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hiromichi
Joined: 12 Oct 2005
Posts: 1380
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 Posted: Fri May 03, 2013 3:20 am Post subject: voting day |
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I like to know which sentence is right?
I think "a" is necessary before "voting day" unlike Monday, Tuesday, etc.
1. If today were a voting day, which would you vote for?
2. If today were voting day, which would you vote for?
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IanT
Joined: 13 Sep 2012
Posts: 340
Location: Spain
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| Posted: Sat May 04, 2013 3:24 am Post subject: |
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It's more normal without "a". The reason is that elections don't happen very often, so when we talk about voting day, it's always clear which one you mean.
"a voting day" makes it sound that there are many, almost like "a sunny day". And if there were many, you wouldn't know which group of candidates it was, and so on.
Hope ehlps,
Ian
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hiromichi
Joined: 12 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Sat May 04, 2013 3:32 am Post subject: |
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IanT:
I get it. Thank you.
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Hiromichi |
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hiromichi
Joined: 12 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 10:16 pm Post subject: |
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IanT:
On my second thought, how about saying " If today is the voting day,...?"
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IanT
Joined: 13 Sep 2012
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| Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 1:13 pm Post subject: |
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Well ... logically it seems reasonable, since you are referring to a previously specified day.
It's exactly the sort of sentence where you would use "the"... except that with this particular phrase we normally don't!
So your instinct is correct, it's just English refusing to be normal, as so often!
Sorry, hope helps,
Ian
_________________
All my answers refer to British English.
www.EnglishSwearing.com - How to use all the bad words! ... and ... www.throdworld.com - Silly verses to make you happy.
You decide the price for both! |
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hiromichi
Joined: 12 Oct 2005
Posts: 1380
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| Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 3:54 pm Post subject: |
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Iant:
Thank you for your answer.
On my third thought I find " If today is the voting day,...?" funny. A person who asks the question shoulid have known today is the voting day. "If today were the voting day," is acceptable.
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