Hi, All!


In "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire", by J. K. Rowling I read:

-----Beginning of the citation-----
The Great Hall looked its usual splendid self, decorated for the
start of term feast. Golden plates and goblets gleamed by the
light of hundreds and hundreds of candles, floating over the
tables in midair. The four long House tables were packed with
chattering students; at the top of the Hall, the staff sat along
one side of a fifth table, facing their pupils.
----- The end of the citation -----

Taking into account "The four long House tables" why she wrote "the staff sat along one side of a fifth table"? Why "a fifth table"?

Bye, All!
Alexander Koryagin

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* Origin: news://news.fidonet.fi (2:221/1.0)

Hi, Alexander -- on Oct 05 2026 at 14:09, you wrote:

Taking into account "The four long House tables" why she wrote "the
staff sat along one side of a fifth table"? Why "a fifth table"?

Traditionally in English universities, students sit at a number of long tables with a raised table at right angles to them for the
staff/teachers/professors.

Cheers... Dallas

--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+
* Origin: The BandMaster, Vancouver, CANADA (1:153/7715)

Hi, Dallas Hinton!
I read your message from 05.10.2026 10:50

Taking into account "The four long House tables" why she
wrote "the staff sat along one side of a fifth table"? Why
"a fifth table"?

Traditionally in English universities, students sit at a number
of long ??tables with a raised table at right angles to them
for the staff/teachers/professors.

What would have changed if she put "the fifth table"?

-------------
The four long House tables were packed with
chattering students; at the top of the Hall, the staff sat along
one side of THE fifth table, facing their pupils.
-------------

Bye, Dallas!
Alexander Koryagin
english_tutor 2026

---
* Origin: news://news.fidonet.fi (2:221/1.0)

On 2026 Oct 06 09:18:28, you wrote to Dallas Hinton:

@BBSID: RBB

Hi, Dallas Hinton!
I read your message from 05.10.2026 10:50

Taking into account "The four long House tables" why she
wrote "the staff sat along one side of a fifth table"? Why
"a fifth table"?

Traditionally in English universities, students sit at a number
of long ??tables with a raised table at right angles to them
for the staff/teachers/professors.

What would have changed if she put "the fifth table"?

-------------
The four long House tables were packed with
chattering students; at the top of the Hall, the staff sat along
one side of THE fifth table, facing their pupils.
-------------

to me, this is because there could have been more than one table that could be used as a "fifth" table...

)\/(ark

"The soul of a small kitten in the body of a mighty dragon. Look on my majesty, ye mighty, and despair! Or bring me catnip. Your choice. Oooh, a shiny thing!"
... No flu shot, I'm counting on excessive garlic consumption to be healthy. ---
* Origin: (1:3634/12.73)

Hi, Alexander -- on Oct 06 2026 at 09:18, you wrote:

What would have changed if she put "the fifth table"?

-------------
The four long House tables were packed with
chattering students; at the top of the Hall, the staff sat along one
side of THE fifth table, facing their pupils.
-------------

I think you're trying to read far too much into this section. It's a simple description of a 4 table plus head table seating area.


Cheers... Dallas

--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+
* Origin: The BandMaster, Vancouver, CANADA (1:153/7715)

Alexander Koryagin:

Taking into account "The four long House tables" why
she wrote "the staff sat along one side of a fifth
table"? Why "a fifth table"?

Because it is a synomym for /another table/ .

---
* Origin: news://news.fidonet.fi (2:221/360.0)

Hi, Anton Shepelev!
I read your message from 25.10.2026 03:05

Taking into account "The four long House tables" why
she wrote "the staff sat along one side of a fifth
table"? Why "a fifth table"?

Because it is a synomym for /another table/ .

I seems to me that "THE four long House tables" are logically connected with the fifth table. The author probably could say that the staff sat at A table in the hall corner. But she made the staff table unique. We have the four tables for the students and the fifth table for the staff. Look another example:

I saw five children playing in the court yard. The four of them played football, the fifth boy was a referee.

PS: Not "a fifth boy"!
PSS: I believe that "referee" can be with "THE" or without article at all. ;-)

Bye, Anton!
Alexander Koryagin
english_tutor 2026

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* Origin: news://news.fidonet.fi (2:221/1.0)