According to legend,

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Angliholic

#573386 Sun, 05 Oct 08 01:32 PM

According to legend, the tribe that built the statues (on Easter Island) was wiped out in a vicious battle with another tribe sometime during the late seventeenth or early eighteenth century.

Hi,
Why isn't there an "a" before "legend" in the above? Isn't legend a countable now?
Thanks.

Angliholic

Joined on Wed, Feb 14 2007

SomewhereinFormosa

Veteran Member (5,659)

Without true love, life is meaningless and worthless since our physical world is nothing but a dream. ~~Angliholic~~簡瑞達

Mister Micawber

#573395 Sun, 05 Oct 08 01:50 PM

.
Not here.

legend
noun [C or U]
a very old story or set of stories from ancient times

Mister Micawber

Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004

Yokohama

Veteran Member (23,506)

'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'

Nouns

Angliholic

#573417 Sun, 05 Oct 08 02:04 PM

Mister Micawber
.
Not here.

legend
noun [C or U]
a very old story or set of stories from ancient times

Thanks, Mister.

But why is legend an uncountable noun in the introductory sentence? When should I use it as a countable noun and when uncountable?

Angliholic

Mister Micawber

#573459 Sun, 05 Oct 08 02:51 PM

.
The process and decision is the same as with any noun which can be used in both ways.

Legend is a powerful binding agent for cultures.
A legend can sometimes be true.

Mister Micawber

Nouns