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Pructus Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Pencil or pencils
Hi, Everyone!!
"He disappears into his room, then emerges, holding a piece of paper covered in pencil."
- - - Sophie Kinsella, The undomestic goddess.
If "pencil" is a countable noun, why "pencil" is used here, not "a pencil" or "pencils"?
"He disappears into his room, then emerges, holding a piece of paper covered in pencil."
- - - Sophie Kinsella, The undomestic goddess.
If "pencil" is a countable noun, why "pencil" is used here, not "a pencil" or "pencils"?
Top answer
pructus If "pencil" is a countable noun, why "pencil" is used here, not "a pencil" or "pencils"? As far as I can tell the author means that the paper is covered in writing done using a pencil.
- pructus If "pencil" is a countable noun, why "pencil" is used here, not "a pencil" or "pencils"?
- As far as I can tell the author means that the paper is covered in writing done using a pencil.
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5 Answers
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pructusIf "pencil" is a countable noun, why "pencil" is used here, not "a pencil" or "pencils"?As far as I can tell the author means that the paper is covered in writing done using a pencil.
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... covered in pencil [marks / drawings / ...].
pencil used as an adjective would have to be singular.
CJ
pencil used as an adjective would have to be singular.
CJ
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Thanks RayH and CalifJim....
Your explanations are really helpful....
Your explanations are really helpful....
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Hi. Is it correct to have an adjective after a preposition like "in"? Should it be a noun only? Also is it correct to have adjectives like these for the phrase pattern of "from... to..."? Thank you for your help in advance.
from behind-in-time to up-to-date
from behind-in-time to up-to-date
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Please start a new thread to ask your question. It has NOTHING to do with this thread created years ago.
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