Spring  +  58019 Sun, 28 Nov 04 07:15 PM "Wiht the rains, the street turned once again into sticky mud." "As she lay there, rains fell incessantly." Why did the author use " rains" in the above sentences? Isn't "rain" an uncountable noun? Also, why the article "the" was used in the first sentence and not in the second? What's the difference? Thanks Spring Spring Joined on Sun, Nov 21 2004 Junior Member 84 Articles, Nouns, Uncountable Nouns, Countable Nouns

	Mister Micawber  +  58042 Sun, 28 Nov 04 10:21 PM 'Rain' is also used as a countable, Spring, as a period of rainfall, especially in areas that have a rainy season. I think it is usually used rather literarily. However, in your second example, in that context it sounds quite unnatural, and I suspect that it is a misprint for 'rain'. Mister Micawber Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004 Yokohama Veteran Member 30,840 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'