Until present time

[Yankee]

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.
.
_________________
Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Molly]

[Yankee]

[MrPedantic]

[Molly]

[MrPedantic]

[nessie]

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

[MrPedantic]

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

[Molly]

[nessie]

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

[nessie]

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...

[Molly]

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".

[nessie]

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.

[MrPedantic]

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

[nessie]

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

Regards
Nessie