|
|
 #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
|
|
| #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
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln |
|
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8316
Location: USA
|
 |
| #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: 1326
Location: Southern England
|
|
| #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
|
|
| #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: 1326
Location: Southern England
|
|
| #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
_________________
:(... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. :(
Sorry seems to be the hardest word... |
|
 Nessie
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 1102
|
|
| #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: 1326
Location: Southern England
|
|
| #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
|
|
| #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 :)
_________________
:(... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. :(
Sorry seems to be the hardest word... |
|
Nessie
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 1102
|
|
| #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...
_________________
:(... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. :(
Sorry seems to be the hardest word... |
|
Nessie
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 1102
|
|
| #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
|
|
| #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.
_________________
:(... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. :(
Sorry seems to be the hardest word... |
|
Nessie
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 1102
|
|
| #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: 1326
Location: Southern England
|
|
| #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
_________________
:(... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. :(
Sorry seems to be the hardest word... |
|
Nessie
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 1102
|
|
|
| What does "good-natured" mean? | Followed by something |
