Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
to calculate; to figure; to estimate
space
debut
compute
attempt
full quiz correct answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   Album   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

Article 'A' with the expression "very little reaction"



 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
meaning of running throughout a situation | Some more questions from 'The Jungle Book'
listening exercisestell a friend
Message
Author
Article 'A' with the expression "very little reaction" #1 (permalink) Thu Mar 15, 2007 8:53 am   Article 'A' with the expression "very little reaction"
 

"There was A ? very little reaction to Henry's speech, except from ..."

Do we need the article here ("a") ?

thanks :)

P.S. I asked this question because I've seen many times that in some cases writers use "a" before "reaction" and in the others - dont. Could you elucidate this matter, please?
Lost_Soul
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 15 Sep 2006
Posts: 1861
Location: South Park, Colorado, USA

Article 'A' with the expression "very little reaction" #2 (permalink) Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:10 am   Article 'A' with the expression "very little reaction"
 

Quote:
There was A ? very little reaction to Henry's speech, except from ..."

Do we need the article here ("a") ?


Yes, lost_soul.
Pamela
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Posts: 1271
Location: RF

Learn some cool expressions in the following cool storyEnglish grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!Here is how you can learn English the fun way! Click to subscribe to free email English course
Reaction #3 (permalink) Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:33 am   Reaction
 

lost_soul wrote:
"There was A ? very little reaction to Henry's speech, except from ..."

Do we need the article here ("a") ?

thanks :)

P.S. I asked this question because I've seen many times that in some cases writers use "a" before "reaction" and in the others - dont. Could you elucidate this matter, please?


Your question is so interesting and challenging to me, lost_soul! May I share my unsophisticated 'reaction' to it with you? :)

My feeling is if the article 'a' is applied here, then the sentence would suggest a positive sense: there was a reaction, though very little. On the other hand, if the 'a' is missing, a negative sense is given: almost no reaction to...

Just my two cents. :)

Haihao
Haihao
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 26 Oct 2006
Posts: 2471
Location: Japan

Article 'A' with the expression "very little reaction" #4 (permalink) Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:33 am   Article 'A' with the expression "very little reaction"
 

Hi,

I think you have to make the distinction between ' a very little reaction', which would mean ' a very small/insignificant reaction' and 'very little reaction' which would mean 'not much reaction/hardly any reaction.'

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple
Alan
Co-founder
Alan Townend

Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 13891
Location: UK

Article 'A' with the expression "very little reaction" #5 (permalink) Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:58 am   Article 'A' with the expression "very little reaction"
 

Dear Lost Soul,

Could you please do me a favour and read this:
What is a meaningful message title and why is it important?
http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic16459.html

Let me know what you think.
Many thanks.
Torsten

TOEIC listening, talks: A company president introduces the keynote speaker at a corporate event
Torsten
Learning Coach
Torsten Daerr

Joined: 25 Sep 2003
Posts: 14503
Location: EU

Article 'A' with the expression "very little reaction" #6 (permalink) Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:26 am   Article 'A' with the expression "very little reaction"
 

.
In the original--
Quote:
"There was A ? very little reaction to Henry's speech, except from ..."

-- the article seems very out of place. Even if we improbably posited a countable form here, I think the natural choice would be 'small'. Ms Google says:

22,700 English pages for "a small reaction"
775 English pages for "a little reaction"
.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's
Mister Micawber
Language Coach


Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 13015

Display posts from previous:   
meaning of running throughout a situation | Some more questions from 'The Jungle Book'
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on ESL EFL Forums
What does 'unit' mean in this sentence?meaning of ovenmeaning of "abused wife in provoked"difference in meaning between 'incredible' and 'implausible'Is it right to grammar rules "you go get it?"Explanation of "come by one's ignorance"Phrases: ...lost on/to/in...Expression: ...he toasted us...Expression: Come down in favor ofYour view on socialism and capitalism?"to kill" and to "slay"meaning of "turn into"Excel in or Excel at?

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Subscribe to FREE email English course
First name E-mail