Last visit was: 18 Nov 2025, 19:37 It is currently 18 Nov 2025, 19:37
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
avatar
bball
avatar
Current Student
Joined: 02 Aug 2008
Last visit: 27 Jul 2011
Posts: 112
Own Kudos:
5
Schools:HBS '11
Posts: 112
Kudos: 5
A question for you indians and asians? 14 Oct 2008, 09:55
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I'm asian, but asian american so I can't speak well about whether or not asian languages leave out articles.

However, I'm sure all you americans know this already, but for the benefit of the internationals on this board, its actually "an MBA" not "a MBA". It has to do with the fact that MBA is pronounced "em-bee-ay" and therefore needs an "an" not an "a". You still need to use "a" when referring to "a Harvard MBA" etc.
User avatar
89nk
User avatar
Joined: 05 Feb 2008
Last visit: 16 Dec 2012
Posts: 321
Own Kudos:
59
Given Kudos: 10
Location: Texas
Posts: 321
Kudos: 59
A question for you indians and asians? 14 Oct 2008, 18:11
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I am Korean-American. I am looking forward to how my essays will turn out. :lol:
User avatar
andromeda
User avatar
Joined: 07 Nov 2009
Last visit: 09 Mar 2010
Posts: 45
Own Kudos:
3
Given Kudos: 1
Schools:UNC (R1), NCSU (R2), Duke (R2)
GPA: 3.9
WE 1: IT systems management
WE 2: telecom
Posts: 45
Kudos: 3
A question for you indians and asians? 27 Dec 2009, 21:14
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I am not Asian, I am Eastern European and my native language is Slavic, although after 16 years is the USA I consider my English to be my stronger language. I don't know of any Slavic language that has "the" and "a" concepts. I don't know how to use them. So, I asked my PhD educated, published author, American born and raised husband for some help. Guess what? He couldn't give me clear, bulletproof rules for "the" & "a", he said he just knows when one goes and where one does not by ear.
So, next time you read a text that is not writen by native English speaker, don't get irritated by imperfect "the" "a" placements. Or, you can try to be fluentin French then go to Paris and see what feedback you will get.
User avatar
Turnpike
User avatar
Joined: 03 Oct 2009
Last visit: 06 Apr 2010
Posts: 81
Own Kudos:
3
Given Kudos: 17
Posts: 81
Kudos: 3
A question for you indians and asians? 28 Dec 2009, 05:19
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
As an Indian I tell you that we have pretty much re-organised the English language to blend it with our own native tongue. Most of what I hear these days is Hinglish! That's a mixed breed of English and Hindi. If you hear it long enough, you'll know why the articles are missing. As someone pointed out earlier in the thread, there are several school systems in India, and the level of attention they give to English varies. So, the quality of English is not the same everywhere. And there's a growing lament on the declining quality of English education in this country. So the Mystery of the Missing Articles is a direct result of poor English education in school more than anything else.
   1   2