They have a fever or they have fever?

Question

Can someone please help me with the following?

Q: What's the matter with them?
Answer A: They have a fever.

or should it be without "a"

Answer B: They have fever.

And what's the reason choosing A or B?

Thanks,
Kit

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Use the article, a-- fever is normally a countable noun when it is a medical affliction.

Philip · Answer

You could also say that they are feverish.

Anonymous · Answer

hiiii

you can use both

i have a fever i have fever but the better is i have a fever

(i have fever it used as an informal) i think

tell me the right i don't know any thing

Anonymous · Answer

They all have fevers

Vini.ch · Answer

I know I am responding to a very old post .. none the less I'd rather have my doubt cleared.

I understand that we use the indefinite articles with countable nouns however how is Fever considered to be countable?

Anonymous · Answer

so is it
*i have a fever
or
*i have fever?????????????????????[:^)]

Clive · Answer

Hi,

I never say either.

I always use the idiomatic British English expression, 'I have a (high) temperature'.

Best wishes, Clive

BarbaraPA · Answer

And I use the American one (I guess - I didn't know that was another one that was different! Thanks Clive!) and it's ALWAYS "a fever" and never just "fever."

Anonymous · Answer

the answer is i have fever
because if it " DISEASE " it cannot be an "A"
so the only answer is I HAVE FEVER.

BarbaraPA · Answer

Anonymous the answer is i have fever
because if it " DISEASE " it cannot be an "A"
so the only answer is I HAVE FEVER.

No, anon. You are mistaken. A fever is not a disease; it is a symptom.

The correct way to write this is "a fever." Please read the entire thread.

I have a headache. I have a fever. I have a cold. I have the flu. (This one is not logical, but idiomatically, it's how we say it.)

They have a fever or they have fever?

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