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

Mister Micawber — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 13:03:26 GMT

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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.

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

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:13:20 GMT

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

ESL General English Grammar Questions

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

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