Anonymous  +  511456 Fri, 09 May 08 02:35 AM Hi there, I am from an asian country (korea) and Korean doesn't distinguish countable or uncountable nouns so I have some problem with this concept even though I have been living in english speaking country for 10 years. Now the word "lack" according to the online Longman dictionary is an uncountable noun, as well as a singular noun. But we usually say "a lack of quality" or "a lack of resources". Now we know for sure we never put "a" in front of "water" because "water" is an uncountable noun, as in "furniture" or "stuff". So how is it that word "lack" can have an indefinite article in front of it? Does it mean that the English language lacks logic inherently? Thanks. Anonymous Articles, Nouns, Uncountable Nouns, Countable Nouns, Indefinite Articles, Definite Articles, Singular Nouns, Countable or Uncountable

	Clive  +  511473 Fri, 09 May 08 04:30 AM Hi, I don't see why you can't count lacks. He has a lack of maturity. He has a lack of money. He has a lack of intelligence. That's three lacks. Best wishes, Clive Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 29,585 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

	Yoong Liat  +  511486 Fri, 09 May 08 05:05 AM Hi Clive I was taught that 'lack' is an uncountable noun. However, in my country, we learn BrE, so could it be a case of BrE vs AmE? Best wishes YL Yoong Liat Joined on Mon, Sep 4 2006 Veteran Member 6,757 Nouns, Uncountable Nouns, Countable Nouns

	Ant_222  +  511589 Fri, 09 May 08 11:26 AM As I understand. it also can be uncontable: "We didn't implement all the features due to lack of time" And in most cases only one usage is possible — either coutable or not. Ant_222 Joined on Sun, May 21 2006 Podolsk, Russia Contributing Member 1,717

	Grammar Geek  +  511817 Fri, 09 May 08 11:11 PM Ant_222 “As I understand. it also can be uncontable: "We didn't implement all the features due to lack of time" And in most cases only one usage is possible — either coutable or not.”   I would, without doubt, write that as "due to a lack of time." Perhaps it is American/British. (I think Clive was having a bit of fun - I don't think he would say "he has three lacks.") Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,652 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random!

	Ant_222  +  511819 Fri, 09 May 08 11:16 PM GG: what about these: Death is lack of life Vacuum is lack of air I'd certainly use them without an article... Ant_222 Articles

	Grammar Geek  +  511822 Fri, 09 May 08 11:18 PM Death is the absense of life. A vacuum is an abense of air. I wouldn't say either of them the way you have it.   Grammar Geek

	Ant_222  +  511826 Fri, 09 May 08 11:29 PM GG: Wow, now I am at a loss... Zero article: «Death is lack of life, illness lack of health, poverty lack of wealth, and ignorance lack of knowledge.» — Sanderson Beck, Middle East and Africa, 1875. With "a": «Death is a lack of life.» — See Carl Schmitt, “The Visibility of the Church: A Scholastic Consideration,” Appendix to Carl Schmitt, Roman Catholicism and Political Form, tr. and annotated by G. L. Ulmen (Westport, Conn. and London: Greenwood Press, 1996), p. 56. How do authors decide? How do you decide? Ant_222 Articles