in a grave situation vs in grave situation

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'In a grave situation' is used when referring to a specific serious or critical situation, while 'in grave situation' is used in a more general sense to describe a serious or critical situation without specifying a particular one.

Last updated: March 27, 2024 • 1088 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to refer to a specific serious or critical situation.

"in a grave situation"

This phrase is used when talking about a particular serious or critical situation. The article 'a' is necessary before 'grave' to indicate a singular, specific situation.

Examples:

We are in a grave situation and need to act quickly.
Being in a grave situation requires careful planning and decision-making.

Show examples from the web [+]

whereas 10 million people are in a very grave situation following the failure of Operation 'Restore Hope',
I will echo comments about the beekeeping sector, but I would remind colleagues that the wild bumble bee population across Europe is also in a similar - and very grave - situation.
What a Ferengi always does in a situation this grave.
There are currently around 200 prisoners of conscience, some of them in a very complex situation with regard to their health, and one of them is Guillermo Fariñas, who is in a very grave situation and also on hunger strike.
The person involved has said that it is absurd, and the chairman of the club has said that it is in a very grave economic situation.
All this is happening against the backdrop of a grave situation.
Faced with such a grave situation, the European public and wider world would not understand it if spare funding in the EU budget were not used for this.
Chief Heuber, we face an extremely grave situation.
We also spoke in Lahti about the grave situation in Sudan/Darfur.
Zimbabwe now finds itself in an extremely grave situation.
Is the Commission aware of this grave situation?
Question No 12 by Mr Veneto on the grave situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Question No 17 by Mr Veneto on the grave situation in the DRC.
The grave situation in the Yugoslav economy has been discussed at length.
As you will be well aware, Britain faces a very grave situation in Iran which has illegally detained British troops.
"which can only worsen an already grave situation."
In the case of Venezuela, moreover, we have to obtain a peaceful, negotiated and democratic solution, given the grave situation being experienced by that country.
Mr President, there is great concern, and justifiably so, surrounding the extremely grave situation in the Middle East.
I am voting for this report, which stresses the grave situation of 17% of Europe's female population living in poverty, especially mothers and older women.
Mr Barroso, I have a question to ask you that relates to the grave situation in which we, in the European Union, find ourselves.

Alternatives:

in a serious situation
in a critical situation
in a dire situation
in a difficult situation
in a challenging situation

This phrase is correct but less commonly used in English. It is used in a more general sense to describe a serious or critical situation without specifying a particular one.

"in grave situation"

This phrase is used to describe a serious or critical situation in a general way, without referring to a specific instance. The absence of the article 'a' makes it more abstract.

Examples:

The country is in grave situation due to the economic crisis.
People in grave situation often need support and assistance.

Show examples from the web [+]

We also spoke in Lahti about the grave situation in Sudan/Darfur.
Zimbabwe now finds itself in an extremely grave situation.
Question No 12 by Mr Veneto on the grave situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Question No 17 by Mr Veneto on the grave situation in the DRC.
The grave situation in the Yugoslav economy has been discussed at length.
As you will be well aware, Britain faces a very grave situation in Iran which has illegally detained British troops.
Mr President, there is great concern, and justifiably so, surrounding the extremely grave situation in the Middle East.
Mr Barroso, I have a question to ask you that relates to the grave situation in which we, in the European Union, find ourselves.
In Denmark, however, the government has quite paradoxically proposed eliminating aid for beekeeping despite the grave situation in this sector.
Madam President, I believe that the present debate has fallen into the pattern of focusing mainly on curing the symptoms resulting from the grave situation in Georgia.
Mr President, this debate comes at a very timely moment in the history of Indonesia, given the very grave situation in the province of Aceh.
whereas 10 million people are in a very grave situation following the failure of Operation 'Restore Hope',
What a Ferengi always does in a situation this grave.
Mr President, at the end of last week a delegation from our Parliament debated the grave situation in the Middle East with our US counterparts as part of the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue (TLD).
The grave situation in Japan, with the earthquake crisis followed by the explosions at the Fukushima nuclear plant, now obliges Europe's legislators to re-examine the issues of energy supply and nuclear safety.
There are currently around 200 prisoners of conscience, some of them in a very complex situation with regard to their health, and one of them is Guillermo Fariñas, who is in a very grave situation and also on hunger strike.
In this situation of grave concern, two countries - France and Italy - have chosen to reduce working hours by law, in an official and organized manner.
The current situation in the Middle East is appalling, and of particular concern is the grave situation in Palestine, where the Sharon government is committing the most terrible crimes against the Palestinian people.
The person involved has said that it is absurd, and the chairman of the club has said that it is in a very grave economic situation.
In specified situations involving grave risks, this rest may be temporarily shortened, but in such cases the worker is to receive equivalent compensatory rest for all the missed rest hours.

Alternatives:

in a serious situation
in a critical situation
in a dire situation
in a difficult situation
in a challenging situation

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in a grave situation vs in grave situation