articles with seasons

[Kotfor]

Which article should be used in:

1) I'd like to visit Greece in the summer/summer. (I mean any summer.)
2) I'd like to visit Greece in the summer/summer. (I mean this summer)

[5jj]

The only way you can be clear about the 'this summer' meaning is to use the words 'this summer'. The only way to be clear about the 'any summer' meaning is to say something like 'during the summer one year'.

[emsr2d2]

Which article should be used in:

1) I'd like to visit Greece in the summer/summer. (I mean any summer.)
2) I'd like to visit Greece in the summer/summer. (I mean this summer)

Sentences 1 and 2 are identical. What is your question?

[Kotfor]

The only way you can be clear about the 'this summer' meaning is to use the words 'this summer'. The only way to be clear about the 'any summer' meaning is to say something like 'during the summer one year'.

I see. Would this sentence mean something and would it be correct at all? My american friend says that it doesn't sound right to him, now I wonder how it sounds for a British speaker.

I'd like to visit Greece in summer. (THIS SENTENCE is in question now)

[5jj]

I'd like to visit Greece in summer.

It's fine in BrE - but it's potentially ambiguous.

[Kotfor]

It's fine in BrE - but it's potentially ambiguous.

So it can mean any summer or a specific one, can't it?

1) I plan to travel to Europe over the next few years. I plan to visit Greece in summer.
Does it mean any summer?

2) - Do you have any plans for your holiday?
- I hope to go to Italy in summer.
It is "this summer". Is it OK without "the"?

[5jj]

1) I plan to travel to Europe over the next few years. I plan to visit Greece in summer.
Does it mean any summer?

It's potentially ambiguous.

2) - Do you have any plans for your holiday?
- I hope to go to Italy in summer.
It is "this summer". Is it OK without "the"?

Yes, it is fine in BrE.

[emsr2d2]

So it can mean any summer or a specific one, can't it?

1) I plan to travel to Europe over the next few years. I plan to visit Greece in summer.
Does it mean any summer? Yes. To me, that means that at some point during the next few years when you are travelling around Europe, you will visit Greece. When you do so, it will be summer, but you don't know which summer yet.

2) - Do you have any plans for your holiday?
- I hope to go to Italy in summer.
It is "this summer". Is it OK without "the"? For me, this does not make it clear that you are going this summer. If someone asked me "Do you have any holiday plans?" and I wanted to be clear that I had plans to travel to Italy in the summer of the same year as the conversation was taking place, I would say "I'm hoping to go to Italy in the summer". If I was asked about general holiday plans I might say "I'm hoping to go to Italy this summer, Germany next February and South Africa next spring".

See above for my take on the statements.