0
Icadia Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

The difference in each pair of sentences

-I got some advice
-I got a piece of advice.

-there was lightning
-there was a flash of lightning.

-I heard some news.
-I heard one piece of news.

could you tell me the difference -if it exists - in the pairs of sentences? these sentence are from my book. all nouns above are uncountable nouns.

I guess each pair of sentences has a similar meaning, but if there is a subtle difference, let me know please.

I think each noun in the first sentences is used as an uncountable noun in itself, however the noun in the second sentences is used a little like a countable noun by the structure "OF" although they are still uncountable nouns.

am I thinking right?
  

Top answer

Your reasoning is correct . I got some advice-- it could be a lot -I got a piece of advice. -- one bit only -there was lightning -- maybe all night -there was a flash of lightning.

  • Your reasoning is correct .
  • I got some advice-- it could be a lot -I got a piece of advice.
  • -- one bit only -there was lightning -- maybe all night -there was a flash of lightning.
  • -- just one instantanous manifestation -I heard some news.
  • -- could be several items -I heard one piece of news.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

2 Answers
0
.
Your reasoning is correct.

I got some advice-- it could be a lot
-I got a piece of advice. -- one bit only

-there was lightning -- maybe all night
-there was a flash of lightning. -- just one instantanous manifestation

-I heard some news. -- could be several items
-I heard one piece of news. -- One juicy it
0
thanks. you helped me.

Related Questions