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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Why is there no indefinite article?

Of course there is [a] variation in the manifestation of these three institutions.

I added the indefinite article but I want to know why it is not there.
  

Top answer

Anonymous I added the indefinite article but I want to know why it is not there. Because it is better without it. The word can be countable or non-count, and the non-count represents the condition, which is what is meant.

— Mister Micawber

  • Anonymous I added the indefinite article but I want to know why it is not there.
  • Because it is better without it.
  • The word can be countable or non-count, and the non-count represents the condition, which is what is meant.
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9 Answers
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AnonymousI added the indefinite article but I want to know why it is not there.
Because it is better without it. The word can be countable or non-count, and the non-count represents the condition, which is what is meant.
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Is it still correct with the indefinite article?
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AnonymousIs it still correct with the indefinite article?
No, it is wrong; I think there are many variations for such a complex situation.
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Is there a general rule of thumb for these?
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AnonymousIs there a general rule of thumb for these?
Not beyond common sense. You must decide whether you are speaking about a quality, condition, material, etc. or about a specific countable example or instance or reclassification or segment of that uncountable quality.
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Could you give a few examples?Emotion: geeked
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AnonymousCould you give a few examples?
Of what?!
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I mean could you give examples of sentences like mine in the original post.
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AnonymousCould you give a few examples?
A few examples where the indefinite article can be used but the sentence is better without it?

There was a sadness in her eyes. [a is OK but unnecessary]
He could feel an anger rise in him. [an is OK but unnecessary]
Don't make a noise.

BUT we must wait for an
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