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puzzle
Joined: 17 Oct 2005
Posts: 198
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 Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 6:14 pm Post subject: mother |
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Dear teachers,
Could you please tell me if we should use "a" before "father"&"mother". For example, are "a father of three chilren" and "father of three children" both right?
Thank you! |
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zorro (4)
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Posts: 14
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| Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:27 am Post subject: |
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We do need contexts to be able to answer most of these questions, so please provide them whenever you can. Thanks.
I'll give this a go anyway, but it may not be what you were thinking.
A father of three children... was injured in a motorcycle accident.
This is correct. Using the article 'a' makes the noun phrase 'father of three children' more general. We don't know which father of three children. To me, at the beginning of a sentence, this would most likely be found in a newspaper report.
Father of three children, Paul Sampson, was injured in a motorcycle accident.
Again, this is correct. Dropping the article means we have to be more specific about which father of three children we are talking about.
I hope this helps. |
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puzzle
Joined: 17 Oct 2005
Posts: 198
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| Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:59 pm Post subject: mother |
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The original sentence is like this:
"Randy Pausch, a computer professor, was father of three little children."
And my students want to change it to " a father of three children". I don't know if that's ok.
Thank you! |
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puzzle
Joined: 17 Oct 2005
Posts: 198
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| Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 11:03 pm Post subject: mother |
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| Thank you! I finally made it. Your explanation is clear. |
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rice07
Joined: 26 Oct 2007
Posts: 385
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| Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 11:16 pm Post subject: |
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| zorro (4) wrote: |
A father of three children... was injured in a motorcycle accident.
This is correct. Using the article 'a' makes the noun phrase 'father of three children' more general. We don't know which father of three children. To me, at the beginning of a sentence, this would most likely be found in a newspaper report.
Father of three children, Paul Sampson, was injured in a motorcycle accident.
Again, this is correct. Dropping the article means we have to be more specific about which father of three children we are talking about.
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| dragn wrote: |
Ex. Dialogue is crucial to solving problems between countries.
Clearly we are emphasizing the concept of dialogue in general, and not one certain dialogue.
Ex. The two countries sought to establish a dialogue.
Here there is greater emphasis on one certain dialogue, not just dialogue in general. |
After reading your posts, I deeply think that each of you has your own strong points theoretically. But that's exactly the reason why I raise this issue.
| a grammar book wrote: |
The correct use of the articles is one of the most difficult points in English grammar, and there're four common mistakes to avoid:
1. Don't use a/an with plural or uncountable nouns.
e.g. John collects stamps. (NOT ... a stamps.)
e.g. Our garden needs water. (NOT ... a water.)
2.Don't use 'the' to talk about things in general. 'The' does not mean 'all'.(For exceptions see 68.2)
e.g. Elphants can swim very well. (NOT The elphants can swim ...)
e.g. Petrol is expensive. (NOT The petrol ...)
3. Don't use articles together with my, this, or other determiners.
e.g. my work (NOT the my work)
e.g. this problem (NOT the this problem)
e.g. a friend of mine (NOT a my friend)
4.Don't use singular countable nouns alone, without an article or other determiner. We can say a cat, the cat, my cat, this cat, any cat, either cat or every cat, but not just cat. (For exceptions, see 70.)
e.g. Give it to the cat. (NOT Give it to cat.)
e.g. Annie is a doctor. (NOT Annie is doctor.)
For more detailed information about articles, see ...
68.2 generalisations with sigular countable nouns
Sometimes we talk about things in general by using the with a sigular countable noun.
e.g. Schools should concentrate more on the child and less on exams.
This is common with the names of scientific instruments and inventions, and musical instruments.
e.g. Life would be quieter without the telphone.
e.g. The violin is more difficult than the piano.
WE can also generalise by talking one example about one example of a class, using a/an(meaning 'any') with a singular countable noun.
e.g. A baby deer can stand as soon as it's born.
e.g. A child needs plenty of love.
Note that we cannot use a/an in this way when we are generalising about all of the members of a group together.
e.g. The tiger is in dager of becoming extinct. (NOT A tiger is in danger of becoming entinct. The sentence is about the whole tiger family, not about individuals.)
e.g. Do you like horses? (NOT Do you like a horse?)
70. See PRACTICAL ENGLISH USAGE by Michael Swan for details.
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What is frustrating is that the more you read, the more you are confused.   
It is not my inclination that I raise my confusion about the contradictions between your viewpoints over the using or not using of the indefinite article- as are quoted in the above- to bother teachers. It is to make things clearer through having a good discussion. MANY THANKS!
Sincerely
rice |
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