Anonymous  +  960254 Tue, 03 Nov 09 01:35 AM Hi.   1. I think the word "status" is an uncountable noun. Why does it have the indefinite article "a" in front of it?   He is in a particular status   2. Why does it have to be the phrase "a few" in front of the word "dozen"? If it has to be that phrase?   There is at least a few dozen.   I think we could say/write these:   There is a dozen/a half dozen.    3. Is this correct with the phrase "85 percent" (is that a phrase anyway?) in front of noun?   He had 85 percent feeling.   Anonymous

	CalifJim  +  960296 Tue, 03 Nov 09 02:28 AM Anonymous “I think the word "status" is an uncountable noun.” It can also be countable.  a is fine. Anonymous “Why does it have to be the phrase "a few" in front of the word "dozen"?” It doesn't have to be "a few".  However, it's "There are a few dozen".  You can also write "There are [a dozen / a half dozen]".  Yes. Anonymous “ Is this correct with the phrase "85 percent" (is that a phrase anyway?) in front of noun?” 85 percent feeling is a little strange (and you can call it a phrase if you want), but it might make sense in context.  It's grammatically correct. CJ CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,447 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche Nouns, Uncountable Nouns, Context

	Mister Micawber  +  960299 Tue, 03 Nov 09 02:35 AM 1.  Status is also countable–  Inflected Form: plural sta·tus·es: a particular state or condition. 2.  A few dozen = several dozen = roughly 36-84 items. 3.  It sounds odd in your example.  I think '85% of' is what is usually called for. Mister Micawber Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004 Yokohama Veteran Member 30,822 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.' Plurals, Nouns