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Hello,Do we need an article when we say, "He was in a corduroy"? MS Word comes up with an error if we use 'a' before corduroy. Is it because corduroy is uncountable? Can we nevertheless use the article with an adjective? He was in a black corduroy. Thank you.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

It is possible if the noun is somewhere nearby; otherwise, we are left wondering, "A corderoy...what?!"

Anonymous · Answer

Mister MicawberIt is possible if the noun is somewhere nearby; otherwise, we are left wondering, "A corderoy...what?!"

I am afraid I don't understand you.

BarbaraPA · Answer

You can say he was wearing a silk jacket.
You can say he was wearing a corduroy jacket.
You can say he was wearing a leather jacket.

You can't say "He was wearing a corduroy." You wonder what it was that was corduroy.

Anonymous · Answer

Sorry, but I don't get it. Isn't corduroy a noun? Or, does it function as an attributive noun? Can one say: he was in a black corduroy jean. Also, is jean singular or plural? He was in a jean. He was in jeans.

Mister Micawber · Answer

Let me re-address your original question more clearly. Corduroy as a noun is a fabric, not an article of clothing. As such it is uncountable, so your choices are:

He was wearing corduroy. (non-count noun)

He was wearing (some) corduroy jeans. (plural noun)

He was wearing a corduroy shirt. (singular countable noun)

In the last two, 'corduroy' is an adjective.

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks. Can one say 'he was in a corduroy jean' ... jean as singular?

Mister Micawber · Answer

No, that is not one of the choices I gave you.  Jeans are like scissors and eyeglasses.

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