Meaning of "great touch"

[Janna]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #146 "Conversations and Comprehension Test", question 3

Mary: Did you have fun at the barbeque last night?
Linda: Yes, I thought the games were a great touch.
Mary: Me too. I especially liked the three-legged race.
Question: What did Linda like about the barbeque? ..........

(a) The three-legged race
(b) The food
(c) The games

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #146 "Conversations and Comprehension Test", answer 3

Mary: Did you have fun at the barbeque last night?
Linda: Yes, I thought the games were a great touch.
Mary: Me too. I especially liked the three-legged race.
Question: What did Linda like about the barbeque? The games.

Correct answer: (c) The games
_________________________

What does "great touch" mean?

Janna

[Mister Micawber]

.
A great touch = a nicely-considered inclusion.
.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Saneta]

[Beeesneees]

In this case, the inclusion of the games as part of the barbecue.
_________________
Cheers m' dears!

[Saneta]

'as part of the barbecue', hi B., why is there no any article before :'part'?

many thanks

[Beeesneees]

It's optional.
_________________
Cheers m' dears!

[Saneta]

why the article is optional there? is it a rule with the noun 'part'?

many.many thanks

[Beeesneees]

I don't know about a rule, but it's often the case.

I wanted to be part of the team
I wanted to be a part of the team

The keyboard is part of the computer input system
The keyboard is a part of the computer input system

This forms part of the company's policy
this forms a part of the company's policy.
_________________
Cheers m' dears!

[Alan]

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Hi Saneta,

As with all examples where the articles are used, you are emphasizing the noun. 'When we say: 'a part' we are talking about 'one part'. When we say 'the part', we are referring to one particular part. When we say: 'part of', we are no longer emphasizing.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Saneta]

thank you Mr Alan, Bees.,Mr M.,
but it's often the case= but it's often the supervention of such a situation?

thanks

[Mister Micawber]

it's often the case = often, usually

'Part' is a noun that can be uncountable or countable:

[U] some but not all of a thing.
Part of my steak isn't cooked properly.
Part of this form seems to be missing.

[C] a separate piece of something, or a piece which combines with other pieces to form the whole of something.
We learned about all the different parts of the digestive system.
I think there's always a part of you that doubts what you're doing.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's