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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Count Nount vs. Uncount Noun
The dictionary says that the word 'analysis' can either be a count noun or an uncount noun. My questions are as follows:
1. How do we know if it is used as a count or uncount noun in a sentence?
2. In example A below, is the use of the article 'a' correct'? Does it suggest 'analysis' was used as a count noun?
3. In sentence B below, is this also correct, leaving out the article? Does it suggest 'analysis' was used as an uncount noun since uncount nouns cannot be preceded by an indefinite article?
A. It involved a detailed analysis of the system.
B. It involved detailed analysis of the system.
For #1 above, some people suggest the 'many or much' trick. For example, if 'much analysis' sounds more natural than 'many analysis', then that makes it uncount noun. However, I've read from an example in a dictionary, which says 'an analysis' and this makes it a count noun, I think. So I wonder how do we know.
I would very much appreciate your assistance in this matter.
1. How do we know if it is used as a count or uncount noun in a sentence?
2. In example A below, is the use of the article 'a' correct'? Does it suggest 'analysis' was used as a count noun?
3. In sentence B below, is this also correct, leaving out the article? Does it suggest 'analysis' was used as an uncount noun since uncount nouns cannot be preceded by an indefinite article?
A. It involved a detailed analysis of the system.
B. It involved detailed analysis of the system.
For #1 above, some people suggest the 'many or much' trick. For example, if 'much analysis' sounds more natural than 'many analysis', then that makes it uncount noun. However, I've read from an example in a dictionary, which says 'an analysis' and this makes it a count noun, I think. So I wonder how do we know.
I would very much appreciate your assistance in this matter.
Top answer
1. -- You must notice whether it is preceded by an indefinite article. Otherwise, you must understand the context .
- 1.
- -- You must notice whether it is preceded by an indefinite article.
- Otherwise, you must understand the context .
- 2.
- -- Yes.
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7 Answers
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1. How do we know if it is used as a count or uncount noun in a sentence?-- You must notice whether it is preceded by an indefinite article. Otherwise, you must understand the context.
2. In example A below, is the use of the article 'a' correct'?-- Yes. Does it suggest 'analysis' was used as a count noun?-- 'Suggest'? It makes it quite clear that it is countable.
2. In example A below, is the use of the article 'a' correct'?-- Yes. Does it suggest 'analysis' was used as a count noun?-- 'Suggest'? It makes it quite clear that it is countable.
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Thank you, MM. Your comments are indeed a great help.
If I've understood your explanation correctly, with 'analyses' being the plural form, therefore you can say 'many analyses', but you can still say 'much
Mister MicawberYou can try that, but 'many' does not work for singular nounsWhen you say 'singular nouns', are they synonymous to uncount nouns?
If I've understood your explanation correctly, with 'analyses' being the plural form, therefore you can say 'many analyses', but you can still say 'much
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After much analysis, the food scientists determined that seafood from the open fishing areas in the gulf is safe to eat.
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AnonymousWhen you say 'singular nouns', are they synonymous to uncount nouns?If not, could you give examples, please?
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MM,
Please disregard my question about singular nouns.
AlpheccaStars,
Thank you for your example.
MM or A,
Do you think we can also say 'many analyses'?
Also, from AlpheccaStars example, can we also say 'seafoods are safe to eat'? I hear this sometimes, but I wonder if this can be used in plural form with 's'?
Is there a plural f
Please disregard my question about singular nouns.
AlpheccaStars,
Thank you for your example.
MM or A,
Do you think we can also say 'many analyses'?
Also, from AlpheccaStars example, can we also say 'seafoods are safe to eat'? I hear this sometimes, but I wonder if this can be used in plural form with 's'?
Is there a plural f
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Anon:
I haven't ever seen seafood in a plural form. It is a general term meaning edible fish and shellfish harvested from the sea.
Yes, you can say "many analyses."
Many analyses over the last fifty years have shown that smoking causes lung and heart disease.
I haven't ever seen seafood in a plural form. It is a general term meaning edible fish and shellfish harvested from the sea.
Yes, you can say "many analyses."
Many analyses over the last fifty years have shown that smoking causes lung and heart disease.
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Okay, thanks again for answering my questions. Great help, indeed.
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