"I have [a cold | the flu | pneumonia]"
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"I have [a cold | the flu | pneumonia]"

 
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PulpMysteryFan



Joined: 03 Jun 2008
Posts: 1
Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 1:57 am    Post subject: "I have [a cold | the flu | pneumonia]" Reply with quote
What's the rule that dictates when to say "a", "the" or nothing when referring to some maladies. For example, one says "I have a cold", "I have the flu" and "I have influenza". One doesn't say "I have cold", or "I have the cold" or "I have flu". It's easy to think of other examples ("the hiccups", etc.)

What's the rule?
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