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GPI
take in
Sep 6, 2010 21:44
14 yrs ago
8 viewers *
English term

great potential or a great potential?

English Other General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Which one is correct, He´s got great potential or he´s got a great potential?
Responses
4 +9 great potential
5 depends upon context

Discussion

Stephanie Ezrol Sep 6, 2010:
A great potential usually implies a great potential for this or that. With a report card, as you described it, great potential is the right choice. He has great potential in general. He's got great potential is normal spoken English, but it is not proper or correct English. On a report card, correct English is necessary.
Patsy Florit (asker) Sep 6, 2010:
I understand that it depends on the context. I posted my context. Therefore, can I use any of them in this context?
Charlesp Sep 6, 2010:
I agree with Stephanie ;-)
Patsy Florit (asker) Sep 6, 2010:
This is directed to a student whose grades aren´t good. He has potential but isn´t applying himself! The comment is for a report card : You´ve got (a) great potential but you´re not studying hard enough!
Stephanie Ezrol Sep 6, 2010:
Both are used and I think it is more a queston of context, and the larger flow of the text. Could you post a few sentences?

Responses

+9
12 mins
Selected

great potential

sounds more natural to my ear
Peer comment(s):
agree Jack Doughty
8 mins
agree Veronika McLaren
18 mins
agree JaneTranslates : To mine as well.
22 mins
agree Stephanie Ezrol : he has great potential, especially if this is coming from a teacher
2 hrs
agree cmwilliams (X)
9 hrs
agree Sarah Bessioud
10 hrs
agree Sheila Wilson : The use of "a" in context is not wrong per se but this would be the normal choice here
10 hrs
agree Suzan Hamer
11 hrs
agree Arabic & More : In the context given (comments on a report card)
21 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks. This would be the most appropriate answer in this case."
1 hr

depends upon context

either one could be correct, depending...
Something went wrong...
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