Hello. I would be very grateful for your help.
1) Please help me with articles. I'm writing about a particular company. Should I use the definite article or no article in the following context: "(the ?) costs are likely to be higher than (the?) revenues".
2) "He said they would have to transfer to another university" (Is "would have to" correct?)
3) Which is correct: the academic yera At or In a university (I think At).
4) Which is correct, anything or something (maybe, both?) in the sentence: " Can you imagine anything / something like this happening in a city?"
5) Is my conditional sentence OK: "If my grandfather were alive, everything would be different now?"
Thank you very, very much.
1. Either way is fine. Without "the" often indicates more general reference, but either way works.
2. Yes
3. at
4. Either one works, yes.
5. Yes, correct
Hello! I'd be happy to help you with your questions. Let's break down each question and go through the explanations:
1) Regarding the use of articles in your sentence, it seems that both instances require the definite article "the." When you say, "(the ?) costs are likely to be higher than (the ?) revenues," it suggests that you are referring to specific costs and revenues. In this case, using "the" helps indicate that you are talking about particular costs and revenues related to the specific company you mentioned.
2) Yes, "would have to" is correct in the context of your sentence. The phrase "would have to" expresses a conditional obligation or necessity for the future. In your example, it indicates that, according to what "he" said, there is a requirement or obligation for the transfer to another university.
3) The correct preposition to use with "academic year" in the context of a university is "in." You should say, "in a university." The phrase "in a university" suggests that the academic year is happening within the timeframe and environment of the university.
4) Both "anything" and "something" could be correct in the sentence, "Can you imagine anything/something like this happening in a city?" The choice depends on the specific meaning or emphasis you intend. If you use "anything," it suggests a broader range of possibilities or examples unrelated to the context. On the other hand, using "something" implies a narrower focus or specific examples related to the situation being discussed.
5) Your conditional sentence is mostly correct, but there is a minor grammatical error. Instead of saying, "If my grandfather were alive..." it is more accurate to say, "If my grandfather was alive..." The verb "was" is used in this case because it is referring to the past and presents a hypothetical situation.
I hope these explanations help! If you have any more questions or need further clarification, feel free to ask.