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Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

When to use "a" in front of certain nouns??

Hey guys,

Using articles has always been a frustration for me. Even as I was writing "a" frustration, I don't quite get why I have to use "a" in front of "frustration" when frustration is not countable. I understand the basic theory of when to use "a' - when the noun is countable or something general. Then, why do we use 'a' in front of words like "confusion," "frustration," "aggression" etc when they are not countable? I don't see how one can count how many frustrations or aggressons there are. Can someone please clear the haze on this issue for me?

Thank you so much,
  

Top answer

Anonymous I don't quite get why I have to use "a" in front of "frustration" Think of it as "an occasion of frustration", "an instance of frustration" or "a case of frustration". It's an individual experience of frustration within a limited time, not the eternal abstract concept of frustration. CJ

— CalifJim

  • Anonymous I don't quite get why I have to use "a" in front of "frustration" Think of it as "an occasion of frustration", "an instance of frustration" or "a case of frustration".
  • It's an individual experience of frustration within a limited time, not the eternal abstract concept of frustration.
  • CJ
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3 Answers
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AnonymousI don't quite get why I have to use "a" in front of "frustration"
Think of it as "an occasion of frustration", "an instance of frustration" or "a case of frustration". It's an individual experience of frustration within a limited time, not the eternal abstract concept of frustration.

CJ
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Can you, conversely, use "frustration" without using the article "a"? If so, when will you be allowed to do this?

Thanks for the help!
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AnonymousCan you, conversely, use "frustration" without using the article "a"?
Of course. You've already noted that it's uncountable. Use it when you mean the general abstract concept instead of a specific instance of it.

CJ
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