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Thread: Fish live in water/in the water

  1. 27-Feb-2012, 09:09 #1
    joham
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    Default Fish live in water/in the water

    Is 'Fish live in the water' as good English as 'Fish live in water'?

    Thank you in advance.
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  2. 27-Feb-2012, 09:17 #2
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    bhaisahab
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    Default Re: Fish live in water/in the water

    Quote Originally Posted by joham View Post
    Is 'Fish live in the water' as good English as 'Fish live in water'?

    Thank you in advance.
    Yes, in the right context.
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  3. 27-Feb-2012, 10:00 #3
    joham
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    Default Re: Fish live in water/in the water

    Thanks, bhai. Could I ask what you mean by 'in the right context'? Are there any contexts where one of them couldn't be used? Thank you again.
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  4. 27-Feb-2012, 10:25 #4
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    bhaisahab
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    Default Re: Fish live in water/in the water

    Quote Originally Posted by joham View Post
    Thanks, bhai. Could I ask what you mean by 'in the right context'? Are there any contexts where one of them couldn't be used? Thank you again.
    "Fish live in water" is a general truth.
    Here is an example of "fish live in the water, taken from COCA:
    "Not only because you needed water to drink, but also because fish live in the water."
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  5. 27-Feb-2012, 11:12 #5
    Tdol
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    Default Re: Fish live in water/in the water

    Or specific water- the lake used to be dead but now many fish live in the water.
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  6. 27-Feb-2012, 12:16 #6
    BobSmith
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    Default Re: Fish live in water/in the water

    Quote Originally Posted by joham View Post
    Are there any contexts where one of them couldn't be used?
    "Dogs live on land. Fish live in the water."
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