location: California

ad-miral · Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Posts: 1488

I would want to explain it in another way:
See, there is no 24:00 o'clock, because the minute after 23:59 is the 0:00 of the next day. So the 12th hour (pm) is the end of the day. (lyrically speaking, it's the end)
But "the 11th hour" is the last hour, it means there is still a little bit time before the end.
_________________
If I say "I love you" to someone, then I also have to say "I also love everyone else inside you, I love the whole world because of you, I also love myself inside you." -- Erich Fromm, the Art of Love