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CarloSsS · Jul 7, 2012

In another topic, Raymontt said that the following two sentences have different meanings. What is the difference? I don't see any.

He has just bought a tomato, onion and water melon.
He has just bought a tomato, an onion and a water melon.

bhaisahab · Jul 7, 2012

CarloSsS said:
In another topic, Raymontt said that the following two sentences have different meanings. What is the difference? I don't see any.

He has just bought a tomato, onion and water melon.
He has just bought a tomato, an onion and a water melon.

It's possible (in some places, if not everywhere) to buy a portion of watermelon, which is not the same as buying a (whole) watermelon.

CarloSsS · Jul 7, 2012

bhaisahab said:
It's possible (in some places, if not everywhere) to buy a portion of watermelon, which is not the same as buying a (whole) watermelon.

I completely agree. However, that doesn't answer my question that is unless I missed something. If I did miss something, please tell me what it is that I don't see.

Raymott · Jul 7, 2012

CarloSsS said:
In another topic, Raymontt said that the following two sentences have different meanings. What is the difference? I don't see any.

He has just bought a tomato, onion and watermelon.
He has just bought a tomato, an onion and a watermelon.

Without the article, 'onion' and 'watermelon' can act as mass nouns (uncountable).
I'll try to make it clearer with a similar example:

Tom: "We're having a picnic for 40 disadvantaged children, and we need help to make some salad."
Betty: "Great, how can I help?"
Tom a) "Can you bring tomato and onion?" b) "Can you bring a tomato and an onion?"

Only one of Toms answers (a or b) makes sense in the context. Therefore they can't mean the same thing.

PS: This is essentially what bhaisahab said.

CarloSsS · Jul 7, 2012

Raymott said:
Without the article, 'onion' and 'watermelon' can act as mass nouns (uncountable).
I'll try to make it clearer with a similar example:

Tom: "We're having a picnic for 40 disadvantaged children, and we need help to make some salad."
Betty: "Great, how can I help?"
Tom a) "Can you bring tomato and onion?" b) "Can you bring a tomato and an onion?"

Only one of Toms answers (a or b) makes sense in the context. Therefore they can't mean the same thing.

PS: This is essentially what bhaisahab said.

Fair enough. I completely forgot that foodstuffs can be uncountable. Let me present a different example. I imagine that the second sentence is not very natural, but if it is acceptable (even if barely), is there any difference in meaning between these two sentences?

In my bedroom, I have a desk, a floor lamp and a bed.
In my bedroom, I have a desk, floor lamp and bed.

P.S. What I'm trying to achieve here, is come up with a list in a context where the presence of "a" wouldn't make any difference.

Tdol · Jul 7, 2012

CarloSsS said:
is there any difference in meaning between these two sentences?

In my bedroom, I have a desk, a floor lamp and a bed.
In my bedroom, I have a desk, floor lamp and bed.

Not for me.

CarloSsS · Jul 8, 2012

Tdol said:
Not for me.

Thank you. I'd like to ask one more question. Is the second statement more or less natural than the first one. What would a native speaker be likely to say if they have to choose from the two?

CarloSsS said:
In my bedroom, I have a desk, a floor lamp and a bed.
In my bedroom, I have a desk, floor lamp and bed.

bhaisahab · Jul 8, 2012

CarloSsS said:
Thank you. I'd like to ask one more question. Is the second statement more or less natural than the first one. What would a native speaker be likely to say if they have to choose from the two?

I much prefer the first one.

CarloSsS · Jul 8, 2012

bhaisahab said:
I much prefer the first one.

Thank you bhai.

What about naturalness? Would you say that the latter is correct English?

5jj · Jul 8, 2012

CarloSsS said:
What about naturalness? Would you say that the latter is correct English?

Carlos, I think you are trying to push for a definitive answer - and you are not going to get one. Tdol has told you that he feels there is no difference between the two; bhaisahab has told you he much prefers the first. I agree with Tdol in feeling that there is no difference; unlike bhai, I don't 'much' prefer the first, though that is possibly the one I would produce myself. bhai did not say that the second was incorrect; I feel that it is correct.

This is one of those areas of grammar where the speaker/writer has, in some contexts, free choice.

CarloSsS · Jul 8, 2012

5jj said:
Carlos, I think you are trying to push for a definitive answer - and you are not going to get one. Tdol has told you that he feels there is no difference between the two; bhaisahab has told you he much prefers the first. I agree with Tdol in feeling that there is no difference; unlike bhai, I don't 'much' prefer the first, though that is possibly the one I would produce myself. bhai did not say that the second was incorrect; I feel that it is correct.

This is one of those areas of grammar where the speaker/writer has, in some contexts, free choice.

Thank you 5. That is exactly what I wanted to know and why I was "trying to push for a definitive answer" as you say.

bhaisahab · Jul 8, 2012

5jj said:
Carlos, I think you are trying to push for a definitive answer - and you are not going to get one. Tdol has told you that he feels there is no difference between the two; bhaisahab has told you he much prefers the first. I agree with Tdol in feeling that there is no difference; unlike bhai, I don't 'much' prefer the first, though that is possibly the one I would produce myself. bhai did not say that the second was incorrect; I feel that it is correct.

This is one of those areas of grammar where the speaker/writer has, in some contexts, free choice.

I completely agree that the second is correct and commonly used. I reiterate that I prefer the first, it is almost certainly the way that I would say it.

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