0
Englishnewbie Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Distrust and macmillian dictionary
Hi,
Macmillian dictionary says DISTRUST is uncountable.
Yet it gives the following example:
http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=deep http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=distrust http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=judicial http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=system
Should there by "a" if it is an uncountable noun?
Is the dictionary wrong or am I missing something?
Thank you.
Macmillian dictionary says DISTRUST is uncountable.
Yet it gives the following example:
http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=deep http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=distrust http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=judicial http://www.macmillandictionary.com/search/british/direct/?q=system
Should there by "a" if it is an uncountable noun?
Is the dictionary wrong or am I missing something?
Thank you.
Top answer
It is a poor example, that is all. Many non-count nouns can be made countable through this process of 'reclassification'.
- It is a poor example, that is all.
- Many non-count nouns can be made countable through this process of 'reclassification'.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
5 Answers
0
It is a poor example, that is all. Many non-count nouns can be made countable through this process of 'reclassification'.
00
Hi,
What do you mean by a poor example?
Do you mean
"a deep trust of" is poor grammar?
Or do you mean "distrust" can be a singular?
-----
Or should a better example be
He has deep trust in the government? (I know you can say "I trust in this government)
(Is this good grammar?)
What do you mean by a poor example?
Do you mean
"a deep trust of" is poor grammar?
Or do you mean "distrust" can be a singular?
-----
Or should a better example be
He has deep trust in the government? (I know you can say "I trust in this government)
(Is this good grammar?)
00
Cambridge Dictionary gives the examples:
The two groups have existed in a state of mutual distrust for centuries.
She has a (deep) distrust of journalists.
'distrust' may be uncountable - there is no plural form - but I can't imagine many
The two groups have existed in a state of mutual distrust for centuries.
She has a (deep) distrust of journalists.
'distrust' may be uncountable - there is no plural form - but I can't imagine many
00
What do you mean by a poor example? Do you mean "a deep trust of" is poor grammar?- No.
Or do you mean "distrust" can be a singular?-- I mean that it can be reclassified as a count noun, so if they wish to illustrate the word as uncountable, they should have composed a different sentence.
Or should a better example be 'He has deep trust in the government?'-- Yes.
Or do you mean "distrust" can be a singular?-- I mean that it can be reclassified as a count noun, so if they wish to illustrate the word as uncountable, they should have composed a different sentence.
Or should a better example be 'He has deep trust in the government?'-- Yes.
00
Related Questions