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#2 (permalink) Sun Dec 31, 2006 12:42 pm "one year" vs. "a year" |
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Hi and welcome to the site,
I think you should add 'for' to both sentences. The only difference is in the suggestion that 'a' is more general than the use of 'one' If you say: I will live there for one year, you are being very precise about the duration of your stay but of course the meaning is the same for both because it is still 12 months.
Alan _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Present Simple |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 17284 Location: UK
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#3 (permalink) Sun Dec 31, 2006 12:47 pm "one year" vs. "a year" |
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Thank you for your answer!
In fact while writing the sentences I wasn't sure whether to use "for" or not. :) |
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Camie New Member

Joined: 31 Dec 2006 Posts: 2
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#4 (permalink) Sun Dec 31, 2006 15:17 pm "one year" vs. "a year" |
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Thanks, Alan. :D
Am I allowed to shed some of my light on the sentences? :shock: Please see if I am right!
Hi Camie
When "one" is understood, we use "a". For example:
1- I want a cup of tea. ("one" is understood)
2- The bus fell into a ravine but only "one" passenger was killed. (Here we cannot use "a" because we have to be precise, as Alan said in his explanation.
Tom |
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Tom I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 2148
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#5 (permalink) Sun Dec 31, 2006 15:42 pm "one year" vs. "a year" |
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Hi Tom,
Spot on!
A _________________ English as a Foreign Language You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 17284 Location: UK
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Expression: "My husband keeps on about me having a baby" | They elected him president vs. They elected him as president |