Results 1 to 5 of 5
Like Tree1Likes
  • 1 Post By SoothingDave

Thread: "Construction has begun"

  1. #1
    Pepperoni Papaya is offline Newbie
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • Vietnamese
      • Home Country:
      • Vietnam
      • Current Location:
      • Vietnam
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Posts
    23

    Default "Construction has begun"

    Hello there,

    Please help me with the following problem:
    "Construction has begun on first of five structures scheduled to open in the spring."
    Why is there no need to place "the" before the word "Construction"?
    If I put an extra "the" there then will it make the sentence wrong?

    Thanks in advance.

  2. #2
    Bennevis's Avatar
    Bennevis is offline Senior Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • Russian
      • Home Country:
      • Russian Federation
      • Current Location:
      • Russian Federation
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    684
    Teacher

    Default Re: "Construction has begun"

    You'll need to place the definite article in some other spots in this sentence:

    Construction has begun on the first of the five structures scheduled to open in the spring.

    There is no need to place an article in front of "construction" as it implies "work". There is no definiteness about "construction" as yet.

  3. #3
    SoothingDave is offline Key Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Other
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • United States
      • Current Location:
      • United States
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Posts
    4,706

    Default Re: "Construction has begun"

    You could add a "the" at the beginning, but it is not normally done. You do need one before "first."

    "Construction has begun on the first of five structures..."

  4. #4
    Bennevis's Avatar
    Bennevis is offline Senior Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • Russian
      • Home Country:
      • Russian Federation
      • Current Location:
      • Russian Federation
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    684
    Teacher

    Default Re: "Construction has begun"

    Quote Originally Posted by SoothingDave View Post
    You could add a "the" at the beginning, but it is not normally done. You do need one before "first."

    "Construction has begun on the first of five structures..."
    What about the article before "five structures"? Do both the speaker/writer and the listener/reader know which structures are meant? Or will just the first article do?

  5. #5
    SoothingDave is offline Key Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Other
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • United States
      • Current Location:
      • United States
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Posts
    4,706

    Default Re: "Construction has begun"

    It sounds right to me the way I put it. I know in some cases you would use a second "the," but I don't have a good explanation for when.
    riquecohen likes this.

Similar Threads

  1. the construction was begun
    By keannu in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 08-Jul-2011, 17:00
  2. [Grammar] Construction: "...has had to be (cancelled)"
    By skelerobo in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 09-Mar-2011, 22:14
  3. [Grammar] construction with "swap"... reloaded!
    By tangelatm in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 15-Apr-2009, 14:35
  4. [Grammar] What is a grammar construction "is been done"?
    By 221050 in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 27-Jan-2009, 11:38
  5. "will" used as future construction
    By guzhao67 in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 21-Dec-2008, 00:35

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0