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Englishnewbie Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
a beautiful America
Hello,
Although you don't put "a" or "the" in front of America,
I know that we can say "a beautiful America" or "an angry Obama."
What principle allows this use?
Also, does this apply to "a huge information" or not?
Should it be "I have huge information on this issue" or
"I have a huge information on this issue"?
I mean "We don't want a huge America" is correct, so what about the "huge information" thing?
Please explain. I am very confused.
thank you!
Although you don't put "a" or "the" in front of America,
I know that we can say "a beautiful America" or "an angry Obama."
What principle allows this use?
Also, does this apply to "a huge information" or not?
Should it be "I have huge information on this issue" or
"I have a huge information on this issue"?
I mean "We don't want a huge America" is correct, so what about the "huge information" thing?
Please explain. I am very confused.
thank you!
Top answer
"What principle allows this use? This is called 'reclassification': the adjective divides the unique item into countable pieces. In your first example, America is divided grammatically into 'a beautiful America' and 'an un-beautiful America' englishnewbie Also, does this apply to "a huge information" or not?
- "What principle allows this use?
- This is called 'reclassification': the adjective divides the unique item into countable pieces.
- In your first example, America is divided grammatically into 'a beautiful America' and 'an un-beautiful America' englishnewbie Also, does this apply to "a huge information" or not?
- No.
- 'Information' is a very strictly uncountable noun.
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5 Answers
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englishnewbieI know that we can say "a beautiful America" or "an angry Obama."What principle allows this use?This is called 'reclassification': the adjective divides the unique item into countable pieces. In your first example, America is divided grammatically into 'a beautiful America' and 'an un-beautiful America'
englishnewbieAlso,
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englishnewbiewhat about the "huge information" thing?See for more information about the use of determiners with various classes of nouns with respect to countability. Note that information is a Class I noun on the chart given there, which means it can never take a determiner.
It just so happens that huge is not an appropriate modifier
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Thanks for the reply.
So is it wrong if I state
He has refined knowledge of the new system.
Do I HAVE TO state
He has A refined knowledge of the new system.
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1) If I must use "a refined knowledge," then does this mean that this principle applies to all nouns that are classified as uncountable/singular?
2) But I think it is correct
So is it wrong if I state
He has refined knowledge of the new system.
Do I HAVE TO state
He has A refined knowledge of the new system.
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1) If I must use "a refined knowledge," then does this mean that this principle applies to all nouns that are classified as uncountable/singular?
2) But I think it is correct
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englishnewbieDo I HAVE TO stateHe has A refined knowledge of the new system.You do.
englishnewbie1) If I must use "a refined knowledge," then does this mean that this principle applies to all nouns that are classified as uncountable/singular?It is exceedingly rare for any principle in English to involve "all"
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