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Rommel Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

I really should use the article 'a' before 'greater mission' in the sentence, shouldn't I?

I really should use the article 'a' before 'greater mission' in the sentence, shouldn't I? But why do other writers omit 'a' before 'greater mission' (that is, '...fulfill greater mission)? Is it a style of writing?


The Lord Buddha, Lei believes, wants her to fulfill a greater mission than merely spreading his teachings.

  

Top answer

Hi That's a good question. Almost always, 'mission' is a count noun. I'm being sent on a space mission.

— Dave_anon

  • Hi That's a good question.
  • Almost always, 'mission' is a count noun.
  • I'm being sent on a space mission.
  • I'm being sent on a secret mission to Prague However, the word does also have a religious sense in which it is non-count.
  • It refers to the duty to go out into the world and tell other people about your faith.
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4 Answers
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Hi

That's a good question. Almost always, 'mission' is a count noun. I'm being sent on a space mission. I'm being sent on a secret mission to Prague

However, the word does also have a religious sense in which it is non-count. It refers to the duty to go out into the world and tell other people about your faith. It is not enough to pray and go to church; there must also be miss

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Rommel ... use the article 'a' before 'greater mission' ...?

Yes.

CJ

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The Lord Buddha, Lei believes, wants her to fulfill a greater mission than merely spreading his teachings.

Omitting the 'a' here just seems wrong to me.

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Hi

I don't have a strong view on it (I'm not religious). The word is used in the non-count way mainly by Christian folk. In the context of Buddhism, the word may just not translate well there

Dave

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