The first couple of weeks of term

[Nonverbis]

This is from Upstream Proficiency.

Please, have a look at the screenshot.


Could you tell me why there is no article here?

 

[emsr2d2]

[STRIKE]This is from Upstream Proficiency.[/STRIKE]

Please no comma here have a look at this screenshot. It is from Upstream Proficiency.

Could you tell me why there is no article here?

There is no article because none is needed. "The first week of term" can be thought of as a set phrase. An article would be needed if the specific term was mentioned. For example, "... the first week of the summer term".

You haven't provided the author of the book. You have to give the title and author every time.

 

[Nonverbis]

The textbook is Upstreqm Profiency by Virginia Evans and Jenny Dooley.

As for your example, I think this is not a correct example here.

"The summer term" doesn't have the indefinite article before 'term' because this is a noun + noun compound.
This phenomenon is well described in literature. Like milk chocolate, chocolate milk.

Articles belonging to the first (modifying) noun are dropped in noun + noun combinations.


a sun hat (= a hat that protects you against the sun)

Why "the first week of term" can be thought as a set phrase? A set phrase is what is used widely and traditionally. In textbooks are listed set phrases for use with the indefinite article (by day, at home, to go to town). But in my opinion "the first week of term" doesn't look like a set phrase at all. And I believe that this should obey the general rule: an article precedes any countable noun save in exceptional cases.

Otherwise we will consider a lot of things as set phrases. And anyway, I have consulted a corpus (https://www.english-corpora.org/time/).
I inserted "the first week of term" there. Nothing can be found. So, how a phrase that nobody uses can be considered as a set phrase?

 

[abo.omar]

I think "The first week of term" is broken or musical. I prefer "The first week of the term"

 

[emsr2d2]

I think "The first week of term" is broken or musical. I prefer "The first week of the term"

You might prefer it but I can assure you that the article is not necessary or used in BrE. I have no idea what you mean by it being "broken or musical".

 

[emsr2d2]

The textbook is Upstream Profiency by Virginia Evans and Jenny Dooley.

As for your example, I think this is not [STRIKE]a[/STRIKE] correct. [STRIKE]example here.[/STRIKE]

"The summer term" doesn't have the indefinite article before 'term' because this is a noun + noun compound.
I have no idea what you're talking about. I didn't suggest that the indefinite article should be used before "term" in that phrase. That would result in "the summer a term", which is nonsense.

This phenomenon is well described in literature. [STRIKE]Like[/STRIKE] For example, "milk chocolate" or "chocolate milk".
Articles belonging to the first (modifying) noun are dropped in noun + noun combinations.
Compound nouns can be countable or uncountable. "Chocolate milk" is uncountable in "I like chocolate milk". However, in "Would you like the banana milk or the chocolate milk?" "I'd like the chocolate milk please", an article is required.

a sun hat (= a hat that protects you against the sun)
What's the relevance of that example?

Why can "the first week of term" [STRIKE]can[/STRIKE] be thought of as a set phrase? A set phrase is [STRIKE]what[/STRIKE] something that is used widely and traditionally. [STRIKE]In textbooks are listed[/STRIKE] Some textbooks list set phrases for use with the indefinite article (by day, at home, to go to town).
None of those examples use the indefinite article.

But in my opinion "the first week of term" doesn't look like a set phrase at all. And I believe that this should obey the general rule: an article precedes any countable noun save in exceptional cases.
Whatever your opinion might be, I can assure you that "the first day/week of term" is used extensively in BrE.

Otherwise, we [STRIKE]will[/STRIKE] could consider a lot of things as set phrases. [STRIKE]And[/STRIKE] Anyway, I have consulted a corpus (https://www.english-corpora.org/time/).
I inserted "the first week of term" there. Nothing can be found. So no comma here how can a phrase that nobody uses [STRIKE]can[/STRIKE] be considered [STRIKE]as[/STRIKE] a set phrase?
You're simply wrong when you say it's a phrase nobody uses. See my earlier note about BrE usage.

emsr2d2

 

[probus]

You might prefer it but I can assure you that the article is not necessary or used in BrE

It can be and often is omitted in Canadian English too.

 

[Nonverbis]

Hm. "Term" is uncountable.

https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/term_1?q=term

It is strange to me. Can't you count how many terms are in an academic year?
Anyway, why there is no article here is more or less understandable.

But this word is countable/ uncountable. What does it mean? Does it mean that I can either use an article or omit it?

 

[5jj]

And anyway, I have consulted a corpus

So did I: https://www.google.com/search?q="we...:1,cd_min:2000,cd_max:2009&num=100&lr=lang_en

Whether we like it or not, beginning of term, end of term, nth week of term, are normal and natural.

 

[jutfrank]

Could you tell me why there is no article here?

I assume you're talking about a definite article. The answer has already been given by emsr2d2—there's no article because one isn't necessary. We would use the word the only to make specific reference to a particular term. There's no such reference here. Look:

Term starts on 15th September.

There's no need for any article at all, as there's no specific reference that needs being made. I understand that this might seem to you to be about a particular term, but you should try to think of it more generally.

Articles belonging to the first (modifying) noun are dropped in noun + noun combinations.

I'm not sure I understand what yu mean but that doesn't sound right. Articles never belong to the modifying noun. They can only determine the second (the 'head') noun. In emsr2rd's example the summer term, the word the determines the word term, not summer. That was her point. Nothing is dropped.

I believe that this should obey the general rule: an article precedes any countable noun save in exceptional cases.

I don't really understand or agree with this. Are you talking only about indefinite articles? If there's no indefinite article before a noun, how do you know whether it's countable? What are these exceptional cases?