A

[jack]

Are these correct? If not, why?

1. He has car obsession.
2. He has a car obsession.
3. He has car obsessions.
4. He has cars obsession.
5. He has cars obsessions.
6. She has foot fetish.
7. She has feet fetish.

 

[Tdol]

Use 2 and say 'she has a foot fetish'.;-)

 

[Casiopea]

Use 2 and say 'she has a foot fetish'.;-)

Cute tdol. :lol: I can always count on you to brighten me day. :up:

 

[jack]

Use 2 and say 'she has a foot fetish'.;-)

So these are wrong?
1. He has car obsession. (This is wrong?)
2. He has car obsessions. (He loves car in general?)
3. He has a car obession. (What does this mean?)
4. He has cars obsession.
5. He has cars obsessions.
6. She has foot fetishes. (If this is wrong, why? I don't understand why it is wrong. Why can't it be plural?)

Are these correct? Does it matter if I put 'a' in there or not?
7. She has a foot fetish.
8. She has foot fetish.

What do these mean?

7. I bought a house.
8. I bought the house.

 

[Casiopea]

1. He has car obsession.

"a car obsession" / "an obsession" (count noun)

2. He has car obsessions.

Sounds odd because 'car' defines 'obsession' as specific, one, so 'obsessions' should be singular 'obsession' ; but, he could have more than one kind of obsession about cars.

3. He has a car obsession.

Also, He has an obsession for cars.

4. He has cars obsession.
5. He has cars obsessions.

'cars' functions as an adjective. Adjectives don't take plural -s.

6. She has foot fetishes.
7. She has a foot fetish.
8. She has foot fetish.

Sentence 6. is similar to sentence 1.: she has more than one fetish about feet but 'car' defines 'fetishes' as specific, one, so 'fetishes' should be singular 'fetish'. In 8. 'fetish' is a singular count noun, so it requires a determiner "a foot fetish". Note tha, the adjective 'foot' is not modifies by "a". It just happenes to occur between the article and its noun. That is, both "a" and "foot" modify "fetish".

7. I bought a house.
8. I bought the house.

I bought a house. (Non-specific. Not know to the reader/listener e.g. Pat: I bought a house. Max: What kind? Where? How much?)

I bought the house. (Specific. Known to the reader/listener e.g. Pat: I bought the house I told you about yesterday. Max: Wonderful. It's in a nice area and the price was right.)

All the best,

 

[jack]

Thanks.

So this is wrong?

1. She has feet fetish.

Is it b/c of this explanation:

4. He has cars obsession.  
5. He has cars obsessions.   


'cars' functions as an adjective. Adjectives don't take plural -s

 

[Casiopea]

1. She has feet fetish.

Well, actually, it sounds odd at first glance given that the common phrase is "foot fetish". It's not common for 'feet' a plural noun to functions as an adjective, but it could be considered OK if 'feet fetish' refers to a fetish for different kinds of feet, say, non-human feet. :shock: But in that case, and since 'fetish' is a count noun, either 'a' or -s should be added,

EX: She has a feet fetish. (fetish for all kinds of feet)
EX: She has feet fetishes. (various kinds of fetishes for all kinds of feet)

But, again, 'feet fetish' is not the common form. It's a made up phrase.

 

[jack]

Thanks.

How come I can do it with 'feet fetish' but not with this:
1. He has cars obessions. (Why I can't do it here?)

Do I need 'a' here? Why?
2. With only $60 administration fee, you can get all that.
3. With only a $60 administration fee, you can get all that.

4. With only a $60 administration fee, you could get all that.
What does #3 and #4 mean?

 

[Casiopea]

Thanks.

How come I can do it with 'feet fetish' but not with this:
1. He has cars obessions. (Why I can't do it here?)

Good question.
I don't know. :?

2. With only $60 administration fee, you can get all that.
3. With only a $60 administration fee, you can get all that.
4. With only a $60 administration fee, you could get all that.

I'd add 'a' in 2.
In 4. 'could' is conditional e.g., You could get all that if you paid fee.

 

[jack]

Thanks.

 

[Casiopea]

Thanks.

You're welcome.

correction: You could get all that if you paid the fee.

 

[Tdol]

1. She has feet fetish.

Well, actually, it sounds odd at first glance given that the common phrase is "foot fetish". It's not common for 'feet' a plural noun to functions as an adjective, but it could be considered OK if 'feet fetish' refers to a fetish for different kinds of feet, say, non-human feet. :shock: But in that case, and since 'fetish' is a count noun, either 'a' or -s should be added,

EX: She has a feet fetish. (fetish for all kinds of feet)
EX: She has feet fetishes. (various kinds of fetishes for all kinds of feet)

But, again, 'feet fetish' is not the common form. It's a made up phrase.

I've never met anyone with such a fetish.;-)

 

[jack]

Are these correct? What do they mean?

1. I applied for a manager position.
2. I applied for the manager position.

3. They weren't hiring for the manager position.
4. They weren't hiring for a manager position.
5. They weren't hiring for manager position.

 

[Casiopea]

1. I applied for a manager position.
2. I applied for the manager position.

In 1., the speaker uses 'a' to express a non-specific position. That is, the speaker doesn't say which company and/or depatment the position is with.
In 2., the speaker uses 'the' to express a specific position, one that both the speaker and listener know about.

[quote="jack"3. They weren't hiring for the manager position.
4. They weren't hiring for a manager position.
5. They weren't hiring for manager position. [/quote]

In 3., 'the' refers to a specific position; in 4., 'a' refers to a non-specific position; in 5., since 'position' is a noun, and nouns require a determiner, either a or the should be used.

A note about adjectives, 'manager' is a noun in form but an adjective in function. We know this because we can test it by deleting it:

for a manager position. => for a position. (OK)

 

[jack]

Thanks.

Are these incorrect without the article 'a'?
1.I want a dog and a cat.
2. I want a dog and cat.

3. I want a Porsche and BMW.
4. I want a Porsche and a BMW.

 

[Casiopea]

Thanks.

Are these incorrect without the article 'a'?
1. I want a dog and a cat.
2. I want a dog and cat.

3. I want a Porsche and BMW.
4. I want a Porsche and a BMW.

Well, 'a' would be best because e.g. the dog and the cat are separate. :wink:

 

[jack]

Thanks.

Are these correct?
1. Do you have massage therapy help here? (I don't need the article 'a' here right? Because 'massage therapy' is not countable?)
2. Do you have a massage therapy help here? (Is this correct?)

3. Do you have a massage therapist here?
4. Do you have a massage therapist help here? (What does this mean?)
5. Do you have massage therapists here? (This is correct, right?)

6. Do you have massage therapy help here?
7. Do you have massage therapy here?
What does #6 and #7 mean?

What is the subject and verb for this:
8. What does #6 and #7 mean?

What do these mean?
9. We used to offer a 30 day guarantee.
10. We used to offer 30 days guarantee.

Are these incorrect?
11. We used to offer 30 day guarantee.
12. We used to offer a 30 days guarantee.

Are these correct? What do they mean?
13. I get a base paid and commission.
14. I get a base paid and a commission. (How come this doesn't sound right with the article 'a'?)
I5. I get a base paid and commissions.
What does #13 and #15 mean?

Is #15 wrong? The article 'a' shouldn't be there right? B/C 'peace of mind' is not countable?
16. We provide a peace of mind.
17. We provide peace of mind.

 

[Casiopea]

I've underlined the nouns:

1. Do you have massage therapy help here?
2. Do you have a massage therapy help here?

3. Do you have a massage therapist here?
4. Do you have a massage therapist help here?
5. Do you have massage therapists here?
6. Same as 1. above
7. Do you have massage therapy here?

What is the subject and verb for this:
8. What does #6 and #7 mean?

Question formation:
What (object) does (aux. verb) #6 (subject) and (conjunction) #7 (subject) mean (main verb)?
Statement:
#6 and #7 (subject) do (aux. verb) mean (main verb) what (object)?

Try: What do #6 and #7 mean? ~ What do they mean?

9. We used to offer a 30 day guarantee.
10. We used to offer 30 days guarantee. :?:

11. We used to offer 30 day guarantee.
12. We used to offer a 30 days guarantee. [/quote]

13. I get a base pay and commission. (together)
14. I get a base pay and a commission. (separately)
I5. I get a base pay and commissions. (separately)

[qoute="jack"]
16. We provide a peace of mind. (a kind of peace of mind :up
17. We provide peace of mind. [/quote]

 

[jack]

Thanks.

Are these correct? What do these mean?
1. We used to offer a 30 day guarantee.
2. We used to offer a 30 day guaranteed.
3. We used to offer 30 days guaranteed. (You're not sure if this is correct or not right?)

4. Do you have a massage therapist here? (Why can't I use the determiner here? Isn't 'therapist' countable?)

correction: You could get all that if you paid the fee.

I have to used 'the' in that sentence? Is it because it is a specific 'fee'?)

Try: What do #6 and #7 mean? ~ What do they mean?

What kills him? (In this sentence 'what' is the subject right?)

 

[Casiopea]

1. We used to offer a 30 day guarantee.
2. We used to offer a 30 day guaranteed.
3. We used to offer 30 days guaranteed. (You're not sure if this is correct or not right?)

1. is OK; 2. is not OK. 'guarantee' (noun).
4. is OK.

You could get all that if you paid the fee. (OK. Specific fee e.g., our fee)
What kills him? (Subject)

Subject Test:
What kills him?
Writing an essay kills him. (makes him dread/hate life)
Watching his brother wash clothes kills him. (makes him laugh at life)