This is a question from my English exam. I left the blank space blank and the teacher gave me wrong, almost the whole class left it blank. Now I'm just wondering what the correct answer is. Should I put the word " a " in a blank space or leave it blank.
2006-06-12 03:16:50 · 18 answers · asked by jikzhao 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
Depends on what you're trying to say. If the convention is THIS Saturday then there's no need to include an "a." If you are stating which day of the week the convention will be held, then you should include the "a."
2006-06-12 06:22:05 · answer #1 · answered by jimbob 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you put "a" in, it doesn't specify which Saturday. If you leave it out it implies that it is the Saturday of the week being discussed (either the date of the notice or referring to a week already mentioned).
Easter Saturday, for example, would be another option, so would 'the' but if you used 'this' or 'next' it would be generally incorrect to use 'on'.
So, nothing at all, 'a'. 'the', 'the following' or a named Saturday of some kind are correct after 'on'; 'this' would be marginally acceptable (if an immediately previous or following sentence referred to a date), 'next' never. Exactly what is right would depend on the context.
EXAMPLES:
'The week beginning the 12 June will comprise five days of seminars and workshops. The convention will be held on the Saturday.' (previously specified date indicates which Saturday is referred to)
'Memo Dated: 12 June
The convention will be held this Saturday' (no 'on')
'We have now only one free date in our calendar, Saturday 24th June. The convention will be held on this Saturday.' (hard to explain the difference in nuance between the two examples above! The second one has slightly more emphasis on 'this' with the implication 'rather than any other Saturday')
'In the past we have had low attendance for mid-week conventions. [This year] the convention will be held on a Saturday.' (no specific Saturday implied)
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Incidentally, it's worth knowing how exams work. If there is a blank it usually means that you are expected to put something there. To leave it blank could imply that you hadn't attempted the question. If nothing at all were an option, the question would have been worded differently.
2006-06-12 10:20:11 · answer #2 · answered by Owlwings 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My answer would depend on the information included before that sentence and after it. Just looking at the sentence as you have it I would include "a" because it doesn't tell a specific time of the convention, not sure if it is next Saturday or two Saturdays away or A Saturday sometime in the near future. If it included a date then I wouldn't include an "a". Does that make any sense? LOL I am not sure I explained it too well!
2006-06-12 10:21:23 · answer #3 · answered by pdanielleh 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the Saturday the convention will be held on is not THIS Saturday, you should put an "a" in the blank.
If you are trying to say "the convention will be held this Saturday", you would leave it blank.
2006-06-12 10:45:57 · answer #4 · answered by anonymous 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It completely depends on what you want the sentence to mean! I suppose there was additional information which will give you the meaning and then you can enter the appropriate word. The teacher should tell you the correct answer and the reasoning behind it to help you learn and develop your language skills.
2006-06-12 10:38:12 · answer #5 · answered by ehc11 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you say 'a Saturday' that means that you're not specifying any particular Saturday. If you just say Saturday that would mean the one coming. It depends on the context of the question - both are correct grammatically, but do have different meanings.
2006-06-12 14:01:13 · answer #6 · answered by Jen_Greebo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Putting an "a" there makes it indefinite, as it could be any Saturday. If there's nothing there, you would assume it would be this Saturday. You might have also put "this" in there for this coming Saturday, or "next" for the Saturday after that.
2006-06-12 10:19:52 · answer #7 · answered by TheOnlyBeldin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it depends... if the date hasn't been set but you know it's on a Saturday then add "a", but if the convention is THIS Saturday then leave it blank.
2006-06-12 10:20:14 · answer #8 · answered by ellenangel364 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Neither...there must be more to it than you realise. We could all take a guess at what word fits within the sentence, but this must be an exam regarding other knowledge, something you have studied in class.
2006-06-12 10:25:46 · answer #9 · answered by smart_babe 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
leave it blank to refer to the coming Saturday.
put 'a' for other future Saturdays
2006-06-12 10:19:02 · answer #10 · answered by JeckJeck 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋