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ESL forum >
Ask for help > Indefinite article
Indefinite article
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ueslteacher
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Indefinite article
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Hello, dear colleagues:) Please help me out with the use of "a"/"zero article" in the following phrase: She speaks a/zero article perfect Italian. Which one is the correct choice? Does it fall under the following category: "a" used before uncountable nouns when these have an adjective in front of them, or phrase following them? Your help will be greatly appreciated. Sophia
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4 Oct 2011
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manusyasya
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Hi! I found a discussion on the usage of indefinite article in similar context here:
http://www.englishforums.com/English/HeHasAGoodEnglish/lgph/post.htm
I hope it �ll help! It was interesting for me to look it through))
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4 Oct 2011
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Apodo
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No article is needed.
She speaks Italian.
She speaks perfect Italian. |
5 Oct 2011
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maryse pey�
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It sounds better with zero article. |
5 Oct 2011
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ueslteacher
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Yeah, see, that �s the point - the key to the test has "a". On what grounds? Is it "no article" full stop or is it a disputable case? If the latter, why put it in a test for 8th-graders? Sorry for lashing out, but I �d just really like a complete answer. Thanks for your input, Marion and Maryse. Sophia |
5 Oct 2011
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spinney
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We never use articles with languages, countries (unless plural or with the title "Republic") and cities. If the test came from a book I wouldn �t worry too much. It �s just the way of the world. I �ve used text books before now and found mistakes that defy belief. Perhaps it could be said in a colloquial sense (she speaks a perfect Italian) but I �ve never heard that one before. With or without the adjective/adverb, it �s just plain wrong. |
5 Oct 2011
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douglas
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No good explanation, but we say it both ways.
"She speaks perfect Italian."
"She speaks a perfect {form of} Italian."
The first is definitely the better way, I think the second is (as Spinney says) more colloquial. It is unbelieveable that someone would put that in a test (two right answers). |
5 Oct 2011
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mariamit
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No article is needed Sophia. Italian , when used to refer to a language is a mass noun. As Douglas says you can say "She speaks a perfect form of Italian." It �s probably just a mistake.
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5 Oct 2011
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ueslteacher
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Thanks for helping me, dear friends. You see, when you give a different answer from what is listed in a key to the test as a correct option, your colleagues think you �re wrong and the fact sort of undermines your authority as a person with reliable knowledge of the English grammar. But I knew I was right. Sophia |
5 Oct 2011
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