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Believer  #302139  Sat, 09 Dec 06 01:20 PM

Hi,

Does anyone have good tips to help me decide when the word 'culture' is countable and when it is uncountable?  

  
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Marius Hancu  #302142  Sat, 09 Dec 06 01:27 PM
Yes.
Use this dictionary, which indicates C or U and gives examples:
[link]

  
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Believer  #302507  Sun, 10 Dec 06 03:30 PM

Thank you.

I looked at my dictianary for hours and still don't seem to get any closer to getting it.

Do you have an alternative way?

What is the difference?

Let us talk about a culture of that country.

Let us talk about culture of that country.

Anyway, thank you your help.    

  
J Lewis  #302521  Sun, 10 Dec 06 03:56 PM
An uncountable used in a general sense doesn't need an article:
I'm interested in philosphy.
An adjective doesn't change this:
I'm interested in ancient Greek philosophy.
But if you qualify it with an adjectival phrase or a relative clause you need an article:
I'm interested in the philosophy of ancient Greece.
I still remember the philosophy I studied at school.


The culture of that country: normal, as explained above.
Let's talk about culture: general.
Culture becomes countable when we talk about various kinds of culture: there are many different cultures in the world.
  
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