Why is it wrong to use a modifier only once?

English grammar questions, answered by Alan

Moderator: Alan

Locked
ansonman
Rising Star
Rising Star
Posts: 127
Joined: Mon May 18, 2020 9:18 pm
Status: Learner of English

Why is it wrong to use a modifier only once?

Post by ansonman »

I have made up the examples below.

(1a) I want to be a sailor because I like the beauty of the sea, freshness of air and freedom of travelling.
(2a) Jack is my friend, mentor and idol.
(3a) The Lord is the protector, strength, and shield for everyone.

(1b) I want to be a sailor because I like the beauty of the sea, the freshness of air and the freedom of travelling.
(2b) Jack is my friend, my mentor and my idol.
(3b) The Lord is the protector, the strength, and the shield for everyone.

Most of my non-native English speaking friends think I should repeat the modifier in each sentence to make it grammatically correct. I don't understand why it is wrong to use it only once. Please help me. Thank you.
User avatar
Alan
Teacher/Moderator
Teacher/Moderator
Posts: 15193
Joined: Mon Dec 29, 2003 7:56 pm
Status: Teacher of English
Location: Japan

Re: Why is it wrong to use a modifier only once?

Post by Alan »

(1a) --> I want to be a sailor because I like the beauty of the sea, THE freshness of THE air and THE freedom of travelling.

2a & 3a are correct as written.

in (1a), unlike 2a & 3a, the article must be repeated on account both of its compound use within individual phrases ("the A of the B") and of its uneven distributed among the phrases.

If in doubt, simply repeat the article or adjective in the appropriate place, since its omission may be incorrect, while its inclusion will never be!
Locked