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growth and indefinite article

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Anonymous  #339092  Wed, 14 Mar 07 09:29 AM
Hello,

I'm currently teaching business charts and describing trends and would like to know whether you can use the indefinite article with "growth". Am I right that "growth" doesn't take  "a" because it is uncountable but you can use the definite article?
There has been significant growth in ...
The growth we experienced in 2006...

Thanks for your help!
Maike



  
Cool Breeze  #339117  Wed, 14 Mar 07 11:23 AM
Hi Maike

Your examples are excellent English.
CB
  
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Grammar Geek  #339176  Wed, 14 Mar 07 02:08 PM

You can also say things like "You can see in 2005, there was a growth in the housing market early in the year while there was a decline in ... "

In this case, you are distinguishing the growth of one market from other markets, and therefore making them countable.

  
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