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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Essay & Composition Writing
Ignite an amount
In response, NIST has pointed out that cutting through the vertical columns would require planting an enormous amount of explosives inconspicuously in highly secured buildings, then igniting it remotely while keeping it in contact with the columns.
I think "it" replaces "amount". Is that correct? Can we say that we ignite an amount of explosive? It sounds kinda awkward to me.
I think "it" replaces "amount". Is that correct? Can we say that we ignite an amount of explosive? It sounds kinda awkward to me.
Top answer
" IMHO we generally think of explosives as countable, while you might use an expression like "dynamite," or "explosive material" as uncountable. " "Amount" can be either countable or uncountable, but once you say "of explosives" the die is cast. You're locked into countable.
- " IMHO we generally think of explosives as countable, while you might use an expression like "dynamite," or "explosive material" as uncountable.
- " "Amount" can be either countable or uncountable, but once you say "of explosives" the die is cast.
- You're locked into countable.
- I expect someone may disagree with my statement that "amount" can be countable.
- I'd say it's frequently used that way - perhaps erroneously.
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1 Answers
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I think the culprit here is "explosives." IMHO we generally think of explosives as countable, while you might use an expression like "dynamite," or "explosive material" as uncountable.
I'd say the plural "explosives" requires "ignite them."
"Amount" can be either countable or uncountable, but once you say "of explosives" the die is cast. You're locked into countable.
I'd say the plural "explosives" requires "ignite them."
"Amount" can be either countable or uncountable, but once you say "of explosives" the die is cast. You're locked into countable.
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