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Moon7296 Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary

Friendship is a relationship?

It's interesting to see the word friendship is uncountable while in its definition has a countable noun 'a relationship.'

Friendship is a relationship between two countries in which they help and support each other.

Can I say "build up good friendship(or relation/relations)??"
  

Top answer

Friendship is countable when you mean a relationship. ) We struck up a friendship while we were on the cruise together. We built a solid friendship over the years.

— BarbaraPA

  • Friendship is countable when you mean a relationship.
  • ) We struck up a friendship while we were on the cruise together.
  • We built a solid friendship over the years.
  • I'm sad about the loss of her friendship.
  • All countable.
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3 Answers
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Friendship is countable when you mean a relationship. (It's uncountable for its more abstract meaning, for which I'm having a hard time coming up with a sentence.)

  • We struck up a friendship while we were on the cruise together.
  • We built a solid friendship over the years.
  • I'm sad about the loss of her friendship.
All countable.

You can say "b
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Thank you.

I'm just wondering if uncountable meaning for many nouns that also have their countable meanings is usually for their "more abstract meaning" as you said.

Relation should be used as uncountable in this context, shouldn't it?(We struck up good relation/relations)
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No, it's countable. The abtract meaning is the uncountable one. (And like I said, I can't even think of a good sentence for it.)

We struck up a pleasant friendship.

We enjoy a good relationship.

She has been in a relationpship with him for 20 years, but they don't want to get married.

Try to develop a relationship with your customer based on trust and mutual res
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