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Angliholic Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

According to legend,

According to legend, the tribe that built the statues (on Easter Island) was wiped out in a vicious battle with another tribe sometime during the late seventeenth or early eighteenth century.

Hi,
Why isn't there an "a" before "legend" in the above? Isn't legend a countable now?
Thanks.
  

Top answer

Not here. legend noun [ C or U ] a very old story or set of stories from ancient times

  • Not here.
  • legend noun [ C or U ] a very old story or set of stories from ancient times
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3 Answers
0
.
Not here.

legend
noun [C or U]
a very old story or set of stories from ancient times
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Mister Micawber.
Not here.

legend
noun [C or U]
a very old story or set of stories from ancient times


Thanks, Mister.

But why is legend an uncountable noun in the introductory sentence? When should I use it as a countable noun and when uncountable?
0
.
The process and decision is the same as with any noun which can be used in both ways.

Legend is a powerful binding agent for cultures.
A legend can sometimes be true.

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