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Believer Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
having something uncountable
Hi,
I have difficulty clearly seeing the correctness of sentential constructions that have an uncountable noun with the verb 'have' before it.
I have happiness. -- This doesn't seem to be correctly written.
But, if we apply the same uncountable noun but with a different semantic meaning, it seems to be correctly written. I arrived at that conclusion since I have seen and often used this sentence.
I have heartburn/indigestion.
Should I just accept the fact some uncountable nouns, especially those that have abstract meanings, do not go well or don't not fit with a verb showing possession such as 'have'? Sorry if my question doesn't sound like it is clearly formed.
I have difficulty clearly seeing the correctness of sentential constructions that have an uncountable noun with the verb 'have' before it.
I have happiness. -- This doesn't seem to be correctly written.
But, if we apply the same uncountable noun but with a different semantic meaning, it seems to be correctly written. I arrived at that conclusion since I have seen and often used this sentence.
I have heartburn/indigestion.
Should I just accept the fact some uncountable nouns, especially those that have abstract meanings, do not go well or don't not fit with a verb showing possession such as 'have'? Sorry if my question doesn't sound like it is clearly formed.
Top answer
Should I just accept the fact some uncountable nouns, especially those that have abstract meanings, do not go well or don't not fit with a verb showing possession such as 'have'? Yes, you probably should accept that. It's probably a lot easier to memorize idioms with have plus a noun than to establish some sort of rule about which types of uncountable nouns go with have and which don't.
- Should I just accept the fact some uncountable nouns, especially those that have abstract meanings, do not go well or don't not fit with a verb showing possession such as 'have'?
- Yes, you probably should accept that.
- It's probably a lot easier to memorize idioms with have plus a noun than to establish some sort of rule about which types of uncountable nouns go with have and which don't.
- have pity on someone have mercy on someone have trouble doing something have difficulty doing something have heartburn have indigestion have patience have confidence in someone have influence over/with someone have power over someone It seems one can't 'have' most of the emotions.
- These you mostly 'experience' or 'feel', not 'have'.
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1 Answers
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Should I just accept the fact some uncountable nouns, especially those that have abstract meanings, do not go well or don'tYes, you probably should accept that. It's probably a lot easier to memorize idioms with have plus a noun than to establish some sort of rule about which types of uncountablnotfit with a verb showing possession such as 'have'?
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