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#2 (permalink) Thu Oct 12, 2006 9:35 am Article |
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Hi Tom,
You've raised an interesting point. It is becoming more and more common (at least in the UK) for articles to be omitted particularly when the noun is qualified. People are saying: That's good idea I had very interesting experience the other day. (Sentence) structure is technically a countable noun but both sentences are acceptable.
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 Oct 12, 2006 15:20 pm Sentence Structure: Countable or uncountable? |
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| Quote: |
| when the noun is qualified |
Many, many thanks, Alan.
Could some more light be shed on the line quoted above? What is a qualified noun?
Tom |
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Tom I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 2103
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#4 (permalink) Thu Oct 12, 2006 18:05 pm Qualified |
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Hi Tom,
An adjective is said to qualify a noun as an adverb qualifies a verb. In other words qualifies suggests giving more information about something. A good book - good qualifies book - running quickly - quickly qualifies running.
Alan _________________ English as a Foreign Language You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 13891 Location: UK
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#5 (permalink) Thu Oct 12, 2006 19:06 pm Article |
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| Alan wrote: |
People are saying: That's good idea. I had very interesting experience the other day. |
Hi Alan Those sentences are downright hair-raising to my American ears. Especially the first one. 
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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#6 (permalink) Thu Oct 12, 2006 21:22 pm Sentence Structure: Countable or uncountable? |
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Hi Amy,
The fact remains it's heard more and more or rather the articles aren't heard. A Professor of English from a Welsh University has actually written a paper on it. I could give you the title of the paper but my books are in such a chaos, I can't lay my hands on it.
Alan _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Passive Voice |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 13891 Location: UK
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#7 (permalink) Fri Oct 13, 2006 0:25 am Sentence Structure: Countable or uncountable? |
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| .....downright hair-raising to my ears too, almost like fingernails scraping across a blackboard! |
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Canadian45 I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 08 Oct 2006 Posts: 184 Location: Canada
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