Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
criterion; measure; point of reference for comparison
benchmark
mayor
diversity
predisposition
TOEIC test: Word games: Free Online Verb Adjective Noun Adverb Game Answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

Until present time


Goto page Previous  1, 2, 3  Next
 
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
What does "good-natured" mean? | Followed by something
Listening exercises
Message
Author
Until present time #16 (permalink) Tue May 13, 2008 15:28 pm   Until present time
 

I think Molly's examples can probably be explained this way:

It is quite common to say that something is 'on TV' and it is also quite common to say 'watch TV' and that is basically what Molly's examples mean.
.
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8265
Location: USA

Until present time #17 (permalink) Tue May 13, 2008 15:33 pm   Until present time
 

Yankee wrote:
I think Molly's examples can probably be explained this way:

It is quite common to say that something is 'on TV' and it is also quite common to say 'watch TV' and that is basically what Molly's examples mean.
.

Would you say there's an omitted "the" there?

e.g.

What's on the TV tonight?
Molly
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 12 Feb 2008
Posts: 4017

Sign up for FREE and explore English! Click to subscribe to email English courseLearn some cool expressions in the following cool storyAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!English grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skills
Until present time #18 (permalink) Tue May 13, 2008 15:58 pm   Until present time
 

Molly wrote:
Would you say there's an omitted "the" there?

e.g.

What's on the TV tonight?

No
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8265
Location: USA

Until present time #19 (permalink) Tue May 13, 2008 21:50 pm   Until present time
 

Molly wrote:
51,500 English pages for "tonight on BBC".


i.e. "tonight on BBC One", "tonight on BBC Four", etc.

Those are the names of tv stations; thus you say "when I worked at the BBC" (the corporation); "when I worked at BBC One" (the tv station).

MrP
MrPedantic
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 1319
Location: Southern England

Until present time #20 (permalink) Wed May 14, 2008 0:14 am   Until present time
 

Quote:
i.e. "tonight on BBC One", "tonight on BBC Four", etc.

So before BBC Two existed, folks would not say "what's on BBC tonight", right?
Molly
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 12 Feb 2008
Posts: 4017

Until present time #21 (permalink) Wed May 14, 2008 0:25 am   Until present time
 

Molly wrote:
Quote:
i.e. "tonight on BBC One", "tonight on BBC Four", etc.

So before BBC Two existed, folks would not say "what's on BBC tonight", right?

If you look through the "tonight on BBC" googles, you'll find that a) there are not quite as many as you seem to think b) most of them relate to BBC One, BBC Two, etc.

MrP
MrPedantic
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 1319
Location: Southern England

Until present time #22 (permalink) Wed May 14, 2008 5:52 am   Until present time
 

Hi MrP,
I'm still a bit curious about the use of "the" in "the ABC Corporation". Is it really necessary for us to use "the" here?
For example:

I'd love to go to Oxford University
or:
I'd love to go the Oxford University

Ford is a famous American car brand name
or
The Ford is a famous American car brand name

Many thanks in advance
Nessie

Yes, you need "the" in "till the present time". You would usually use a "the" before "ABC Corporation" too, unless ABC itself had specified otherwise
_________________
Sad... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. Sad

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...
Nessie
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 1102

Until present time #23 (permalink) Wed May 14, 2008 6:09 am   Until present time
 

Hello Nessie,

The discussion actually relates to abbreviations: "As a rule of thumb, if the full name would require a definite article (e.g. if the last word is an ordinary noun), you would include "the". If the abbreviations stand for names, however, you wouldn't."

Oxford University and Ford are not generally abbreviated. "The Open University" is, however, to "the OU".

Best wishes,

MrP
MrPedantic
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 1319
Location: Southern England

Until present time #24 (permalink) Wed May 14, 2008 6:49 am   Until present time
 

MrPedantic wrote:
If you look through the "tonight on BBC" googles, you'll find that a) there are not quite as many as you seem to think b) most of them relate to BBC One, BBC Two, etc.

MrP

So "what's on BBC TV tonight" would be an error, would it?

And are both these possible? If so, why?

The BBC's axing of 300 workers from...
BBC's axing of 300 workers from...
Molly
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 12 Feb 2008
Posts: 4017

Until present time #25 (permalink) Wed May 14, 2008 18:23 pm   Until present time
 

Hi MrP,
Thanks a lot for your clarification, and could you please post some more examples to compare the two usages?

Many thanks in advance
Nessie Smile
_________________
Sad... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. Sad

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...
Nessie
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 1102

Until present time #26 (permalink) Thu May 15, 2008 17:54 pm   Until present time
 

How about these:

1. It says in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary that "luck" is an uncountable noun
2. It says in OALD that "luck" is an uncountable noun

=> Are the two examples both correct?
I know OALD is a proper name, but I still find it very weird not to add "the" before it...
_________________
Sad... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. Sad

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...
Nessie
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 1102

Until present time #27 (permalink) Thu May 15, 2008 18:03 pm   Until present time
 

Is "it says in Esquire" or "it says in Playboy" correct? Yes. I guess the thinking is the same with "it says in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary".
Molly
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 12 Feb 2008
Posts: 4017

Until present time #28 (permalink) Thu May 15, 2008 18:34 pm   Until present time
 

This matter of using "the" before nouns makes me so confused. Could you please tell me anywhere I can find exercises of this kind?

Many thanks in advance.
Nessie.
_________________
Sad... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. Sad

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...
Nessie
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 1102

Until present time #29 (permalink) Thu May 15, 2008 22:25 pm   Until present time
 

Hello Nessie,

I would say "It says in the OALD"; though in fact, I would probably give the full name, except on a forum like this, since for most people it isn't a familiar work.

Much better known is "the OED" (The Oxford English Dictionary), e.g. "it says in the OED..."

Best wishes,

MrP
MrPedantic
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 1319
Location: Southern England

Until present time #30 (permalink) Sat May 17, 2008 6:17 am   Until present time
 

Hi MrP,
"Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary" is a proper name, isn't it? Then why must we use "the" here?

Regards
Nessie
_________________
Sad... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. Sad

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...
Nessie
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 1102

Display posts from previous:   
What does "good-natured" mean? | Followed by something
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms Until present time All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Goto page Previous  1, 2, 3  Next
Page 2 of 3
Latest topics on ESL EFL Forums
What does "let alone film one" mean?correct relative pronoundifferent than vs different fromcombining two clausesusage of "make great time"uncountable nouns used as countable nouns (understanding - a understanding of...)"have to" or "has to"sentence "Find enclosed copy of..."Pretty dark dudes?pay attention or don't careUsage of to: What we are going to do now is (to) change gears.Question: There has been an accident, hasn't there?Answer for 'In the Far East ancient Chinese potters had developed their characterOne vs so (I am a member and will remain so/one unless I am fired)Until present time, page 3Until present timeRelative clause (Johnny is the only ... I know in the meeting)Do you ever use the form 'shan't'? If yes, when?CollocationsWhat can you tell me about these 2?Until present time

Discover English-test.net
Tag mirrors the auxiliary verb: It won't, will it?Meaning of 'assisted learning'Meaning of "claim credit for" and "achive acclaim"Word "thinketh" -- What does it mean?PCAT test: Vocabulary Words: English Nouns Adjectives Abbreviations sPCAT test: Word games: Free Online Noun Adjective GameDefine fibre, elastic, immunity, pins and needles, engorged, GLC, -omaSpeak fluent Russian: Pimsleur Russian Quick and SimpleEnglish dictionery: Synonyms for business and employment

 
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