[Grammar] Are they all correct?--Omission of articles

[gorikaz]

Dear teachers,

In the following examples, which writing structure --a) or b)-- is correct?
In making one sentence out of Example #1/Example #2, I would like to know which one --a) or b)-- is better. If both are acceptable in writing/speaking, do you recommend to use a) rather than b) in formal writing & speech? Please help me...

Example#1: I like a banana. I like a peach. I like a potato.

a) I like a banana, a peach, and a potato.
b) I like a banana, peach, and potato.

Example#2: I the banana. I like the peach. I like the potato.

a) I like the banana, the peach, and the potato.
b) I like the banana, peach, and potato.

 

[Tdol]

Without further context, it's hard to say. I would use the following:
I like bananas. (In general)
I like the banana. (Looking at one banana in a choice of fruit)
I like a banana at lunchtime.

 

[gorikaz]

Sorry for the confusion!
What I want to know is whether or not an articles before each noun can be omitted in both formal writing/speaking, as in the example like "I would like to have a banana, lemon, and potato." Or is an article required before each noun? Is it grammatically incorrect if I do not place an article before each noun?

 

[bhaisahab]

Sorry for the confusion!
What I want to know is whether or not an articles before each noun can be omitted in both formal writing/speaking, as in the example like "I would like to have a banana, lemon, and potato." Or is an article required before each noun? Is it grammatically incorrect if I do not place an article before each noun?

In your example above you need an article before each noun.

 

[Tdol]

Sorry for the confusion!

OK- I get your point now and would, like Bhaisahab, use an article before each noun. ;-)

 

[gorikaz]

Hmmm, I see. However, would an article before each noun still be required even in informal writing/speaking? I say so because I often see the second/third articles omitted in a sentence. For instance, in the following sentence, only the first listed noun has an article but not the second/third....

"Every three months, a judge, prosecutor, defence lawyer, and clerk fly from Washington to Tokyo."

I do not think that the above sentence indicates only one person being a judge, prosecutor, and the like.

 

[Tdol]

We're changing the examples here- with would like omitting the article is fine and in the lawyer case, they're subjects and not objects of like- different examples will have different solutions. ;-)