By Countable nouns, Prepositions

Mistakes made by Chinese Learners

Hi everyoneI just wondered if anyone could help - I have to write a profile of a chinese learner of English (completely made up). In it I must put any difficulties that the learner has in learning English as an L2. I have got so far:Intonation transfer from L1 may cause them to be perceived as...

Re: practice

Hi, I wouldn't make such generalisms about countable and uncountable nouns here, as rules often don't apply so evenly. The problem I can see with the sentence is not with the use of the word 'practice,' but instead;1. 'to not to' is unnecessary, and should just be...

Re: About the omission of articles

There’re no rules; but there’re generalizations. You may omit it if: 1. A common noun is used in its wildest sense. Ex. Man is mortal. 2. The noun is a name for a material. Ex. Silver is a precious metal. 3.1. Before a proper noun. An article may be placed before it to turn...

Re: evening (without preposition) / to start to doing

CalifJim wrote:Not sure why you added this. Yes, it is possible to say one evening or an evening when evening is countable, but if we recognize that in the subject sentence evening is non-countable, and the problem is the, not a or one, I don't see where the logic is going. the is possible...

Re: evening (without preposition) / to start to doing

I said evening is countable, I didn't say it is countable in Steinbeck's sentence.OK. I didn't get that. Similarly, since a hot day has only one evening - it is possible to say "one evening" because "evening" is countable Not sure why you added this. Yes, it is possible to say one evening...

Re: evening (without preposition) / to start to doing

Hi Cool Breeze and everyone, First, I would like to disclaim my ability to read Mr. Steinback’s mind. Second, beauty is in the eye of the beholder; thus, whatever I share below is just a pure figment of my imagination. When I first read the passage, the personification usage...

Re: evening (without preposition) / to start to doing

CalifJim wrote:since laughter is an uncountable noun, unlike evening.Unlike evening? Wow! In that sentence I understand evening as uncountable! (evening-ness?) Aren't all singular nouns in English uncountable when used without articles?I didn't make my point clearly enough. I said evening...

Re: evening (without preposition) / to start to doing

since laughter is an uncountable noun, unlike evening.Unlike evening? Wow! In that sentence I understand evening as uncountable! (evening-ness?) Aren't all singular nouns in English uncountable when used without articles? CJ

Re: evening (without preposition) / to start to doing

CalifJim wrote: Light from several lanterns filled the room with a soft glow. Laughter of children was heard on the playground. Hmm. Do these have to be The light ... and The laughter ... ? I certainly don't want to criticize Steinbeck's English at all. I dealt with the of-genitive in...

Re: are these sentences correct?

Hi BelieverThere is nothing exceptional in having two prepositions: He came from behind a tree. He came from under the table. If that weren't possible, how could the English say 'he came from behind a tree'?Some people use articles in some cases, some don't. I would also put the before western...