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Is it animal?

 
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nawee



Joined: 29 Apr 2006
Posts: 400

PostPosted: Sun Jan 14, 2007 8:51 pm    Post subject: Is it animal? Reply with quote

Hello,

I came across this sentence on an English handout. Is this correct? Can we say "Is it animal?" without the article "an" before "animal"?

Thank you,

Nawee
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CP



Joined: 12 Jun 2006
Posts: 2875
Location: California

PostPosted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 8:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The only reason to ask the question this way, that I can think of, is when playing a guessing game called 20 Questions. Person A thinks of something, and person B has to guess it in 20 yes-or-no questions.

"Is it animal?" is from the old game-show category: Is it animal, vegetable, or mineral? But in 20 Questions, you can ask only yes-no questions, so you can't ask "Is it animal, vegetable, or mineral?"

Other than that, you need an article.
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nawee



Joined: 29 Apr 2006
Posts: 400

PostPosted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 6:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes! I came across it on a handout for a 20-question type game. Thank you, CP.

Nawee
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