"Flak" vs "a flak"

Question

HiPlease tell me which of the following sentences is better? Is anyone incorrect?She received a considerable flak for her behavior at the party.She received considerable flak for her behavior at the party.Thanks,Tom

Penelope65 · Accepted Answer

Here I would say

She received considerable flak.....

CalifJim · Answer

flak is uncountable, so a considerable flak is not correct.

CJ

Mr. Tom · Answer

Thanks CJ, but may we discuss the topic a bit more please?

Why do I constantly see an article with uncountable nouns?

There was a strange resentment in his eyes.

I could feel a brooding anger rise in me.

...and many, many more instances where there is a "a" with uncountabel nouns.

Thanks

Tom

CalifJim · Answer

Mr. TomWhy do I constantly see an article with uncountable nouns?

There was a strange resentment in his eyes.

I could feel a brooding anger rise in me.

In these examples the uncountable is accompanied by a because an adjective that tells "what kind of" intervenes.

What kind of resentment was in his eyes? A strange (kind of) resentment.
What kind of anger arose in you? A brooding (kind of) anger.

considerable does not tell what kind of flak. It tells how much flak. Therefore the pattern considerable with an uncountable noun does not take a. If you add amount of, however, you can use a because amount is countable.

He received [considerable / a considerable amount of] flak.
The idea received [considerable / a considerable amount of] criticism.
He looked upon his son with [considerable / a considerable amount of] pride.

CJ

Mr. Tom · Answer

Thanks, CJ!

Can we discuss this topic a bit more? The following are the sentences I've taken from different novels.

Please tell me why "a" or "an" is OK with "anger" and "arrogance", while it doesn't fit with "flak".

1) There was an arogance about him that I found distasteful.

2) Suddenly she was filled with a jealousy.

3) I could feel an anger boiling up inside me.

4) There was a sadness in her eyes.

Thanks again for your time and effort.

Tom

CalifJim · Answer

In 1 and 3, it's the same as discussed above: You have a descriptor that tells what kind of. (The descriptor does not have to be an adjective before the noun.)

1) not just arrogance, but a distasteful (kind of) arrogance
3) not just anger, but a boiling (kind of) anger

In 2 and 4, it's some kind of, but what kind of is not stated. The author noticed some shade of feeling, but was unable or unwilling to describe it in any greater detail.

2) ... filled with a kind of jealousy
4) ... a kind of sadness in her eyes

CJ

"Flak" vs "a flak"

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