0
NL888 Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

In "In books and song"? I wonder why not use "In books and songs"?

In "In books and song"? I wonder why not use "In books and songs"?
It would look symmetric.

Context:

The Phoenix winging on the air
Will choose no tree
Except the wu.
The scholar keeping to his lair
Will have no lord
Except the true.
Oh, let me till these furrowed fields,
By this sweet home
That I call mine.
In books and song I place my dreams
And wait the time
The fates assign.
  

Top answer

"song" is used here as an uncountable noun. g. "break into song"), "song and dance", etc.

— GPY

  • "song" is used here as an uncountable noun.
  • g.
  • "break into song"), "song and dance", etc.
  • etc.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

3 Answers
0
"song" is used here as an uncountable noun. This sense is found particularly in certain set patterns or phrases such as "in song" (as we have here), "into song" (e.g. "break into song"), "song and dance", etc. etc.
0
0
Can book be an uncountable noun?
0
0
NL888 Can book be an uncountable noun?
No, not so far as I can think. (Quite a few countable nouns can be used in what seems to be an uncountable way in certain set phrases or idioms. It is possible that examples exist for "book". However, apparently uncountable use in one or two very idiomatic and restrictive patterns doesn't really justify the claim that a no
0

Related Questions