Back in (the) 1830s England...

[jasonlulu_2000]

Back in 1830s England, nursing was not a vocation for respectable women. When Florence Nightingale told her wealthy parents she planned to become a nurse, they were very distressed. What they wanted was for her to learn to host big parties, serve tea and get married. Florence, however, had other plans. She followed a “call” from God at age 16 to nurse the sick and turned her back on marriage, wealth and a life in high society.


Is there anything wrong with the underlined part?

As far as I learn, we should add a "the" in front of 1830s.

"Back in the 1830s England" is more grammatically correct, isn't it?

Thanks for your help! Is it anything to do with the noun of "England"?

Jason

 

[ChinaDan]

Re: the or not

"Back in 1830s England..." is fine. What is throwing you is that you are mistaking "1830s" for a noun, but it's being used as an adjective here. In the following three sentences, I'll underline the noun.

Back in the 1830s.
Back in England.
Back in 1830s England.

 

[Rover_KE]

Re: the or not

Jason, please note that I have improved your thread title.

 

[jasonlulu_2000]

Re: the or not

Thanks for all of your help.

But if we refer to a particular period of England, shouldn't we use "the" to act as the function of a specific England.

In that sense, the 1930s England is fine, isn't it? We also say "the England of tomorrow".

Jason

 

[emsr2d2]

Re: the or not

No. You wouldn't put "the" before any other adjective, would you?

In old England, ...
In ancient England, ...
In past days, ...
In medieval times, ...

It's the same with "1830s". From the previous responses you now know that "1830s" is a noun modifier, which behaves like an adjective.

In 1830s England = In England in the 1830s
In the first, "1830s" is a noun modifier. In the second, it is a noun.

 

[jasonlulu_2000]

Re: the or not

Thanks! I think I have got your point.

But why should you say "in the past few days"?

 

[Matthew Wai]

Re: the or not

Because it refers to the specific few days in the recent past.