T TitoBr Member Joined Dec 26, 2012 Member Type Interested in Language Native Language Portuguese Home Country Brazil Current Location Brazil Feb 15, 2013 #1 Hail! why do I have to use 'the' in the sentence: he is chaning for the better? Is it possible to use without the article? Cheers, Tito
Hail! why do I have to use 'the' in the sentence: he is chaning for the better? Is it possible to use without the article? Cheers, Tito
emsr2d2 Moderator Staff member Joined Jul 28, 2009 Member Type English Teacher Native Language British English Home Country UK Current Location UK Feb 15, 2013 #2 TitoBr said: [STRIKE]Hail[/STRIKE]! (Very unnatural greeting in 21st century English) Why do I have to use 'the' in the sentence: he is changing for the better? Is it possible to [STRIKE]use without[/STRIKE] omit the article? Cheers, Tito Click to expand... Something that happens "for the better" is idiomatic. Look at the definition here and scroll down to idioms.
TitoBr said: [STRIKE]Hail[/STRIKE]! (Very unnatural greeting in 21st century English) Why do I have to use 'the' in the sentence: he is changing for the better? Is it possible to [STRIKE]use without[/STRIKE] omit the article? Cheers, Tito Click to expand... Something that happens "for the better" is idiomatic. Look at the definition here and scroll down to idioms.
T TitoBr Member Thread starter Joined Dec 26, 2012 Member Type Interested in Language Native Language Portuguese Home Country Brazil Current Location Brazil Feb 17, 2013 #3 Yeah, I know that 'Hail' is not used anymore, let's say, since Roman times. Thank you for the corrections and the link.
Yeah, I know that 'Hail' is not used anymore, let's say, since Roman times. Thank you for the corrections and the link.
5jj Moderator Staff member Joined Oct 14, 2010 Member Type English Teacher Native Language British English Home Country Czech Republic Current Location Czech Republic Feb 17, 2013 #4 I am moderately sure that 'Hail' was not used in Roman times.
T TitoBr Member Thread starter Joined Dec 26, 2012 Member Type Interested in Language Native Language Portuguese Home Country Brazil Current Location Brazil Feb 17, 2013 #5 No? What about 'Hail Caesar'?
5jj Moderator Staff member Joined Oct 14, 2010 Member Type English Teacher Native Language British English Home Country Czech Republic Current Location Czech Republic Feb 17, 2013 #6 TitoBr said: No? What about 'Hail Caesar'? Click to expand... I would bet my life savings that nobody around in Roman times ever uttered those words.
TitoBr said: No? What about 'Hail Caesar'? Click to expand... I would bet my life savings that nobody around in Roman times ever uttered those words.
emsr2d2 Moderator Staff member Joined Jul 28, 2009 Member Type English Teacher Native Language British English Home Country UK Current Location UK Feb 17, 2013 #7 I'm moderately sure that I can bet 5jj's life savings on the fact that the Romans didn't speak much English.
I'm moderately sure that I can bet 5jj's life savings on the fact that the Romans didn't speak much English.
bhaisahab Moderator Staff member Joined Apr 12, 2008 Member Type Retired English Teacher Native Language British English Home Country England Current Location Ireland Feb 17, 2013 #8 I'd be willing to bet 5jj's savings on that, too.;-)
5jj Moderator Staff member Joined Oct 14, 2010 Member Type English Teacher Native Language British English Home Country Czech Republic Current Location Czech Republic Feb 17, 2013 #9 It's sweet to see how you are all so happy to bet my life savings; on this question, you'd be safe enough with your own.
It's sweet to see how you are all so happy to bet my life savings; on this question, you'd be safe enough with your own.
emsr2d2 Moderator Staff member Joined Jul 28, 2009 Member Type English Teacher Native Language British English Home Country UK Current Location UK Feb 17, 2013 #10 5jj said: It's sweet to see how you are all so happy to bet my life savings; on this question, you'd be safe enough with your own. Click to expand... If I had any, I would.
5jj said: It's sweet to see how you are all so happy to bet my life savings; on this question, you'd be safe enough with your own. Click to expand... If I had any, I would.