Re: Omitting articles and prepositions (“the” and “by”). Idiomatic or colloquial, slang, etc.?
Even though ASL was my first language, I generally don't omit articles, except in certain cases:
Girl said she was going to call me...sigh.
This example needs no explanation (locally, that is). Obviously, a close friend has been 'renamed' (Girl) because she didn't call before doing something (e.g., having fun without the speaker in tow).
The following example also includes an omitted preposition...maybe (by in the last sentence before just looking at it, I guess). I'm not sure; it's often said that way here (usually with a slight pause before the just+gerund phrase, for lack of a better description).
- We heard this strange sound, a sporadic buzzing, so we all went outside, and dude and his chainsaw--just a-buzzin' and swinging
'round a tree--like this...like it was a maypole! He was upside down
and passed out. I thought I was going to pass out just looking at it.
In this case, the tree services pro was 'renamed' (dude) for obvious reasons. Was the safety cutoff disabled? Do pros generally tie ropes to their ankles? How many fire trucks does it take...? So many questions (unrelated to this one)...
Anyhow, disregarding the leeway given to creative writing and everyday speech, I seached many sites for answers. They really love their articles (definite and indefinite), but I found some interesting points here on ELU:
Omitting articles in nouns - prepositions; after; to; before; from.
So, based on that, maybe I'm emphasizing and generalizing at the same time (e.g., omitting the to emphasize that they hired some dude instead of a pro, I assume, to cut down a very tall tree). Still, I would like to know...
My question(s):
Are these uses common (or idiomatic) elsewhere? That is, are they easily understood, as is, especially the omission of the preposition (by)? I'm not sure about that one at all.
I usually resolve most of my questions (often elliptical in nature) with an em dash, but I'd really like to know... I almost typed where to draw the line with that, really, but you know what I mean...maybe, maybe not. Thank you.
idioms prepositions articles ellipsis
asked yesterday
KannEKannE
1,358215
add a comment |
Even though ASL was my first language, I generally don't omit articles, except in certain cases:
Girl said she was going to call me...sigh.
This example needs no explanation (locally, that is). Obviously, a close friend has been 'renamed' (Girl) because she didn't call before doing something (e.g., having fun without the speaker in tow).
The following example also includes an omitted preposition...maybe (by in the last sentence before just looking at it, I guess). I'm not sure; it's often said that way here (usually with a slight pause before the just+gerund phrase, for lack of a better description).
- We heard this strange sound, a sporadic buzzing, so we all went outside, and dude and his chainsaw--just a-buzzin' and swinging
'round a tree--like this...like it was a maypole! He was upside down
and passed out. I thought I was going to pass out just looking at it.
In this case, the tree services pro was 'renamed' (dude) for obvious reasons. Was the safety cutoff disabled? Do pros generally tie ropes to their ankles? How many fire trucks does it take...? So many questions (unrelated to this one)...
Anyhow, disregarding the leeway given to creative writing and everyday speech, I seached many sites for answers. They really love their articles (definite and indefinite), but I found some interesting points here on ELU:
Omitting articles in nouns - prepositions; after; to; before; from.
So, based on that, maybe I'm emphasizing and generalizing at the same time (e.g., omitting the to emphasize that they hired some dude instead of a pro, I assume, to cut down a very tall tree). Still, I would like to know...
My question(s):
Are these uses common (or idiomatic) elsewhere? That is, are they easily understood, as is, especially the omission of the preposition (by)? I'm not sure about that one at all.
I usually resolve most of my questions (often elliptical in nature) with an em dash, but I'd really like to know... I almost typed where to draw the line with that, really, but you know what I mean...maybe, maybe not. Thank you.
idioms prepositions articles ellipsis
asked yesterday
KannEKannE
1,358215
When you omit the article in your examples, you are turning the common noun into a proper noun. So, in your second example, I would actually use and Dude and his chainsaw, with a capital D.
– Jason Bassford
21 hours ago
@Jason Bassford, thanks for the comment. I thought of that, but we really don't say it like that. Another example: "Child was still brushing his teeth knowing the school bus was outside." In this case, omitting the conveys exasperation; it differs. I'll offer a bounty in a couple of days if no one answers regarding omitting by (or prepositions in general). I guess it's improper grammar since I can't find any similar examples online.
– KannE
20 hours ago
add a comment |
Even though ASL was my first language, I generally don't omit articles, except in certain cases:
Girl said she was going to call me...sigh.
This example needs no explanation (locally, that is). Obviously, a close friend has been 'renamed' (Girl) because she didn't call before doing something (e.g., having fun without the speaker in tow).
The following example also includes an omitted preposition...maybe (by in the last sentence before just looking at it, I guess). I'm not sure; it's often said that way here (usually with a slight pause before the just+gerund phrase, for lack of a better description).
- We heard this strange sound, a sporadic buzzing, so we all went outside, and dude and his chainsaw--just a-buzzin' and swinging
'round a tree--like this...like it was a maypole! He was upside down
and passed out. I thought I was going to pass out just looking at it.
In this case, the tree services pro was 'renamed' (dude) for obvious reasons. Was the safety cutoff disabled? Do pros generally tie ropes to their ankles? How many fire trucks does it take...? So many questions (unrelated to this one)...
Anyhow, disregarding the leeway given to creative writing and everyday speech, I seached many sites for answers. They really love their articles (definite and indefinite), but I found some interesting points here on ELU:
Omitting articles in nouns - prepositions; after; to; before; from.
So, based on that, maybe I'm emphasizing and generalizing at the same time (e.g., omitting the to emphasize that they hired some dude instead of a pro, I assume, to cut down a very tall tree). Still, I would like to know...
My question(s):
Are these uses common (or idiomatic) elsewhere? That is, are they easily understood, as is, especially the omission of the preposition (by)? I'm not sure about that one at all.
I usually resolve most of my questions (often elliptical in nature) with an em dash, but I'd really like to know... I almost typed where to draw the line with that, really, but you know what I mean...maybe, maybe not. Thank you.
idioms prepositions articles ellipsis
asked yesterday
KannEKannE
1,358215
Even though ASL was my first language, I generally don't omit articles, except in certain cases:
Girl said she was going to call me...sigh.
This example needs no explanation (locally, that is). Obviously, a close friend has been 'renamed' (Girl) because she didn't call before doing something (e.g., having fun without the speaker in tow).
The following example also includes an omitted preposition...maybe (by in the last sentence before just looking at it, I guess). I'm not sure; it's often said that way here (usually with a slight pause before the just+gerund phrase, for lack of a better description).
- We heard this strange sound, a sporadic buzzing, so we all went outside, and dude and his chainsaw--just a-buzzin' and swinging
'round a tree--like this...like it was a maypole! He was upside down
and passed out. I thought I was going to pass out just looking at it.
In this case, the tree services pro was 'renamed' (dude) for obvious reasons. Was the safety cutoff disabled? Do pros generally tie ropes to their ankles? How many fire trucks does it take...? So many questions (unrelated to this one)...
Anyhow, disregarding the leeway given to creative writing and everyday speech, I seached many sites for answers. They really love their articles (definite and indefinite), but I found some interesting points here on ELU:
Omitting articles in nouns - prepositions; after; to; before; from.
So, based on that, maybe I'm emphasizing and generalizing at the same time (e.g., omitting the to emphasize that they hired some dude instead of a pro, I assume, to cut down a very tall tree). Still, I would like to know...
My question(s):
Are these uses common (or idiomatic) elsewhere? That is, are they easily understood, as is, especially the omission of the preposition (by)? I'm not sure about that one at all.
I usually resolve most of my questions (often elliptical in nature) with an em dash, but I'd really like to know... I almost typed where to draw the line with that, really, but you know what I mean...maybe, maybe not. Thank you.
idioms prepositions articles ellipsis
idioms prepositions articles ellipsis
asked yesterday
KannEKannE
1,358215
asked yesterday
KannEKannE
1,358215
edited yesterday
KannE
asked yesterday
KannEKannE
1,358215
asked yesterday
KannEKannE
1,358215
asked yesterday
KannEKannE
1,358215
1,358215
When you omit the article in your examples, you are turning the common noun into a proper noun. So, in your second example, I would actually use and Dude and his chainsaw, with a capital D.
– Jason Bassford
21 hours ago
@Jason Bassford, thanks for the comment. I thought of that, but we really don't say it like that. Another example: "Child was still brushing his teeth knowing the school bus was outside." In this case, omitting the conveys exasperation; it differs. I'll offer a bounty in a couple of days if no one answers regarding omitting by (or prepositions in general). I guess it's improper grammar since I can't find any similar examples online.
– KannE
20 hours ago
add a comment |
When you omit the article in your examples, you are turning the common noun into a proper noun. So, in your second example, I would actually use and Dude and his chainsaw, with a capital D.
– Jason Bassford
21 hours ago
@Jason Bassford, thanks for the comment. I thought of that, but we really don't say it like that. Another example: "Child was still brushing his teeth knowing the school bus was outside." In this case, omitting the conveys exasperation; it differs. I'll offer a bounty in a couple of days if no one answers regarding omitting by (or prepositions in general). I guess it's improper grammar since I can't find any similar examples online.
– KannE
20 hours ago
When you omit the article in your examples, you are turning the common noun into a proper noun. So, in your second example, I would actually use and Dude and his chainsaw, with a capital D.
– Jason Bassford
21 hours ago
When you omit the article in your examples, you are turning the common noun into a proper noun. So, in your second example, I would actually use and Dude and his chainsaw, with a capital D.
– Jason Bassford
21 hours ago
@Jason Bassford, thanks for the comment. I thought of that, but we really don't say it like that. Another example: "Child was still brushing his teeth knowing the school bus was outside." In this case, omitting the conveys exasperation; it differs. I'll offer a bounty in a couple of days if no one answers regarding omitting by (or prepositions in general). I guess it's improper grammar since I can't find any similar examples online.
– KannE
20 hours ago
@Jason Bassford, thanks for the comment. I thought of that, but we really don't say it like that. Another example: "Child was still brushing his teeth knowing the school bus was outside." In this case, omitting the conveys exasperation; it differs. I'll offer a bounty in a couple of days if no one answers regarding omitting by (or prepositions in general). I guess it's improper grammar since I can't find any similar examples online.
– KannE
20 hours ago
add a comment |
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When you omit the article in your examples, you are turning the common noun into a proper noun. So, in your second example, I would actually use and Dude and his chainsaw, with a capital D.
– Jason Bassford
21 hours ago
@Jason Bassford, thanks for the comment. I thought of that, but we really don't say it like that. Another example: "Child was still brushing his teeth knowing the school bus was outside." In this case, omitting the conveys exasperation; it differs. I'll offer a bounty in a couple of days if no one answers regarding omitting by (or prepositions in general). I guess it's improper grammar since I can't find any similar examples online.
– KannE
20 hours ago