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"one year" vs. "a year"



 
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"one year" vs. "a year" #1 (permalink) Sun Dec 31, 2006 12:29 pm   "one year" vs. "a year"
 

Hello!
I'm new here and I have a question. Should we use the indefinite article or the numeral in these examples:

I will live there a year.
or
I will live there one year.

Thank you!
Camie
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Joined: 31 Dec 2006
Posts: 2

"one year" vs. "a year" #2 (permalink) Sun Dec 31, 2006 12:42 pm   "one year" vs. "a year"
 

Hi and welcome to the site,

I think you should add 'for' to both sentences. The only difference is in the suggestion that 'a' is more general than the use of 'one' If you say: I will live there for one year, you are being very precise about the duration of your stay but of course the meaning is the same for both because it is still 12 months.

Alan
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"one year" vs. "a year" #3 (permalink) Sun Dec 31, 2006 12:47 pm   "one year" vs. "a year"
 

Thank you for your answer!

In fact while writing the sentences I wasn't sure whether to use "for" or not. Smile
Camie
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"one year" vs. "a year" #4 (permalink) Sun Dec 31, 2006 15:17 pm   "one year" vs. "a year"
 

Thanks, Alan. Very Happy

Am I allowed to shed some of my light on the sentences? Shocked Please see if I am right!

Hi Camie

When "one" is understood, we use "a". For example:

1- I want a cup of tea. ("one" is understood)

2- The bus fell into a ravine but only "one" passenger was killed. (Here we cannot use "a" because we have to be precise, as Alan said in his explanation.

Tom
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"one year" vs. "a year" #5 (permalink) Sun Dec 31, 2006 15:42 pm   "one year" vs. "a year"
 

Hi Tom,

Spot on!

A
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Expression: "My husband keeps on about me having a baby" | They elected him president vs. They elected him as president
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