Jose Carillo's English Forum

English Grammar and Usage Problems => Use and Misuse => Topic started by: Sky on April 07, 2012, 07:33:39 PM

Title: Which one is correct or more/most idiomatic?
Post by: Sky on April 07, 2012, 07:33:39 PM

1. I caught a cold.
2. I caught cold.
3. I caught colds.
4. I got a cold.
5. I got colds.

Thanks

Title: Re: Which one is correct or more/most idiomatic?
Post by: Joe Carillo on April 08, 2012, 10:34:01 AM

I would think that Sentences 1 and 4 are the more idiomatic usage among the five you listed. Read them aloud to check for yourself:

1. “I caught a cold.”
4. “I got a cold.”

Sentences 2, 3, and 5 can be fixed and made to sound idiomatic by adding the article “the” before the noun “cold” or “colds,” as follows:

2. “I caught the cold.”
3. “I caught the colds.”
5. “I got the colds.”
 
Of course, these four colloquial expressions of the same idea are also commonly used:

6. “I have a cold.”
7. “I’ve got a cold.”
8. “I’m down with the cold.”
9. “I went down with the cold.”

All of the nine sentence constructions listed above are grammatically airtight and may be used depending on the particular situation of the speaker.