Meaning of "a flight of stairs"

[June]

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #89 "Common Quantity Nouns", question 4

As she looked up, she saw a flight of ..........

(a) birds
(b) insects
(c) crows
(d) stairs

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #89 "Common Quantity Nouns", answer 4

As she looked up, she saw a flight of stairs.

Correct answer: (d) stairs

Your answer was: incorrect
As she looked up, she saw a flight of birds.
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please kindly explain why is "a flight of stairs".

Thanks so much for your time.

June

[Mister Micawber]

.
A portion of a full stairway between floors or between landings-- that is, a straight series of steps without a break-- is called a flight.
.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Tom]

Sorry, it is given below!

Tom

[Tom]

Can't we also see FLIGHT OF BIRDS?

FLIGHT OF BIRDS

http://www.astronomy-images.com/day-images/California/Birds/flight_of_birds.htm

Tom

[Yankee]

Hi Tom

Your first link doesn't work. Here are the first two sentences from your second link:

The flight of birds has been the object of man's study since prehistoric times, and the subject of emulation, admiration, and envy. Here I present some images of the flight of some of the birds in my neighborhood in Northern California and a few elsewhere.

Now here's my question for you:

Your link refers to "the flight of birds". How is that different from "a flight of birds"?

Amy
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"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Aliraf62]

Hi teachers

Is it common to use 'flight' for a group of airplanes? as in:

He saw an aircraft carrier ruffling the ocean, carrying a flight of planes on the deck.

Thanks
Ali

[Mister Micawber]

It's a military term- a unit of aircraft.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Harivony]

so is it false if we say "a flight of plane"?

[Beeesneees]

Yes, because 'plane' is singular.
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"Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened."
Terry Pratchett

[Maxmax]

Hello, everybody! Let's consider "flight of a plane" as a process of moving in the air. It can be seen too, isn't it? If we look up, of course.

[Beeesneees]

'A flight of plane' and 'Flight of a plane' are different things, Maxmax.
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"Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened."
Terry Pratchett

[Maxmax]

Oh, thank you for explanation! I just forgot about "a". By the way, how it sounds for a native speaker when somebody skips this article? Does it always lead to misunderstanding, or it's not so inevitable? I'm strongly concerned about it, because I'm going to take a training course in India (New Dehli) soon.

[Alan]

Hi Maxmax,

You raise an interesting point. I have noticed in the UK that some speakers (and they have been educated speakers) are dropping the indefinite article when the countable noun is qualified. You hear expressions like: That was great experience They have found considerable supply of drugs and so on.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Maxmax]

Thank you for reply, Alan, you've really reassured me.

[Kimdung9210]

DEAR ALAN

I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE MEANNING OF "A FLIGHT OF STAIR"

THANK YOU VERY MUCH,SIR
MISS KIM