0
Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Nature of noun after "What" or "Whatever"
Hi. Could we use either an uncountable or a countable noun after the words "What" and "Whatever"? Thank you for your help in advance.
What school do you go to? -- Are we using the word "school" as a place of learning (focusing on activity) or a physical builiding? I think we are using as a place of learning, focusing on its activity.
Whatever equipment you use, it wouldn't work. -- I don't know if I have written it correctly but I think the word "equipment" is uncountable. Would it more usual to write "Whatever piece of equipment, it wouldn't work"?
What school do you go to? -- Are we using the word "school" as a place of learning (focusing on activity) or a physical builiding? I think we are using as a place of learning, focusing on its activity.
Whatever equipment you use, it wouldn't work. -- I don't know if I have written it correctly but I think the word "equipment" is uncountable. Would it more usual to write "Whatever piece of equipment, it wouldn't work"?
Top answer
The first sentence you wrote is correct. I find this an interesting question because I've never thought about it in this way before. When I'm asked this question I simply respond with the name of the school.
- The first sentence you wrote is correct.
- I find this an interesting question because I've never thought about it in this way before.
- When I'm asked this question I simply respond with the name of the school.
- I don't go so far as to bring to mind the physical buildings of the school, or the school in the abstract as a place of learning.
- The second sentence is also correct.
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
The first sentence you wrote is correct. I find this an interesting question because I've never thought about it in this way before. When I'm asked this question I simply respond with the name of the school. I don't go so far as to bring to mind the physical buildings of the school, or the school in the abstract as a place of learning.
The second sentence is also correct. Equipment is
The second sentence is also correct. Equipment is
00
AnonymousWhat sheep (uncountable) are you going to take to market?'Sheep' is not uncountable—one sheep, two sheep; the word merely has the same form for singular and plural.
00
Related Questions