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Hi,
Articles again.
The key says there should be “the/a” (referring to “jam session”), but I think the possessive case rules that out. Do you agree?
I was present at _ Red Hot Chili Peppers’ jam session.
Thanks.
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The RHCP jam session = the particular RHCP jam session in question, being discussed, being considered....
A RHCP jam session = any RHCP jam session.
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"I was present at a Red Hot Chili Peppers jam session."
[You were present at one, but we are not sure which one. There could have been 10 jam sessions in your area and you attended one of them; or perhaps there was one jam session you attended 10 years ago. We don't know; all we know is you were at one at some point].
"I was present at the Red Hot Chili Peppers' jam session."
[By using "the" you are alluding to a specific jam session. The person to whom you are speaking is either familiar with the jam session in question or you will go on to explain which one; e.g. "I was present at the Red Hot Chili Peppers jam session in LA last week."]
"I was present at Red Hot Chili Peppers jam session."
[No. This type of speech pattern can sometimes be heard among Russians speaking English, as they often leave off definite articles.]
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Thanks for your prompt replies, guys.
The point you've both made is basic and presents no problems even for beginners. What puzzled me was the/a+ -'s.
You can't say "I've heard a Dylan's song", "I'm wearing a Mother's dress", can you?
Sure enough, without 's we should use an article.
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This is valid: "I'm wearing a mother's dress" = I'm wearing a dress that's typically worn by mothers.
But this is invalid: "I've heard a Dylan's song" where Dylan is a person.
I think referring to names is exceptional here. So it would have to be: "I've heard a Dylan song." or "I've heard the Dylan song."
This is also valid:
I've heard Dylan's song.
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Re: "I think referring to names is exceptional here."
By this I mean an individual, a person, since you could have, say: "I've heard a Beatles' song" where Beatles is the name of a band.
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I think in this case, "Red Hot Chili Peppers" is actually working as an adjective. You could say "I was present at a good jam session", so if you simply switch RHCP for 'red', it works. This is why "*a Dylan's jam session" doesn't work. I suppose 'Beatles' is probaly doing the same thing.
The alternation between 'a' and 'the' is basically between, "old news" and "new news": 'a' is used the first time something is mentioned, while 'the' is used to refer to the same thing later on (in general; I'm sure there are exceptions).
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Josh,
RHCP could indeed function as an attribute, but without -‘s. Whether the original sentence is better without -‘s is another matter.
If “ a Dylan's jam session” doesn’t work, why should “a RHCP’s” work? Any “a [name]’s” is wrong, IMHO. You seem to agree with this.
Guest,
my capitalizing Mother was intentional – it means MY mother.
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>>Guest,
my capitalizing Mother was intentional – it means MY mother<<
Then it definitely wouldn't work.
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