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Marold Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Lack of electricity

"Lack of electricity"

How come there is no definite article before a noun "lack"? I have no idea about the rules, sometimes lack takes an article, sometimes not.

Example with an article: "She showed a distinct lack of enthusiasm for the idea of becoming a mother."

Thanks in advance.
  

Top answer

Marold How come there is no definite article before the noun "lack"? I have no idea about the rules, sometimes lack takes an article, sometimes not. The lack of enthusiasm on his part made the situation even worse.

— Ivanhr

  • Marold How come there is no definite article before the noun "lack"?
  • I have no idea about the rules, sometimes lack takes an article, sometimes not.
  • The lack of enthusiasm on his part made the situation even worse.
  • " When modified by an adjective, most uncountable nouns can take an indefinte article.
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4 Answers
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MaroldHow come there is no definite article before the noun "lack"? I have no idea about the rules, sometimes lack takes an article, sometimes not.
The lack of enthusiasm on his part made the situation even worse.
MaroldExample with an article: "She showed a distinct lack of enthusiasm for the idea of becoming a mother."
When
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Thank you very much! I will try to take notice of any similar cases, then I hope I will come to the same conclusion as you suggest.Emotion: smile
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But what about this? It is an example taken from a dictionary:

a lack of food/money/skills => http://oald8.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/dictionary/lack
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Yes, that works. I think that while the noun lack is always used in the singular, which makes it uncountable, there are cases where "lack" can be instantiated. "A lack of food/money" denotes an instance (a period of time or situation) where there was a shortage of food /money etc.
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