Would you put "a" here and why?

Question

Hi,Please take a look at the following two sentences I kind of picked out from the posts here and tell me if the second one would need 'a' in the spot indicated.1. He has a good knowledge in English grammar.2. It contains ___ valuable information on English grammar.

Yoong Liat · Accepted Answer

BelieverHi,

Please take a look at the following two sentences I kind of picked out from the posts here and tell me if the second one would need 'a' in the spot indicated.

1. He has a good knowledge in English grammar.

2. It contains ___ valuable information on English grammar.

The article 'a" cannot be used in sentence 2.

He has a good knowledge in (of, not in) English grammar.

Marius Hancu · Answer

I agree with Yoong Liat.

Believer · Answer

Thank you.

I would say that the two sentences are structually similar and I am befuddled why the word 'knowledge' with the adjective 'good' can have a while the word 'information' with valuable cannot.

Do you think the word 'information' is somewhat of an anomaly in the world of the English language?

Cool Breeze · Answer

BelieverThank you.

I would say that the two sentences are structually similar and I am befuddled why the word 'knowledge' with the adjective 'good' can have a while the word 'information' with valuable cannot.

Do you think the word 'information' is somewhat of an anomaly in the world of the English language?

Hi Beliver

It's the other way around; knowledge is an anomaly. It is an uncountable noun, in other words it is never used in the plural, yet it takes an indefintite article, especially when used with an adjective: He has an excellent knowledge of history. He has a poor knowledge of physics.

Informationis an uncountable noun as well and like countless

uncountable nouns, it does not take an article:

I need further advice.
We must buy new furniture.
I don't like wet snow.

Cheers
CB

Would you put "a" here and why?

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