[Vocabulary] The dishes are affordable and from time to time specials are at half price.

[newkeenlearner]

Hi,

Which of the following sentences correct?

1. The dishes are affordable, and from time to time the specials are at half price.
2. The dishes are affordable, and from time to time the specials are half price.
3. The dishes are affordable, and from time to time the specials are half-price.
   
4. The dishes are affordable, and from time to time the specials are at half-price.

 

[emsr2d2]

The way it's worded means that occasionally the "special dishes" are sold at half-price. How does the reader know which the special dishes are? Did you, perhaps, mean that occasionally all the dishes are sold at a special price (in this case, half-price)?

 

[newkeenlearner]

Here is the full sentence written by a teacher.

Furthermore, what makes this place most special to me is that the owner is also the cook, and he prepares both international and ethnic dishes with fresh ingredients as well as making a perfect cup of coffee. The dishes are affordable, and there is always something new and exotic on the menu. Most of the time the specials are half price or even less.

I think the meaning of "specials" is the following. Do you have another meaning in your mind?
A meal that is not on a restaurant's usual menu.

 

[GoesStation]

I think the meaning of "specials" is the following. Do you have another meaning in your mind?
A meal that is not on a restaurant's usual menu.

That's almost right. In a restaurant (at least in the USA), a special is either something that's not normally on the menu, or a regular menu item at a reduced price.

 

[newkeenlearner]

Thank you, now which of the following is correct?

Most of the time the specials are half price or even less.
Most of the time the specials are at half price or even less.
Most of the time the specials are half-price or even less.
Most of the time the specials are at half-price or even less.

 

[Rover_KE]

#1 is correct (if you had helpfully numbered them).

The word 'at' is redundant. The hyphen is only necessary when 'half-price' precedes a noun.