Thread: It's on the(a) table.

People are all the time using intransitive verbs transitively. Because we know what the intransitive verb means, we can (more or less) understand what it means used transitively. One of the most common ones these days is "shop", an intransitive verb. But a local chain of food stores here in the South has over its doors "Thanks for Shopping Food Lion!" Should be "shopping at." And then there's the other verb, to Photoshop smth. Food for thought.

What is the plural for the word "sinuosity" ?

Originally Posted by Selexin

What is the plural for the word "sinuosity" ?

Sinuosities

Which article should be used?

- Where is my shirt?
- It's on a(the) hanger in the wardrobe.

Either article is grammatically correct. Which one is used depends on the situation. If there is only one hanger in the closet, then "the" would be used. If there are multiple hangers, then "a" should be used.

In case of multiple hangers, would the use of a imply generic reference?

Yes, it would. Informally, it doesn't really matter which article is used though. You could say "It's on a hanger in the closet" even if there is only one hanger, and conversely, you could also say "It's on the hanger in the closet" even if there are multiple hangers.

Then in the example with a book and two tables (in the beginning of the thread) , can I also answer:
It's on the table
to the question:
- Where is my book?

Originally Posted by brandonp

Yes, it would. Informally, it doesn't really matter which article is used though. You could say "It's on a hanger in the closet" even if there is only one hanger, and conversely, you could also say "It's on the hanger in the closet" even if there are multiple hangers.

Well, you could say it, but I'm not sure it would be correct. I think by using the, you are implying that there is only one hanger. That's how I would understand it if you told me that.

Yeah, I completely agree. I just wanted to emphasize the fact that the use of one article over the other wouldn't confuse the recipient in everyday conversation. But yes, "the" would certainly emphasize the "one and only", so to say, hanger in the closet, while "a" would indicate that there are many hangers and a search for the right one would be needed.

Originally Posted by Selexin

Then in the example with a book and two tables (in the beginning of the thread) , can I also answer:
It's on the table
to the question:
- Where is my book?

The best article choice would be "a" in this situation.

It is probably not technically correct to do so, but you will definitely find many people using "the", even when there is a number of identical objects involved. This is particularly likely if it can already be assumed that the person to whom you are speaking has some knowledge of the likely location, or if the location can be easily determined due to some other factor (being in plain sight, for example).

As an example, some might say "your wallet is on the table", knowing full well that there might be several (possibly identical) tables, because either it is in plain sight or because the owner of the wallet already knows which table they were near to and therefore where they left it.

This can (and often does) lead to confusion and prolonged searching, but it is something you will encounter regardless.

Is it admissible to put indefinite article in the phrase:
"Such a good weather!" ?

No, it should just be "such good weather".

'Weather' is uncountable.

She goes out jogging in all weathers.
How does this sound?

"Out in all weather".

Weather is not plural. Weather systems or weather conditions can be plural but I cannot think if a circumstance where "weather" itself is.

I regret to state a fact that there is a example in Lingvo:

They go out in all weathers. — Они выходят в любую погоду.

Originally Posted by Оля

I regret to state a fact that there is a example in Lingvo:

They go out in all weathers. — Они выходят в любую погоду.

Well, it's possible, and still used in some places as an idiom, but using "in all weather" is more common, and "in all kinds/sorts/types of weather" even more so.

Here are some questions I've run across on answers.yahoo.com/

Where are there any pay fishing lakes in Indiana ?‎
Where are there any Raves in Atlanta or around ?
Where are there any pig farms in colchester?

Doesn't it seem odd to use existential there in questions with where?
What do you think of it?