a dinner

[GUEST2008]

Hi

Is it OK to put the article "a" before "dinner"?

EG. He threw a dinner at the swank hotel.

Thanks

 

[buggles]

Hi

Is it OK to put the article "a" before "dinner"?

EG. He threw a dinner at the swank hotel.

Thanks

It's more than OK, it's obligatory!

However, we usually "throw" a party and "hold" or "host" a dinner.

He threw a great party for his friends and hosted a splendid dinner for his relatives.

buggles (not a teacher)

 

[GUEST2008]

It's more than OK, it's obligatory!

Should we use articles before all of these: breakfast, dinner, lunch, supper.

I had a breakfast/dinner/lunch/supper.

What about: She had (a) cancer.

Thanks

 

[buggles]

Should we use articles before all of these: breakfast, dinner, lunch, supper.

I had a breakfast/dinner/lunch/supper.

What about: She had (a) cancer.

Thanks

I can't really give you the grammatical justification for this, but no - you wouldn't usually use "a" in those circumstances.

You'd say,

I've just had breakfast/dinner/lunch/supper,

......but you'd also say,

I've had a delicious breakfast etc.

.....and you'd say, "She had cancer" in the same way that you'd say, "She had influenza/ measles/ chickenpox etc". Unfortunately, however, you'd say, "She had a cold"!


Sorry if that's not helped much!:-(

 

[GUEST2008]

Thanks it's a bit clearer.

What about: I've had A delicious breakfast.

Do we put the "a" because it was this one delicious breakfast and not any other?