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

Re: Food / foods

Clive — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:36:43 GMT

Hi,

I read the following sentences in a book. I don't understand why the first sentence use 'food' instead of 'foods' . The second sentence shows that food is a countable noun. 'Food' can be both countable and non-countable, and we often don't much care about making a distinction or speaking consistently.

Also as a side question, why there is no comma before 'and', in #1sentence, even though it is acting as a conjunction between two indpendent clauses.? Until I read posts here by some other students of English who mentioned this so-called 'rule', I had never heard of it. You'll read lots of sentences that do not use a comma before 'and'. I'd say that some factors that influence comma use are the length of the sentence and the complexity of its structure.

1. Go to a mall food court and make a list of food that is good for your health.

2. They try to avoid foods that are high in fat or sugar.

Best wishes, Clive

Food / foods

Musicgold — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:24:30 GMT

Hi,

I read the following sentences in a book. I don't understand why the first setence use 'food' instead of 'foods' . The second sentence shows that food is a countable noun.
Also as a side question, why there is no comma before 'and', in #1sentence, even though it is acting as a conjunction between two indpendent clauses.?

1. Go to a mall food court and make a list of food that is good for your health.

2. They try to avoid foods that are high in fat or sugar.

Thanks,

MG.

Re: Paragraph Suggestions

Mister Micawber — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 08:10:14 GMT

Its versatility assists me adeptly in studies.-- The computer assists, not the versatility; 'adept' is for people.

And wrought mean shaped, so why its wrong here ? -- It is the wrong tense.

connected is wrong word? -- The verb should be passive in aspect.

wavy mean twisted cables , thats not sutibale as well? -- 'Wavy' is for hair; it is a pleasant image, unlike 'twisted'.

central is lined because i used capital C? -- 'Unit' is a singular countable noun, and the sentence is a comma splice (you need a conjunction).

shelf of the table please do explain why its wrong as well. -- Tables don't normally have shelves; desks may. Also, objects would have to go on a shelf, not at it.

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: a great variety of

milky — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 05:56:52 GMT

Diamondrg wrote:

It is clear from the passage that, among writers of nonfiction, there is a great variety of aim one of which is the desire to please.

Taken from a nationwide exam in Turkey.

Do you think there is anything wrong with this sentence? I do. A comma is needed after the word "aim" and I have doubts about the use of "one of which" to refer to a singular countable noun "aim". What do you think? Can the expression "a great variety of" be used with singular countable nouns?

here

here

For me, "It is clear from the passage that, among writers of nonfiction, there is wide variation in aim - one example being the desire to please."

Re: a great variety of

Goodman — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 22:30:55 GMT

Diamondrg wrote:

Taken from a nationwide exam in Turkey.

Do you think there is anything wrong with this sentence? I do. A comma is needed after the word "aim" and I have doubts about the use of "one of which" to refer to a singular countable noun "aim". What do you think? Can the expression "a great variety of" be used with singular countable nouns?

here

here

It is clear from the passage that, among writers of nonfiction, there is a great variety of aim one of which is the desire to please. The green part of the sentence is kind of awkward to me.

I personally would use a different word to replace "aim" and perhap "variety", depending on the context of the preceding paragraph. e.g. interest, goal, and intents etc...

When we use "one of the", don't forget the plural form and in this case is "aims"

"A great varity" is considered a singular non-countable noun.

a great variety of

Diamondrg — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:55:27 GMT

It is clear from the passage that, among writers of nonfiction, there is a great variety of aim one of which is the desire to please.

Taken from a nationwide exam in Turkey.

Do you think there is anything wrong with this sentence? I do. A comma is needed after the word "aim" and I have doubts about the use of "one of which" to refer to a singular countable noun "aim". What do you think? Can the expression "a great variety of" be used with singular countable nouns?

here

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