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Mitsuo23 Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

a + adj + uncountable nouns

Hi,

I have two questions.

a) Will you explain why a word 'dinner" is uncountable? "Dinner" I think means that an occasion for a meal in the evening. I don't see why it's not countable.

b) There's grammar in English that says, "Uncountable nouns can be used as countable nouns with an adjective." In the case of above, "I had a good dinner last night" should be an correct statement. Would you explain the logic of this rule?

I am afraid what I am looking for are logical explanations, not the it's-just-the-way-it-is, since I have some people to explain the logic.

Thank you,
M
  

Top answer

mitsuwao23 a) Will you explain why the word 'dinner" is uncountable? " "dinner" is countable. '

— Canadian45

  • mitsuwao23 a) Will you explain why the word 'dinner" is uncountable?
  • " "dinner" is countable.
  • '
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7 Answers
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mitsuwao23a) Will you explain why the word 'dinner" is uncountable? "
"dinner" is countable.
'I had three dinners at his house this week.'
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Thank you for the reply.

This is from a dictionary; "We’re having fish for dinner tonight." Now I have to ask, what's the difference between "a dinner" and "dinner"?


M
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mitsuwao23 This is from a dictionary; "We’re having fish for dinner tonight." Now I have to ask, what's the difference between "a dinner" and "dinner"? There isn't necessarily a difference. Tonight's dinner is one dinner just as any single dinner is.
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If there isn't necessarily a difference, why have I never heard a expression like "I had business dinner."?
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mitsuwao23If there isn't necessarily a difference, why have I never heard a expression like "I had business dinner."?
Because "dinner" is a countable noun, you have to say things like 'a business dinner', 'that business dinner', or 'business dinners'.
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"dinner" is a countable noun..
hmm.. I am just getting confused.

So why do you say like:
Let’s invite them to dinner tomorrow.
She didn’t eat much dinner.
What shall we have for dinner tonight?
It’s time for dinner.

while you are likely to say with an adjective:
I never eat a big dinner.
I had a business dinner.

Thank you for your time.
M
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mitsuwao23"dinner" is a countable noun..hmm.. I am just getting confused. don't be
So why do you say
like:Let’s invite them to dinner tomorrow.She didn’t eat much dinner. = much food What shall we have for dinner tonight?It’s time for dinner. Beca
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