Lesson on issue of descriptive adjective and choice

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Believer

#268121 Sun, 17 Sep 06 12:25 AM

Can anyone answer those questions categorically?

I think I saw from a post here that kind of said that many times, having "descriptive adjectives" in front of UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS trigger the need (necesssity??) to have the indefinite article "a" and I think Mr. M said to the effect that in many cases, the choice to put "a" or not to put it is optional for the cases like one below.

a great happiness vs. just "great happiness"

Here, I think happiness is one-hundred percent uncountable noun??, not a variable noun where the choice depends the context and the mind of the writer at the time, I think. I think we can say "great" is a descriptive adjective.

Let's make simple sentences with the above phrases.

His dog is a great happiness in his life. (Sounds good, isn't it? I think the writer is talking about a kind of happiness and not the general term, happiness.)

His dog is great happiness in his life. (Sounds good, I think, and the writer seems to be saying that his dog is great happiness in a general sense, not to mean any kind of happiness.)

1) So, can I say in almost all the cases, the choice to put a or not to put a when you have some descriptive adjectives in front of them depend on the context and perspective of the writer?

2) Can you give me some cases where the choices as described above in not available?

3) Can you check if these are right?

This form of words is fantastic English.

This form of words is perfectly acceptable English.

This form of words is "good" English

This form of words is a fantastic English.

This form of words is a perfectly acceptable English.

This form of words is a "good" English.

4) Right now, I have this uneasy feeling when I try to put what look to be descriptive adjectives in front of uncountable nouns because I am afraid I might accidently turn them into paticular kinds of something and not to mean generally. Do you think my feeling regarding that is unwarranted because the control is in me whether I want to make them to mean kinds of something or refer (or use them to mean something) in general terms?

5) Can I be able to put "a" in front of uncountable nouns which have what I think are descriptive adjectives? Is something in apostrophes qualify like "good" above qualify as a descriptive adjective? Help.

Believer

Joined on Mon, Jan 2 2006

Contributing Member (1,969)

Articles, Nouns, Uncountable nouns, Countable nouns, Indefinite articles, Definite articles, Apostrophes

Mister Micawber

#268254 Sun, 17 Sep 06 08:49 AM

I cannot answer anything categorically.

Mister Micawber

Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004

Yokohama

Veteran Member (21,256)

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

Believer

#268284 Sun, 17 Sep 06 09:46 AM

Thank you for answering it categorically, Mr. M.

I think I have used the word "categorically" in a cavalier?? way and should have used it more accurately.

Can anyone or anyone as knowledgeable as you, which I think will take a good long time to do, or anyone who can answer the questions please do so? I will appreciate it.

I think you don't have to answer them categorically -- just have to answer them as good as you can.

Believer

Mister Micawber

#268372 Sun, 17 Sep 06 02:23 PM

Actually, I think I have already said what I had to say in my response to your post about the cats and alligators. But I'll go over some of your concerns:

I think I saw from a post here that kind of said that many times, having "descriptive adjectives" in front of UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS trigger the need (necesssity??) to have the indefinite article "a" -- I don't think there is the need, but certainly there is the possibility:

I have great faith in you.
I have a great sadness in my heart for their plight.

and I think Mr. M said to the effect that in many cases, the choice to put "a" or not to put it is optional for the cases like one below ("a great happiness" vs. just "great happiness")-- generally optional because both are possible; each case demands its own decision on which should be used.

Here, I think happiness is one-hundred percent uncountable noun??, not a variable noun.-- No, we have no context, and the noun itself is capable of either form.

His dog is a great happiness in his life. (Sounds good, isn't it? I think the writer is talking about a kind of happiness and not the general term, happiness.) -- I agree

His dog is great happiness in his life. (Sounds good, I think, and the writer seems to be saying that his dog is great happiness in a general sense, not to mean any kind of happiness.) -- I don't agree. You have set up a predicate nominative. His dog has brought great happiness into his life would be fine. I leave further analysis to you.

1) So, can I say in almost all the cases, the choice to put a or not to put a when you have some descriptive adjectives in front of them depend on the context and perspective of the writer? -- Yes, that sounds good-- but more critical is the semantic meaning.

2) Can you give me some cases where the choices as described above in not available? -- Not offhand, but I am sure there are many-- I am sure that not all candidate nouns are capable of such permutations.

3) Can you check if these are right?

This form of words is fantastic English. -- OK

This form of words is perfectly acceptable English. -- OK

This form of words is "good" English -- OK

This form of words is a fantastic English.-- Not so.

This form of words is a perfectly acceptable English. -- Not so.

This form of words is a "good" English. -- Not so

This form of words is a regional English -- OK. English and Englishes are specific concepts in linguistics; perhaps that is why the countable form is not so attractive in your sentences. Context, flexibility, semantics.
4) Right now, I have this uneasy feeling when I try to put what look to be descriptive adjectives in front of uncountable nouns because I am afraid I might accidently turn them into paticular kinds of something and not to mean generally. Do you think my feeling regarding that is unwarranted because the control is in me whether I want to make them to mean kinds of something or refer (or use them to mean something) in general terms? -- Fear not; just think what you are trying to say: are you speaking of a general concept or an individual instance? and choose accordingly.

5) Can I be able to put "a" in front of uncountable nouns which have what I think are descriptive adjectives? -- Generally yes, if you realize that it then becomes countable.

Is something in apostrophes qualify like "good" above qualify as a descriptive adjective? -- Yes.

Help. -- I hope this did.