distance-countable/uncountable?

Question

Can some one please explain if this is count/uncount.We can`t say `one distance, two distances`  We can say `Geese travel huge distances when they migrate south for the winter.`Thanks

Paco2004 · Accepted Answer

Hello Tokyo

Welcome to EnglishForward. Are you Japanese? I am from Japan and learning English here.

Yes, it's funny to say "one distance, two distances". But, three meters is a distance and four meters is another distance. So I think "They traveled long distances" is OK.

Anyway, I am a non-native English speaker. You can wait native speakers' opinions.

paco

CalifJim · Answer

We can`t say `one distance, two distances`

I don't see why not.

It is five miles from Paul's house to Laura's house. It is three miles from Laura's house to George's house. If you travel from Paul's house to Laura's house and then from Laura's house to George's house, what is the total number of miles you travel?

One may ask elementary math students, speaking of the problem above, "Which two distances are most important for solving this problem?" or "There are two distances mentioned in the problem. One distance is greater than the other. Which is greater?" "What if you did not travel both distances both only one distance?"

CJ

Adomi · Answer

It makes more sense now CalifJim.

Tokyo · Answer

CJ,

Thanks for your reply and your example it is clear to me that one distance, two distances can be used in that particular context but it still sounds strange to me if I say `how many distances?` Does this mean it is non count sometimes and count others, is there some grey area that it falls into.

Sorry if I am missing something that should be really simple. Perhaps if you have the time you could offer me some more examples.

Still a little confused!

Tokyo

CalifJim · Answer

I suppose the confusing part is that, as with many words in English, we use the word in a countable sense sometimes and in a non-countable sense at other times.

The problem with "distance" is similar to the problem with "length", for example.

We can bring several lengths of rope. This means we have brought several pieces of rope of varying lengths.
Yet, we can measure the length of each piece of rope. We can ask of each what its length is.

In the first case "a length of rope" is "a piece of rope of a certain length".
In the second case "the length of a rope" is "the measurement of the piece of rope".

Though it may seem strange, you can even use both meanings in the same phrase:

What is the length of that length of rope? (What is the measurement of the length of that piece of rope?)

CJ

Wwwdotcom · Answer

http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA07941

Davkett · Answer

Wwwdotcom http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA07941

Nice example.

Tokyo · Answer

Thanks everyone for the input. Countable sometimes and not other times, that`s what I thought.

I would feel comfortable asking `How many lengths of material?` but still in relation to distance I guess the question would have to be `How far....?' or `How long....?` or `What distance....?`. We could use distances in the answer.

I am happy with the sometimes explanation BUT if anyone knows if there is a `grammar rule` to this just out of curiosity I would be interested in seeing it.

Thanks again ;-)

Wwwdotcom · Answer

Well, ask yourself if it is something you can measure (water, coffee, sugar, wood, air). If so, it is not countable. If it can be easily divided into equal or recognizable parts, it's countable (pencils, rooms, people, cups, etc). Notice in the countable list, they are all plural.

Material is not countable, so you would not ask "How many" but rather "How much". How many lengths brings an image of a rectangle or something with more than 4 sides with varying lengths.

Paco2004 · Answer

Hello Tokyo

I'm afraid you wouldn't welcome a message from a non-native speaker like me. But if you don’t mind. let me put another two cents.

Basically "distance" has two senses. The first sense is an abstract concept: the fact or condition of being apart in space. "Distance" in this sense is used as an uncountable noun. (EX) Distance and absence could enhance the affections of couples. The second sense is "a measurable extent in space between two points". "Distance" in this sense is used as a countable noun, though it is a bit different from a substantive noun like "books". (EX) Compare two distances AB and AC.

Back to the sentence you presented, we might interpret it as follow. "A goose travels a distance of 500 km", "Another goose travels a distance of 600 km", "Still another goose travels a distance of 700 km", ... ,"And the other goose travels a distance of 800 km". Summing up all of them, we would say "Geese travel huge distances".

paco

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