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American English usage question. . .
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InterDimensional One (ID1)
User ID: 592155
 United States
1/13/2009 11:49 AM
Report abusive post | American English usage question. . .
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When describing an event that happens, usually with surprise, is it correct to say:
. . .all of the sudden,
or
. . .all of a sudden?
Here's my thinking. 'sudden' is simply an adjective for the hidden word 'events'. Restated:
. . .all of the sudden (events).
Where 'sudden' modifies events, and so 'all' modifies the prepositional phrase 'of the sudden (events)'
Since 'all' and 'events' are plural, then the correct word is 'The (events)' and not 'A (events)'.
Anyone care to comment? This is not for an english final - rather just a friendly dispute at work.
Thank you.
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In this reality, contact me via:
InterDimensional.One (at) Gmail.Com
or sit cross-legged, and visualize
your thoughts to me while humming
your favorite mantra.
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Nothing Is True
User ID: 588661
 United Kingdom
1/13/2009 11:51 AM
 | | Re: American English usage question. . . | Quote |
'..a sudden'
Everything is permitted.. |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 559260
United States
1/13/2009 11:51 AM | | Re: American English usage question. . . | Quote |
if this is your biggest argument, i want your life |
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InterDimensional One (ID1)
User ID: 592155
United States
1/13/2009 11:52 AM
| | Re: American English usage question. . . | Quote |
If you were to use the singular word 'event' above, then the word 'all' would not apply? You can't have 'all' of an event?
-----------------------------------
In this reality, contact me via:
InterDimensional.One (at) Gmail.Com
or sit cross-legged, and visualize
your thoughts to me while humming
your favorite mantra.
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 160751
United States
1/13/2009 11:52 AM | | Re: American English usage question. . . | Quote |
all of a sudden. |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 592133
United Kingdom
1/13/2009 11:52 AM | | Re: American English usage question. . . | Quote |
it's a phrase. all of a sudden
although not being in the US i'm not really qualified to comment on 'american english'. lol |
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InterDimensional One (ID1)
User ID: 592155
United States
1/13/2009 11:53 AM
| | Re: American English usage question. . . | Quote |
'..a sudden' Quoting: Nothing Is True
And for future posters - Explain why in your answer.
Thank you.
-----------------------------------
In this reality, contact me via:
InterDimensional.One (at) Gmail.Com
or sit cross-legged, and visualize
your thoughts to me while humming
your favorite mantra.
----------------------------------- |
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Phoenix 2012  
Senior Forum Moderator
User ID: 425066
United States
1/13/2009 11:54 AM
 | | Re: American English usage question. . . | Quote |
In all of a sudden.
E-mail:bans@godlikeproductions.com.
Inquiring about a ban?, include the IP address found here. [link to www.showmyip.com]
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 119873
United States
1/13/2009 11:54 AM | | Re: American English usage question. . . | Quote |
[link to www.wsu.edu]
It's from a website with an edu suffix, so it must be right. |
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InterDimensional One (ID1)
User ID: 592155
United States
1/13/2009 11:56 AM
| | Re: American English usage question. . . | Quote |
if this is your biggest argument, i want your life Quoting: Anonymous Coward 559260
My life is very full and busy, but that does not mean that I don't have nagging, esoteric questions from time to time. And so for all the Dooomers and people that want more exciting threads than this, please exit this thread.
-----------------------------------
In this reality, contact me via:
InterDimensional.One (at) Gmail.Com
or sit cross-legged, and visualize
your thoughts to me while humming
your favorite mantra.
----------------------------------- |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 592133
United Kingdom
1/13/2009 11:57 AM | | Re: American English usage question. . . | Quote |
bye then.. |
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Nothing Is True
User ID: 588661
United Kingdom
1/13/2009 12:00 PM
| | Re: American English usage question. . . | Quote |
'..a sudden'
And for future posters - Explain why in your answer.
Thank you. Quoting: InterDimensional One (ID1)
It's a matter of idiom. 'All of a sudden' is, however, is the original and more correct of the two phrases in question.
Everything is permitted.. |
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InterDimensional One (ID1)
User ID: 592155
United States
1/13/2009 12:03 PM
| | Re: American English usage question. . . | Quote |
'..a sudden'
And for future posters - Explain why in your answer.
Thank you.
It's a matter of idiom. 'All of a sudden' is, however, is the original and more correct of the two phrases in question. Quoting: Nothing Is True
Thank you. Confirmed here:
[link to www.painintheenglish.com]
And so the 'Correct Usage' is to say Suddenly.
Thanks everyone.
-----------------------------------
In this reality, contact me via:
InterDimensional.One (at) Gmail.Com
or sit cross-legged, and visualize
your thoughts to me while humming
your favorite mantra.
----------------------------------- |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 592154
United States
1/13/2009 12:13 PM | | Re: American English usage question. . . | Quote |
When describing an event that happens, usually with surprise, is it correct to say:
. . .all of the sudden,
or
. . .all of a sudden?
Here's my thinking. 'sudden' is simply an adjective for the hidden word 'events'. Restated:
. . .all of the sudden (events).
Where 'sudden' modifies events, and so 'all' modifies the prepositional phrase 'of the sudden (events)'
Since 'all' and 'events' are plural, then the correct word is 'The (events)' and not 'A (events)'.
Anyone care to comment? This is not for an english final - rather just a friendly dispute at work.
Thank you. Quoting: InterDimensional One (ID1)
Just use the word "suddenly" instead of twisting your brain on idioms. Besides, "suddenly" takes less time to say and has three fewer words.
Next case! |
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Sireen-reborn
User ID: 564188
United States
1/13/2009 12:15 PM | | Re: American English usage question. . . | Quote |
the use of the word 'the' would be used to describe a specific noun....sudden being a verb or action word, the use of an 'a' is more appropriate....imo of course, for what it's worth.
anything after 'but' is bullshit!
[link to www.myspace.com]
"Once you open your mind to the possibility of conspiracy, you then see conspiracy in everything." [link to deadbydecember-sireen.blogspot.com] |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 520404
 Malta
1/13/2009 12:19 PM | | Re: American English usage question. . . | Quote |
all of the sudden is simply not used in the english language period =) Now if you want to try disprove some language structure go ahead, but I doubt it's worth the hassle to be honest!
keep smilin ;) |
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Bluebird
User ID: 270054
United States
1/13/2009 12:25 PM
 | | Re: American English usage question. . . | Quote |
. . . a sudden
because there is no "the" sudden as there are more than one times for events to happen.
One of the most important aspects of conspiracy theories is being able to discern when there isn't one. |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 592154
United States
1/13/2009 12:29 PM | | Re: American English usage question. . . | Quote |
the use of the word 'the' would be used to describe a specific noun....sudden being a verb or action word, the use of an 'a' is more appropriate....imo of course, for what it's worth. Quoting: Sireen-reborn
Sudden is not normally a noun. It normally is an adjective, denoting action. It can be used as a noun in the adverbial phrase idiom "All of a sudden", but cannot be used as a stand-alone noun. |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 592154
United States
1/13/2009 12:34 PM | | Re: American English usage question. . . | Quote |
. . . a sudden
because there is no "the" sudden as there are more than one times for events to happen. Quoting: Bluebird
"The" is a definite article defining a particular object.
"A" is an indefinite article with no particular object defined. "All of a sudden" is an idiom and is used as an adverbial phrase to reinforce an action on the verb of the sentence. |
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19.47™
User ID: 590142
United Kingdom
1/13/2009 12:36 PM | | Re: American English usage question. . . | Quote |
the, dosn't sound right. |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 553225
United States
1/13/2009 12:37 PM | | Re: American English usage question. . . | Quote |
"All of a sudden" is an idiom. There is no logical or grammatical reason why we say "a" and not "the"
however if we start using "the" eventually it will become the idiom and thus the discussion will then become, "the - why not a"
chicken or egg? |
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NightWisp
User ID: 592192
United States
1/13/2009 12:53 PM
 | | Re: American English usage question. . . | Quote |
idiom for " suddenly" |
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InterDimensional One (ID1)
User ID: 592155
United States
1/13/2009 5:34 PM
| | Re: American English usage question. . . | Quote |
I feel like an Idiom about now. 
-----------------------------------
In this reality, contact me via:
InterDimensional.One (at) Gmail.Com
or sit cross-legged, and visualize
your thoughts to me while humming
your favorite mantra.
----------------------------------- |
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maybe?
User ID: 592365
United States
1/13/2009 6:00 PM | | Re: American English usage question. . . | Quote |
Suddenly it dawned upon him: the thread may be prophetic |
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burkettgirl
User ID: 470701
United States
2/13/2009 7:33 PM | | Re: American English usage question. . . | Quote |
Thank you for this thread. I now have a new source (painintheenglish.com) when I have questions like this. |
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