c++: Expected primary-expression - c++

Question

I have been struggling with a certain error that doesn't make sense to me. Whenever I try to compile this program, it tells me that I'm missing a semicolon when I am not.
It seems the error is linked to a specific block of code, that being the if statement that checks stock. Since I know c++ can be platform specific, I'm running debian 9 and the atom ide if that's any help.
Here is the specifc error:
error: expected primary-expression before ',' token
getline(string,line);//gets string`
and the code:
#include <iostream>
#include <fstream>
using namespace std;
int main ()
{
cout << "store stocking system: \n"; // yadda yadda yadda UX
cout << "commands: \n";
cout << " help: shows available commands\n check stock: checks store stock\n enter stock: enter new stock items\n";
cout << " exit: terminates the program\n clean house: deletes all stock\n";
home: // main loop in program
string output;
output = ">> ";
cout << output;
string stock;
string item; // this whole block just defines things and gets input
int itemNumber;
string userInput;
getline(cin,userInput);
if (userInput == "exit")
{
return 0;
}
if (userInput == "enter stock")
{ // enters new stock
cout << "enter item\n>> "; //item name
cin >> item;
cout << "enter amount\n>> "; //amount of item
cin >> itemNumber;
ofstream myfile; //makes file
myfile.open("stock.txt"); //opens myfile
myfile << "\n" << item << "," << itemNumber << "\n"; //writes to file
myfile.close();// closes file
cout << "done";
goto home; //finishes and goes to main loop
}
if (userInput == "check stock") // where the problem is
{
string line;
ifstream file("stock.txt");//checks fo file
file.open("stock.txt");//opens file
getline(string,line);//gets string
file.close();//closes it
cout << line << "\n";
goto home;
}
if (userInput == ""){
goto home;
}
else
{
cout << "\033[1;31mplease use a proper command:\033[0m\n";
goto home;
}
return 0;
}

Answer 1

Are you missing this by any chance?
#include <string>

Answer 2

I believe it simply needs to be getline(file,line) rather than getline(string,line) and then you should be sorted.

Answer 3

string is recognized as a type name, of type std::string which you generously exposed by line using namespace std;. This particular error message is caused by fact that string isn't an expression which can be evaluated . In context of your code it should be
getline(file,line);
PS. Standard would say that you have to include <string> header to use component std::string. Your code compiles thanks to an implementation-defined feature, was imported with <iostream> in this version of header.