| I don't know why probation works while meeting does not |
|
In my opinion, it's the nature of the noun, not the preposition.
He is on a 3 months' probation. (probation: countable;
a is OK.
)
He is at a 10 minutes' meeting. (meeting: countable;
a is OK.
)
He is on 3 months' probation. (probation: uncountable; no determiner is OK.
)
He is at 10 minutes' meeting. (meeting: uncountable????!!!!
)
probation can be used as a C or NC noun.
meeting can only be a C noun (except in the jocular -- and I don't know if you've heard this one, but I have --
The new boss gives good meeting.)
If there's an alternative explanation, I'm sure somebody will let us know!
![Smile [:)]](/emoticons/emotion-1.gif)
CJ