education vs. an education

   Share on Facebook  
Anonymous  #346737  Tue, 03 Apr 07 12:16 PM

Hi,

I think the word 'education' is a variable noun, which I am sure means that if one uses refer to abstract things, he is using it as an uncountable noun; whereas, if one uses to refer to individual instances of that thing, he is using it as a countable noun. Now, can you put that definition of a sort into practice and provide me with some examples?

 Thank you.

 I am sure context will make the choice clear but is there any difficulty you anticipate for someone who is trying to figure out whether a word is an uncountable noun turned into a countable noun or just being a countable noun part of a variable noun  if a  word, 'education', has a descriptive adjective in front of it and an indefinite article, 'a', before the adjective?

eg,

a sufficient/deplorable/inadequate education -- an uncountable noun turned countable or a countable part (version?) of its variable nature?? 

     

  
Philip  #346847  Tue, 03 Apr 07 05:00 PM
I think you have described the difference perfectly.
  
Top 25 Contributor
Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005
USA Pacific Northwest (Seattle)
Veteran Member (6,274)
ModeratorProficient Speaker
At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen
Anonymous  #347976  Sat, 07 Apr 07 12:16 AM

Hi,

I just came across a quote where you have "an education". I tried to find an explanation to this in my grammar books but I didn't. I tried the internet and I coincidentally found your question. The quote is by William Feather "An education isn’t how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It’s being able to differentiate between what you do know and what you don’t. It’s knowing where to go to find out what you need to know; and it’s knowing how to use the information you get." (http://www.bartleby.com/73/486.html) A student showed me this and I couldn't give her an appropriate answer. So if somebody knows it will also help me.

Thanks.

  
AddThis Feed Button RSS Feed: ESL General English Grammar Questions
© 2008 MediaCET Ltd.
Terms and Conditions & Terms of Service