Search results for 'tag:Commas tag:Uncountable nouns' matching tags 'Commas' and 'Uncountable nouns'

comma usage and another

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 23:11:02 GMT

Hi,

I see some sentences with commas like these. Are they correct?

Chances are, it is the latter.
The point is, he didn't do it.

Why not?
Chances are that it is the latter.
The point is that he didn't do it.

2. Is the word 'light' countable here. Can the adjective 'first' come before both a countable or uncountable noun?

... worked from the first light of dawn till ...

Re: tense-hadn't

Yankee — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 19:50:35 GMT

Newguest wrote:
HI
HI !

IS IT REALLY A BIG MISTAKE TO PUT A COMMA AFTER "ALI?" It is a little mistake.

WHY CAN'T WE SAY "A BAD LUCK" The word 'luck' is uncountable. You cannot use 'a' with an uncountable noun. You can say something such as 'a bit of bad luck' or 'some bad luck', however.

I WROTE "TODAY" AT THE END OF THE SENTENCE CAUSE, BUT MAYBE I'M WRONG, HE'S STILL ALIVE, THAT'S WHY I WROTE "HE WOULD SUFFER"

I KNOW THERE IS SOMETHING LIKE MIXED CONDITIONALS. I WROTE "HE HADN'T BEEN A BOXER" BECAUSE HE'S NOT ONE ANY MORE, That doesn't change the fact that you have begun a Type III conditional. The unchangeable fact is that he was a boxer and therefore the condition ("wasn't/hadn't been a boxer") is impossible to fulfil -- whether or not he is still a boxer is basically irrelevant. AND "HE WOULD SUFFER" CAUSE HE'S STILL ALIVE. As I see it, the problem with "would suffer" in your sentence is that, even with the word 'today' added, it could be interpretted as a reference to only now and the future.

THANKS

By the way, typing in all CAPITAL letters is known as "shouting" and is often seen as UNFRIENDLY.

Re: Writing (1)

nona the brit — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 11:25:54 GMT

Ok, but it won't fix all the errors in this piece of writing.

The April's socio-economic growth has remained the same as that of the first 3 months. Industrial production had fairly high production and step by step resumed the previous growth pace.However, many problems haven't been overcome: The basic construction investment capital,especially the state credit capital, has been low, the investment demand stimulation measures haven't been done strongly so the efficiency has been limited, the consumption prices and services have decreased and will be to decrease in next few month. It was the remark of the Planning and Investment minister at this meeting.

1/Is it obligatory to write the before targets,industrial production and next few few months?Why? I can't find 'targets'. No 'the' before industrial production as it is just industry in general. 'The' next few months as they are specific months.

2/April's socio-economic growth (1)= April socio-economic growth (2) ?If not, what is wrong? Why? April's - the growth belongs to April. See my previous comment about the 'the'.

3/the previous growth pace (3) =the growth pace before (4)= the growth pace earlier? (5)If not, what is wrong? Why? The previous rate of growth is better. Pace just doesn't really work with growth.

4/Do you write efficiency or effectiveness here? Why?What is the difference in meaning btw them? See my previous comment.

5/Do remained and preserved have the same meaning and are they interchangeable?If not, what is the difference in meaning btw them? No they are not interchangeable here.

6/Do you write Planning and Investment minister or Plan and Investment minister ? Why? Planning and Investment Minister. He/she is in charge of planning, not plans.

7/In state credit capital, is state an uncountable noun? depends. Are you talking of the credit capital available in the state (non-count) or something called 'State Credit Capital' (count)

8/Do you write it was the remark or it were the remarks here? This whole sentence doesn't make sense. Do you mean that the whole of the paragraph is his remarks? Then 'Those were the remarks of.... It would be better to state this at the beginning though 'At the meeting, the minister remarked that......

9/ Is limited an adjectif or a verb used in the passive? AJECTIVE adjecectIVE adjectIVE adjectIVE. You always misspell this - it's a bad habit you need to break. However, not sure which it is, sorry.

10/Do you write The basic construction investment capital or The basic constructional investment capiatal ? Why?What is the difference btw them? Basic construction investment capital (no the). The capital is to be used for construction, not used for constructional. If you use constructional then it is saying that the investment capital in someway constructs something directly. Money doesn't construct things. It may pay for materials and labour to construct things, but it isn't out there digging holes and pouring concrete itself.

12/ Is there comma after so? No comma.

Writing (1)

Tung Quoc — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 09:41:31 GMT

Please read:

Government's April meeting: Announcing targets and capital for people to decide and supervise.

In this context:

1/Is it obligatory to write the before targets,industrial production and next few few months?Why?

2/April's socio-economic growth (1)= April socio-economic growth (2) ?If not, what is wrong? Why?

3/the previous growth pace (3) =the growth pace before (4)= the growth pace earlier? (5)If not, what is wrong? Why?

4/Do you write efficiency or effectiveness here? Why?What is the difference in meaning btw them?

5/Do remained and preserved have the same meaning and are they interchangeable?If not, what is the difference in meaning btw them?

6/Do you write Planning and Investment minister or Plan and Investment minister ? Why?

7/In state credit capital, is state an uncountable noun?

8/Do you write it was the remark or it were the remarks here?

9/ Is limited an adjectif or a verb used in the passive?

10/Do you write The basic construction investment capital or The basic constructional investment capiatal ? Why?What is the difference btw them?

12/ Is there comma after so?

Thanks

Re: two questions on articles

Clive — Sun, 18 Jun 2006 18:15:57 GMT

Hi again,

1. For No. 1, can you put a comma to make the phrase non-restrictive and use it that way, without deleting it? You could, but it's rather awkward and unnatural.

It will be good for them, the Christian students.

2. For No. 2, what if the list contains a mixture of countable and uncountable nouns like this? How would resolve the issue of putting articles in appropriate places in this situation? For uncountable nouns in the list, should I leave out the articles or, if needed, use appropriate expressions of quantity?

I am planning to purchase furniture, a ???desk, costly jewelry, a ????grammar check software and some junk. If it's a mixed list, I would include 'a' or 'some' with each item.

Please note that software is not a count noun. Common phrases include 'a piece of software' and 'a software package'.

If you want to buy some junk, I have some that I can sell you. (ha-ha)

Best wishes again, Clive

Re: two questions on articles

Believer — Sun, 18 Jun 2006 16:35:33 GMT

Hi, allow me for two questions.

1. For No. 1, can you put a comma to make the phrase non-restrictive and use it that way, without deleting it?

It will be good for them, the Christian students.

I am planning to purchase furniture, a ???desk, costly jewelry, a ????grammar check software and some junk.

Re: any comma before and after e.g. i.e.

Raul — Thu, 18 Sep 2003 17:37:39 GMT

There must be a comma before only:

Public schools, ie state free-of-charge schools in this country, are in crisis.

Uncountable nouns, eg bread, money and time, do not have plural forms.

Now, "ie" (id est) and "eg" (exampli gratia) may have a dot depending on the English variation. Americans write "i.e." and "e.g."