orientation camp

Is the camp in a different location than the classes - in a different city - in the country?

In the Far East, before the start of term, or semester in US English, there's an event called 'orientation camp' for freshmen, but do would native speakers use THE?

'do' assumes that "we" have this. You want 'would' to ask about what "we" would do in a similar situation.

If it's become a regular event then it likely wouldn't have THE. If it's relatively new, then THE could certainly see use.

Thank you, ehBeth and JTT.

Thank you especially for the corrections~ My mother tongue doesn't have such subtleties~

Let's pretend that this is the first year for this camp.

Administrator: This year for the first time, there will be/is going to be an orientation camp for first year students/freshmen/freshpeople . The orientation camp will be held ... .

Could you give some examples, WB?



It's not that CAMP is the tricky word, WB, it's that the lack of CONTEXT makes it appear tricky.

In 1 and 2 situations, the 'camp' is known, it's generic in a sense, like HOME, as in 'my home' is generic. Just as we don't say, ?"Let's go to the home"?, rather "Let's go home", so too, that applies to 'camp'.

Now if the context changed, we certainly would/could use 'the' or 'a' with 'home'.

===============

Hollywood actor to wife: Let's go home.

[Reporter hears this]

Reporter: Do you mean go to the home in the Rocky Mountains or the home in Los Angeles or the home in Switzerland or the home in Texas?

Wife of actor: We also have a home in Belize and a home in Jamaica. I like the home in Belize the best.

===============

I know I know, it's a very corny scenario but I hope you can see that the use of 'a' and 'the' depends on the CONTEXT.

Now I hope you can see how the various CAMPS in 3 with 'a' could be used.

For 3a. CAMPS with that meaning is no different than POLITICAL PARTIES, TEAMS, COUNTRIES, etc.

What I'm trying to explain to you here is that it's not the WORD that determines whether 'a' or 'the' or 'no a or the' is used, it the SITUATION, the CONTEXT.

And you already know of these rules. We have GENERIC [no 'a' or 'the'], GENERAL [use 'a/an'] and SPECIFIC [use 'the'].

You haven't answered my question about where the orientation camp takes place.

I'm asking because we have orientation events here but we simply refer to them as orientation.

As soon as I heard orientation camp, my mind immediately translated it into something like reeducation camp.

Despite reading "before the start of term, or semester in US English" AND "for freshmen".

And I'll bet that it didn't even occur to you that you have been subjected to lifelong propaganda, eh, Rog?

Thank you, JTT, I'll try come up with some examples.

For Beth, it is ususally on campus.

For Roger, I've got a question: what comes into your mind immediately if I say an undergraduate lives in a hostel? (a HOSTEL, not other things)

Hostel sounds a little temporary to be living in. If he were only there for a short time, I would say an undergraduate is staying in a hostel. I would not say he were living or staying in a camp of any kind.

WBY - if the orientation event is on campus, we would simply say that someone is going to orientation.

no camp, no the.

Thank you, Beth and Roger.

Quote: obligatory THE: (I think

-The sports day

Nope - not obligatory.

Will your mother be coming to sports day at school?

Our team will compete in sports day.

Will you be going to sports day at KC?

As Beth said, no 'the' unless it was being specified. [see dialogue below] The reasons are the same ones I described in an earlier post ['an' because I'm not specifying the post tho' you very likely know the one I mean.]

A: Are you going to Sports Day?

B: Which one? The sports day in Hefei or the one in Tiajin?

And JTT once again completely misses the point.

I'm ready to listen, Roger. Are you ready to speak?

Thank you, JTT and Beth~

I didn't know there is such a difference; my dictionaries can't tell me~

Do you need a bit more time, Mr Language?

What does KC mean?