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 #2 (permalink) Fri Jan 18, 2008 10:14 am a part of v.s. part of |
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I'd personally stick to Number 2. And I'd also replace "at" by "by".
"I sold a big part of my land by auction". |
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BuddhaGeo
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| #3 (permalink) Fri Jan 18, 2008 11:41 am a part of v.s. part of |
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Hi,
The use of 'at' with auction sounds fine to me. I would prefer 'a' with 'big part' but it is becoming more and more common to omit the article when the noun is qualified (at least here in the UK) and it's not unusual to hear things like: 'I had terrible time last night driving home because of the heavy traffic.'
Alan
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| #4 (permalink) Fri Jan 18, 2008 12:11 pm a part of v.s. part of |
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Hi, Alan
Thank you for your suggestions!
What worries me is that I found out that the word part might be in one case countable (and hence using of the indefinitite article is in order) or overwise, uncountable (and there's no indefinite article). I just can't get my head round where it is countable and where not
The dictionary gives these explanations:
| Quote: |
When part is countable, it means some but not all of a thing
When part is uncountable, it means a separate piece of something, or a piece which combines with other pieces to form the whole of something
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I figured that if we use any qualifier before the word part, we should consider part uncountable, right?
E.g.
1. I don't feel part of the team anymore
2. He decided to take home a big part of the pie
Do you find this reasoning plausible ?
Thanks again ! |
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Lost_Soul
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| #5 (permalink) Fri Jan 18, 2008 12:15 pm a part of v.s. part of |
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Hi,
The very fact that it is preceded by an adjective makes it countable, surely.
Alan
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| #6 (permalink) Fri Jan 18, 2008 12:43 pm a part of v.s. part of |
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| lost_soul wrote: |
1. I don't feel part of the team anymore
2. He decided to take home a big part of the pie
Do you find this reasoning plausible ? |
Hi Alex
In your first example, 'part' might be considered uncountable I suppose, but the use of the word 'a' (as in in your second sentence) is generally a reliable indicator that something is countable.
.
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| #7 (permalink) Fri Jan 18, 2008 12:57 pm a part of v.s. part of |
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| Yankee wrote: |
In your first example, 'part' might be considered uncountable I suppose
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Hi, Amy
Hmmm. I'm confused. :o You're insinuating that we can say both I don't feel a part of the team. and I don't feel part of the team. , aren't you?
Could you tell me then what is the difference between the two, please? |
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Lost_Soul
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| #8 (permalink) Fri Jan 18, 2008 13:06 pm a part of v.s. part of |
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Hi Alex,
'Feel part of' has to be considered as a whole indicating 'having membership of'. 'Feel a part of' probably makes more sense when used in a negative construction as in: 'I really don't feel a part of the team' and the article 'a' stresses the idea of being separated/separate from.
Alan
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| #9 (permalink) Wed May 26, 2010 11:46 am part and a part |
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hello
which is right
sport is an important part of today's society
or is important part of.... ?
thanks
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 Ahmeeeeeeeeeed
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| #10 (permalink) Wed May 26, 2010 11:59 am part and a part |
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Sports is an important part of today's society.
Yes, despite that "s," believe it or not, "sports" takes a singular verb when it means athletics.
You need the article because "part" is countable. |
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Mordant
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| #11 (permalink) Wed May 26, 2010 12:02 pm "a part of" vs "part of" |
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| What about "Sports is part of today's society." without "important" or qualifiers? |
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Haihao
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| #12 (permalink) Wed May 26, 2010 13:10 pm "a part of" vs "part of" |
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| That's fine, Haihao. |
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Mordant
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| #13 (permalink) Wed May 26, 2010 13:12 pm "a part of" vs "part of" |
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| Quote: |
| You need the article because "part" is countable. |
so .... why do i say ( i am part of that team)
without (a) ?
and what about
i and my friend are effective part in the team
(a )or without (a)
---
as to what you said "sports"
does this apply to (games) also ??
[/quote]
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Ahmeeeeeeeeeed
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| #14 (permalink) Wed May 26, 2010 13:24 pm "a part of" vs "part of" |
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You can say "part" or "a part" without an adjective.
Steve is part of the team.
Steve is a part of the team.
*Steve is integral part of the team.
Steve is an integral part of the team.
When you use part without the article, you are looking at it as something closer to a quality.
Good nutrition is part of a healthy lifestyle.
When you use the article, "part" means a specific component.
Your sentence would read like this:
My friend and I are an effective part of the team.
My friend and I are effective parts of the team.
"Games" will always take a plural verb. |
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Mordant
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| #15 (permalink) Wed May 26, 2010 13:49 pm "a part of" vs "part of" |
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Steve is part of the team.
Steve is a part of the team.
that's confusing because i found it in a (choose) question ...
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Good nutrition is part of a healthy lifestyle.
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in this , if i use an adjective like (great) then i will put (a) ??
or not?
the meaning will not change as i see and it will not be a component
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| use of Must in present prefect tense | has = has got / had got = had |
