IS there a "the"? - Discussion Forum - The Massassi Temple Forums Archive

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IS there a "the"?

2007-05-06, 4:44 PM #1

Andrew L

For a good time, call 555-3985

Posts: 916

ok so me and my g/f keep talking about this she insists its just prom but i say the prom.... like "are you going to the prom" and she will say "are you going to prom"

so what is it?

(JKLE_Cougar) from JK MP Community
discord.me/jediknightdarkforces2

2007-05-06, 4:46 PM #2

Jay

Hey guys, did you hear about Something Awful?

Posts: 8,804

Short answer: "The" does not have to be there, but could.

So NO VOTES FOR YOUR POLL

2007-05-06, 4:47 PM #3

Stormtrooper

Loves His Stormie

Posts: 2,068

Either is right. "The Prom" refers to a specific prom while "Prom" refers to the promenade dance/gathering in general.

2007-05-06, 4:57 PM #4

Glyde Bane

Dances like a hippopotamus

Posts: 6,075

I just call it "Stupid waste of time that could be spent having fun"

"Jayne, this is something the Captain has to do for himself"

"N-No it's not!"

"Oh."

2007-05-06, 4:59 PM #5

Avenger

Positive!

Posts: 19,146

Stop bickering over stupid ****. It's a one freaking word.

Pissed Off?

2007-05-06, 5:01 PM #6

TimeWolfOfThePast

Why not?

Posts: 5,785

"Someone asked me why when we talk about CIA, we don't say "the CIA" , and I told him, 'You don't say 'the' when talking about God.'"

:downswords:

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2007-05-06, 5:01 PM #7

sugarless

Sweet 'n' Low

Posts: 3,467

I've said it both ways.

"so when we went to prom..."
"so I was getting ready for the prom..."
"we went to the prom together"
"I went stag to prom"

/shrug

Fincham: Where are you going?
Me: I have no idea
Fincham: I meant where are you sitting. This wasn't an existential question.

2007-05-06, 5:03 PM #8

Wolfy

I TYPE LOUD

Posts: 10,623

I always[/b] say, "I went stag to prom."

:gbk:

the idiot is the person who follows the idiot and your not following me your insulting me your following the path of a idiot so that makes you the idiot - LC Tusken

2007-05-06, 5:03 PM #9

sugarless

Sweet 'n' Low

Posts: 3,467

Hey, I went stag to my prom

Fincham: Where are you going?
Me: I have no idea
Fincham: I meant where are you sitting. This wasn't an existential question.

2007-05-06, 5:04 PM #10

Stormtrooper

Loves His Stormie

Posts: 2,068

I skipped my prom.

Had a much better time hanging out with friends from work.

2007-05-06, 5:32 PM #11

Darkjedibob

From Accounting

Posts: 4,280

Didn't go to my prom, either.

$do || ! $do ; try
try: command not found
Ye Olde Galactic Empire Mission Editor (X-wing, TIE, XvT/BoP, XWA)

2007-05-06, 5:37 PM #12

Martin_W

Has a good sense of humor.

Posts: 437

i went to prom :awesome:

yay for not posting much ever

2007-05-06, 5:38 PM #13

Kieran Horn

Got One Anyway

Posts: 3,620

You can't drink at the prom. That right there should tell you what kind of crappy, overpriced party it really is. Always skip prom, go to the after parties.

And I just used both phrases without realizing it. I'm not sure why I used one phrase and not the other.

Democracy: rule by the stupid

2007-05-06, 6:16 PM #14

Baconfish

ALL GLORY TO THE CONTEST WINNER

Posts: 18,004

Both.

But the american deal with $500 dresses and such just seems like a waste of time and money.

nope.

2007-05-06, 6:33 PM #15

Axis

Of Evil!!

Posts: 3,164

I went to anti-prom. For less money than prom, my friends and I went to Laguna beach/knotts berry farm (all the way in magical California land) for a weekend. Last weekend, actually.

2007-05-06, 6:33 PM #16

ECHOMAN

"Has it won yet?"

Posts: 17,215

Originally posted by Andrew L:

ok so me and my g/f keep talking about this she insists its just prom but i say the prom.... like "are you going to the prom" and she will say "are you going to prom"

so what is it?

A run-on sentence.

SnailIracing:n(500tpostshpereline)pants
-----------------------------@%

2007-05-06, 10:21 PM #17

Freelancer

Peelancer

Posts: 15,012

WTF!

OF COURSE there's a "the"!

The problem is you crazy Europeans are influencing fragile American minds. You people and your "I'm going to uni." ARGGGH!!! It's "I'm going to the university!" !!!!!

"it is time to get a credit card to complete my financial independance" — Tibby, Aug. 2009

2007-05-06, 10:38 PM #18

SMOCK!

Didn't get to Paris

Posts: 5,292

.... What? That implies there's one university that you're going to. That only makes sense if you specify which university you're attending (I'm going to the University of California).

Unless you were being sarcastic.

Ban Jin!
Nobody really needs work when you have awesome. - xhuxus

2007-05-06, 11:01 PM #19

Jon`C

Admiral of Awesome

Posts: 18,626

many languages do not have a definite article

2007-05-06, 11:03 PM #20

Freelancer

Peelancer

Posts: 15,012

Ummmmmmm no. I wasn't. I was educating the unwashed masses about proper American English grammar. You have to specify an article that says WHICH university you're going to. I'm going to A university. I'm going to THE university. I'm going to MY university. Those all work. I'm going to university does NOT work. You don't say I'm going to house. I'm going to park. I'm going to theater. No.

"it is time to get a credit card to complete my financial independance" — Tibby, Aug. 2009

2007-05-06, 11:10 PM #21

Jon`C

Admiral of Awesome

Posts: 18,626

Originally posted by Freelancer:

"I'm going to work," "I'm attending school," "I'm leaving for university."

Those are valid. The use of the definite article means you are referring to a known, singular location or proper noun. It is not meant to imply you are moving to a specific location, but it states what you will be doing: attending class.

"I'm late for the work," indeed.

Edit:
It can be "the prom" because there is one prom you are eligable to attend: Your own, at your own school. It can also just be "prom" for the same reason above. It's not just a place to go, it's also a thing you can do.

2007-05-06, 11:28 PM #22

sugarless

Sweet 'n' Low

Posts: 3,467

but I never said "the homecoming" I always just said "I'm going to homecoming." Is it different for specific events that should be understood to the listener? no, because you would say I'm going to the homecomming parade/game what have you.

My college's formal, we don't put the article - we say "I'm going to sig ball"

huh.

[edit] Jon`C basically answered everything, I just left this on my screen without clicking "send" for too long to delete it now

Fincham: Where are you going?
Me: I have no idea
Fincham: I meant where are you sitting. This wasn't an existential question.

2007-05-06, 11:30 PM #23

Freelancer

Peelancer

Posts: 15,012

Originally posted by sugarless5:

we say "I'm going to sig ball"

huh.

And my response would be--- what does it mean to sig a ball? what is this sigging activity I've never heard of?

It's just unclear english, period.

"it is time to get a credit card to complete my financial independance" — Tibby, Aug. 2009

2007-05-06, 11:31 PM #24

Michael MacFarlane

Unwitting troll accomplice

Posts: 8,272

Originally posted by Andrew L:

ok so me and my g/f keep talking about this she insists its just prom but i say the prom.... like "are you going to the prom" and she will say "are you going to prom"

so what is it?

It's a big end-of-year dance for high school juniors and seniors.

If you think the waiters are rude, you should see the manager.

2007-05-06, 11:31 PM #25

sugarless

Sweet 'n' Low

Posts: 3,467

well we don't actually call it Sig Ball to anyone who isn't familiar with the event. That's just silly. "Well I'm going to my school's formal"

Fincham: Where are you going?
Me: I have no idea
Fincham: I meant where are you sitting. This wasn't an existential question.

2007-05-07, 6:15 AM #26

Nikumubeki

NIKVMVS-REX-TODOA

Posts: 17,541

lolz pron

Star Wars: TODOA | DXN - Deus Ex: Nihilum

2007-05-07, 6:21 AM #27

I am the Stig

Posts: 10,922

I went to 3. :colbert:

[01:52] <~Nikumubeki> Because it's MBEGGAR BEGS LIKE A BEGONI.

2007-05-07, 6:44 AM #28

Koobie

Registered User

Posts: 7,354

Originally posted by FastGamerr:

lolz pron

A pr0n or the pr0n?

幻術

2007-05-07, 7:37 AM #29

SMOCK!

Didn't get to Paris

Posts: 5,292

A pr0n

Ban Jin!
Nobody really needs work when you have awesome. - xhuxus

2007-05-07, 7:40 AM #30

Nitropenguin

Penguin Type-R

Posts: 639

m0ar pr0n

Pie.

2007-05-07, 2:36 PM #31

Obi_Kwiet

It's Stuart, Martha Stuart

Posts: 7,943

Originally posted by Glyde Bane:

I just call it "Stupid waste of time that could be spent having fun"

To be fair, the refreshments are really awesome for the money and with very little effort you can eat way more than your ticket was worth. I was going to do that this year, but this girl who doesn't even like me wanted to go with me. I didn't really understand it either, because she also insisted on paying for all of her stuff too. :confused:

Oh well.

2007-05-07, 2:40 PM #32

Petmc.

wi.us

Posts: 2,217

Prom, drop "the" for me

"Oh my god. That just made me want to start cutting" - Aglar
"Why do people from ALL OVER NORTH AMERICA keep asking about CATS?" - Steven, 4/1/2009

2007-05-07, 3:07 PM #33

Emon

Imon, umon...everymon!

Posts: 19,022

Originally posted by Freelancer:

It's just unclear english, period.

Uh, welcome to English?

Bassoon, n. A brazen instrument into which a fool blows out his brains.

2007-05-07, 3:11 PM #34

Baconfish

ALL GLORY TO THE CONTEST WINNER

Posts: 18,004

Must resist urge to point out Freelancer's errors...

nope.

2007-05-07, 6:27 PM #35

Roger Spruce

no title at all

Posts: 3,262

This is twice now, twice that I have clicked on this thread thinking, "Huh, this could be an interesting thread." Damn you. Damn you all to hell.:mad:

TAKES HINTS JUST FINE, STILL DOESN'T CARE

2007-05-07, 6:29 PM #36

Ruthven

Not The Man He Once Was

Posts: 7,638

i dont care, i'm english.:colbert:

Code:

if(getThingFlags(source) & 0x8){
  do her}
elseif(getThingFlags(source) & 0x4){
  do other babe}
else{
  do a dude}

2007-05-07, 6:30 PM #37

Jon`C

Admiral of Awesome

Posts: 18,626

Originally posted by Obi_Kwiet:

but this girl who doesn't even like me wanted to go with me

She didn't want to go alone and nobody else would take her.