a simple question..?

Question

bring the liquid to a boil again

is it okay? or should it be deleted the "a"

and, can u tell me why

Answer 1

no, the a is fine. i think thats the correct use of it actually

Answer 2

According to the dictionary [that is, in formal speech], there are two possibilities: "to heat to the boiling point" with a definite article ("the") and "to bring the soup to the boil" (also with a definite article).

However, in spoken English, "bring to a boil" (with the indefinite article "a" [before consonants] or "an" [before vowels]) is much more used than "bring to the boil".

To me, the spoken form sounds better and is even more accurate than the formal one because different types of liquids, such as water and oil, have different boiling points. Determiners, such as "a,an" are used to refer to a specific object (person, etc.) whenever there is more than one ("bring me a [any] pencil"), and its definite counterpart is used to refer to a specific one ("bring me "the" [I´m referring to a specific one] pencil"). By analogy, if we say "bring it to a boil", it´s implied that there are different boiling points. "Bring to the boil", on the other hand, suggests that there is only one boiling point.

Which one to use? In speech, choose the most used construction; in writing, the formal one.

Answer 3

It needs to be there as you are telling the story of the liquid and describing that it you are talking about the liquid with an a in the sentences

A example--

I shot the deer with a bullet.

What I did--- shot
To who did it happen-- The deer
With what--- a bullet

Justin

Answer 4

personally i'd swap "a" with "the"... as boil is shortened version of "the boiling point" .. but thats just me ;-)
re nice :- yes different boiling points but surely bring to the boil infers that particular liquids own boiling point so ner!

Answer 5

Either way I believe is acceptable. I like with the "a" better.