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Third versus The third



 
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Reading years in English language | Adjective or Past Participle?
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Third versus The third #1 (permalink) Sun Aug 06, 2006 10:44 am   Third versus The third
 

Please tell me the difference in meaning btw “the third” and “a third” in:

a. The third of 2.
b. A third of 2.
c. The third of a liter.
d. A third of a liter.

Thanks
K
Van Khanh
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Third vs the third #2 (permalink) Sun Aug 06, 2006 11:04 am   Third vs the third
 

.
a. The third of 2. --> Makes no sense whatsoever

b. A third of 2. --> Means 2 has been divided into 3 parts and you are referring to one of the parts.

d. A third of a liter. --> similar to b.

c. The third of a liter. --> Makes sense only if which third of a liter has been previously mentioned/identified.
.
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Third vs the third #3 (permalink) Sun Aug 06, 2006 11:32 am   Third vs the third
 

Hi Yankee,

Do you think

"The third power of 2" and "the third of two" have the same meaning?

(I ask so because "Two to the third power " has the same meaning as "Two to the third").

Thanks
K
Van Khanh
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Posts: 324
Location: Ho Chi Minh-City, Viet Nam

Third versus The third #4 (permalink) Sun Aug 06, 2006 13:35 pm   Third versus The third
 

.
It's possible that two crazy mathematicians might understand "the third of two" to mean "the third power of two" if they were in the middle of a fascinating conversation about "to the power of". :roll: But I wouldn't consider it to be a typical or "standard" short form. It would be too easily misunderstood.
.
"The third of 4" would typically be understood to mean "the third thing in a series of 4 things".
.
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Third versus The third #5 (permalink) Sun Aug 06, 2006 14:11 pm   Third versus The third
 

Hi Yankee,

Your explanation took me out of my sleep. It's very interesting. :D

Khanh
Van Khanh
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Posts: 324
Location: Ho Chi Minh-City, Viet Nam

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