beatings/the beatings
I came across these sentenses in NY Times and I just wonder why the author didn't put a "the" before "beatings of camels and animals".
In such a case, I thought we usually needed a "the".
❶what's the reason why the definate article isn't nesessary there?
❷how different does the part "beating of camels and animals" mean from "the beating of camels and animals", which is another option I came up with?
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In outraged posts on Facebook or in emails to Egyptian animal rights groups, they have described collapsing horses, sickly camels and emaciated mules. A bustling camel market outside Cairo, where tourists are charged a fee to take photos, features beatings of camels and animals with bloodied faces.
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Thank you!!
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Answers · 9
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The two structures treat "beating" differently.
"a beating" is a countable noun.
"I got two beatings today: one from my father, and one from my teacher."
This movie features [nouns].
This movie features sunsets and kisses.
This other movie features beatings.
What kind of beatings?
It features beatings of camels.
Alternatively, "to beat" is a verb.
"My father beat me, and then my teacher beat me."
this movie features [the verbing of noun]
This movie features the eating of cake.
This other movie features the beating of camels.
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Gerund may or may not be preceded by the
For example, we would not say, I like the walking, I enjoy the dancing, when these are general statements
We add "the" when we are more specific
I enjoy the dancing of the Russian Ballet
This is similar to the use of "a" for general and "the" for specific with nouns
I played with a ball
I played with the ball I received as a present
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