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Shadok Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Uncountable words
I have a question concerning uncountable words. I know that we cannot put 'a/an' in front of an uncountable word.
I have noticed though that sometimes when there is an adjective describing a word, we do put a/an before it.
For example:
knowledge U
but:
She has a wide knowledge.
Why, even though dictionaries say 'knowledge' is uncountable, should we say 'a wide knowledge'.
Is it necessary or 'She has wide knowledge' is also ok?
It is not the case of all uncountable words.
It wasa good advice.
How can we know when 'a' should precede an uncountable word with an adjective?
Is there any indication in dictionaries saying that 'a' should be there? (Is it maybe the word 'single', for example : Knowledge U, single, advice U)
I would also like to know if we can put the number 'one' before an uncountable word?
One bread?x or One loaf of bread?v One information?x
I think we can't but I would like to be sure.
What about 'these/those'? I think only 'this/that' is acceptable with uncountable nouns:
This bread, that advice
Thank you in advance for your help!
Shadok
I have noticed though that sometimes when there is an adjective describing a word, we do put a/an before it.
For example:
knowledge U
but:
She has a wide knowledge.
Why, even though dictionaries say 'knowledge' is uncountable, should we say 'a wide knowledge'.
Is it necessary or 'She has wide knowledge' is also ok?
It is not the case of all uncountable words.
It was
How can we know when 'a' should precede an uncountable word with an adjective?
Is there any indication in dictionaries saying that 'a' should be there? (Is it maybe the word 'single', for example : Knowledge U, single, advice U)
I would also like to know if we can put the number 'one' before an uncountable word?
One bread?x or One loaf of bread?v One information?x
I think we can't but I would like to be sure.
What about 'these/those'? I think only 'this/that' is acceptable with uncountable nouns:
This bread, that advice
Thank you in advance for your help!
Shadok
Top answer
Excuse me, it should be: It was a good advice. (no article)
- Excuse me, it should be: It was a good advice.
- (no article)
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4 Answers
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You can't put numbers before uncountable nouns. You can change it though so you could say; I'll give you a piece of advice, a bit of information etc. These/those can't be used as the noun is counted as a single mass.
Most natives would choose a broad knowledge, rather than wide knowledge.
I don't know of a rule to help you, I think you will have to learn it.
Most natives would choose a broad knowledge, rather than wide knowledge.
I don't know of a rule to help you, I think you will have to learn it.
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Shadokif we can put the number 'one' before an uncountable wordNo. No numbers before uncountable words.
ShadokWhat about 'these/those'?No. No plurals. Uncountable words can't appear in the plural, and they can't have any plural adjectives before them either.
CJ
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ShadokHow can we know when 'a' should precede an uncountable word with an adjective?I don't think that dictionaries give such detailed information. Even the indication of countable or uncountable is only an
Is there any indication in dictionaries saying that 'a' should be there? (Is it maybe the word 'single', for example : Knowledge U, single, advice U)
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