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#2 (permalink) Thu Sep 21, 2006 15:20 pm Articles |
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Hi Tamara,
Your first example of the fox is used as a way of testing a typewriter by using all the letters of the alphabet and is known as a pangram, apparently. As for the others, well that would take a deal of time to work them all out.
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An old dog will learn no new tricks. … |
possibly any old dog is suggested here.
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The mouse lordships where a cat is not.
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Never heard that before! I can only suggest that the is used before mouse because that is the creature that's the boss when there is no cat/not any cat/not a cat around.
Alan _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Present Simple |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 13891 Location: UK
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#3 (permalink) Thu Sep 21, 2006 16:16 pm Articles |
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Hi Alan
Thank you for you response.
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| by using all the letters of the alphabet and is known as a pangram |
Yes, Alan, I know that. The phase is often used (in software) to demonstrate various fonts – because of that its useful feature – but I mistakenly considered it as a proverb. OK. I’ll easily change it, no problem. :)
The wolf may lose his teeth, but never his nature. Why the?
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| Never heard that before! |
In my "dictionary of English proverbs" it is given as an equivalent for When the :) cat is away the mice play".
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| possibly any old dog is suggested here. |
Yes...
So... when looking at the list of English proverbs I'm still feeling no hope to cope with articles... :( _________________ It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water… |
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Tamara I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 25 May 2006 Posts: 1577 Location: UK
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#4 (permalink) Thu Sep 21, 2006 16:40 pm Despairingly :) |
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Ah! I've forgotten to add cases with no (zero?) article… like Dog eat(s?) dog. _________________ It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water… |
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Tamara I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 25 May 2006 Posts: 1577 Location: UK
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#5 (permalink) Thu Sep 21, 2006 16:49 pm Despairingly :) |
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| Tamara wrote: |
Ah! I've forgotten to add cases with no (zero?) article… like Dog eat(s?) dog. |
Hi Tamara
I consider "dog eat dog" to be an adjective (which should probably also be hyphenated). ;)
It's a dog-eat-dog world.
(But that doesn't explain the missing "s", does it?) :lol:
Amy _________________ "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8316 Location: USA
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| Since as an adverb | Why are addressing Alan with "Dear Sir"? |