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Marold Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Lack - noun

I would like to ask in which cases the noun "lack of" takes an indefinite article and when not?

I've seen both uses, but I wondered why in this sentence "he had lack of sleep" the noun lack doesn't take the article.

Could you please provide me with some model examples with both uses?

Thanks in advance.
  

Top answer

Marold he had lack of sleep Strange sentence. It's normally "a lack" in such cases. And anyway, 'to have a lack' is strange because 'to lack' is the reverse of 'to have'.

— CalifJim

  • Marold he had lack of sleep Strange sentence.
  • It's normally "a lack" in such cases.
  • And anyway, 'to have a lack' is strange because 'to lack' is the reverse of 'to have'.
  • If I don't have something, I lack it; if I lack something, I don't have it.
  • He was unable to function at work because of a lack of sleep the previous night.
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2 Answers
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Maroldhe had lack of sleep
Strange sentence. It's normally "a lack" in such cases. And anyway, 'to have a lack' is strange because 'to lack' is the reverse of 'to have'. If I don't have something, I lack it; if I lack something, I don't have it.

He was unable to function at work because of a lack of sleep the previous night.

Not ..
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Thank you for answering all the questions, CJ.Emotion: smile

Yes, the sentence I've come across once in a book differs from the one I've
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