What is the right way to say that yesterday was a birthday to my friend?
a) Yesterday was birthday of Jon
b) Yesterday was the birthday of Jon?
asked Oct 31, 2016 at 1:38
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1Yesterday was the birthday of Jon. Though a native is more likely to say "yesterday was Jon's birthday"– user57908Commented Oct 31, 2016 at 2:11
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It would be very unusual to say anything other than "Yesterday was Jon's birthday." The "of Jon" possessive construction doesn't happen often with straightforward nouns, but you could have "Yesterday was the presentation of those who were out sick yesterday".– James KingsberyCommented Oct 31, 2016 at 13:46
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Jon had his birthday yesterday is another way you'd likely hear this expressed. Or even had a birthday yesterday. Part of me wants to put this under Andrew's answer but I'll just leave it here.– shawnt00Commented Nov 3, 2016 at 16:34
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1 Answer
"Yesterday was Jon's birthday" is most natural.
But aside from this, as a rule, countable nouns that are known or unique require "the" or some possessive in front of them. "Birthday" is countable, and is unique to Jon, so the practice is to use "the" in front of it.
Yesterday was the birthday of Jon.
In a similar way, we would use "the" to describe other unique or special days which your listener should recognize (but which don't have proper names).
Tomorrow is the thirty-first of October.
Next Monday is the last day of my vacation.
It was the first time I saw an elephant.
On the other hand, if I wanted to make it clear that this day is nothing special, or one of many similar days, I would use the indefinite article a:
Tomorrow is a birthday of Jon.
This sounds unusual to a native speaker, again because the practice is to see each year's birthday as special. But it would probably make sense in context.
More info on English articles, including when they are and aren't required
