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Supercat Posted 11 years ago
Science & IT

Mass noun and indefinite article

According to my dictionary, perfume is a mass noun so it is said 'French perfumes' when it refers to types or brands of substance. A word 'energy' is a mass noun as well. What about 'light energy' then? For example, is this correct?:
An electron and an electron hole discharge energy when they recombine with each other, the energy discharged is transformed into a light energy?
  

Top answer

: An electron and an electron hole discharge energy when they recombine with each other, the energy discharged is transformed into a light energy? No. No article; there is only one kind of light energy.

— Mister Micawber

  • : An electron and an electron hole discharge energy when they recombine with each other, the energy discharged is transformed into a light energy?
  • No.
  • No article; there is only one kind of light energy.
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4 Answers
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SupercatFor example, is this correct?: An electron and an electron hole discharge energy when they recombine with each other, the energy discharged is transformed into a light energy?
No. No article; there is only one kind of light energy.
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SupercatAccording to my dictionary, perfume is a mass noun
Yes it can be, e.g.
I only wear perfume on special occasions. Here, "perfume" is uncountable. It refers to perfume in general- any type of perfume.

But it can also be used as a countable noun, e.g.
Many perfumes are alcohol-based
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Oh my, what a difficult topic. Thank you MM and teechr.
I feel like that the word energy, which usually tends to be an uncountable noun, and the adjectives French, many, and light are the key to decide whether it's countable or uncountable. I'll carefully read your posts again and again to memorise!
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