a woman of an unusual beauty; [-] decent accommodation

   Share on Facebook  
Anonymous  #490624  Wed, 19 Mar 08 12:13 PM
Hi there,

 Some nouns in English, uncountable under normal circumstances, take the indefinite article when qualified by the adjective or adverbial phrase. How do I tell if a noun should take the indefinite article or not?

 

Examples:

 When I got back home, I took a short nap to make up for the previous night. 

At the party, I met Sarah -- a woman of an unusual beauty

Well, at least  we had [-] decent accommodation.

It is alleged we have [-] false information on the fugitive.

I had a good sleep before I set out. .   

When he was in Rome, he developed a deep distrust in people. 

 

You guys ha ve a better knowledge of the English grammar, so I guess you can help me. 

 

Best Regards,

Pawel 

 

 

  
Mister Micawber  #490644  Wed, 19 Mar 08 01:03 PM
.
The phenomenon is called secondary recategorization.  Here, it occurs when the non-count noun takes on a meaning of variety, example, etc.  However, it is not a usual phenomenon-- it occurs primarily when the writer is envisioning several sorts of 'wine' or whatever.  I don't think there is any rule to rely on, and I don't think a list of amenable nouns could be constructed.  In the cases you present, these seem good to me:


When I got back home, I took a short nap to make up for the previous night. -- Nap is countable here anyway.

At the party, I met Sarah -- a woman of unusual beauty. -- only 2 kinds of beauty implied-- 'usual' and 'unusual'-- so not a lot of varieties envisioned

Well, at least  we had decent accommodations. -- Normally a plural noun, which circumvents the problem.

It is alleged we have false information on the fugitive.-- Again, only 'true' or 'false' is available, but I think that 'information' strongly resists countability anyway-- I don't know why.

I had a good sleep before I set out.-- 'I had a sleep' is the collocation; the word is already countable.  It also appears as a noncount:  I had some sleep.

When he was in Rome, he developed (a) deep distrust of people. -- Both seem fine to me

You guys have (a) better knowledge of the English grammar, so I guess you can help me. -- Both seem fine to me.

Others may have other opinions.

  
Top 10 Contributor
Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004
Yokohama
Veteran Member (21,271)
SystemAdministratorTeachers
'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'
AddThis Feed Button RSS Feed: ESL General English Grammar Questions
© 2008 MediaCET Ltd.
Terms and Conditions & Terms of Service