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Mitsuo23 Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
Challenging, I swear.
Hi,
Would you explain why the word "lunch" is usually used as a uncountable noun? " "Lunch" I think means that an occasion for a meal in the middle of the day. I don't see why it's not countable.
Example:
- She's out for lunch right now.
(but with an adjective, you would say, like she's out for a business lunch. why?)
Also, would you explain why there's no "a" in the sentence below, which I have quoted from a dictionary?
- There will be heavy rain in most parts of the country.
I used to believe uncountable nouns, such as lunch or rain, have to be countable when used with an adjective, but it seems like I was so wrong. Would you explain, when I should treat those words as countable or uncountable?
Thank you,
M
Would you explain why the word "lunch" is usually used as a uncountable noun? " "Lunch" I think means that an occasion for a meal in the middle of the day. I don't see why it's not countable.
Example:
- She's out for lunch right now.
(but with an adjective, you would say, like she's out for a business lunch. why?)
Also, would you explain why there's no "a" in the sentence below, which I have quoted from a dictionary?
- There will be heavy rain in most parts of the country.
I used to believe uncountable nouns, such as lunch or rain, have to be countable when used with an adjective, but it seems like I was so wrong. Would you explain, when I should treat those words as countable or uncountable?
Thank you,
M
Top answer
An adjective can change something usually uncountable to a specific occurrence. When "lunch" refers to a specific meal, it is countable. When it is a general idea of a time period where people are not working, it is not.
- An adjective can change something usually uncountable to a specific occurrence.
- When "lunch" refers to a specific meal, it is countable.
- When it is a general idea of a time period where people are not working, it is not.
- We book our business lunches at Luigi's Restaurant.
- ) We had a very successful business lunch with three big customers.
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4 Answers
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An adjective can change something usually uncountable to a specific occurrence. When "lunch" refers to a specific meal, it is countable. When it is a general idea of a time period where people are not working, it is not.
We book our business lunches at Luigi's Restaurant. (each lunch is an event.)
We had a very successful business lunch with three big customers. (refers to a specif
We book our business lunches at Luigi's Restaurant. (each lunch is an event.)
We had a very successful business lunch with three big customers. (refers to a specif
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Thank you for the reply, AlpheccaStars
Everything you said made sense to me beautifully but the last sentence. The difference between "a heavy rain" and "heavy rain" is clear to me but do you possibly say, "heavy rains"? If so, what's the difference between "heavy rain" and "heavy rains"?
"There was heavy rains over the state today," seems make more sense to me, to refer t
Everything you said made sense to me beautifully but the last sentence. The difference between "a heavy rain" and "heavy rain" is clear to me but do you possibly say, "heavy rains"? If so, what's the difference between "heavy rain" and "heavy rains"?
"There was heavy rains over the state today," seems make more sense to me, to refer t
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"There were heavy rains over the state today," seems to make more sense to me, to refer to many different events over a wide area.
Yes, that is another way to say the same thing.
Yes, that is another way to say the same thing.
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