Search results for 'tag:Countable nouns' matching tag 'Countable nouns'

Re: less/more/much (of) plus noun

Anonymous — Fri, 16 May 2008 05:44:39 GMT

Thank you. I am going to give you give this response from Clive from a thread named "article sentence analyses'.

Hi,

From the article:

"We leave issues like spiritual discipline in the hands of the churches, so there's less of a need (or you could say 'less need') for us to handle these issues," Calvin spokesman Phil de Haan said.

I was more concerned whether or not I could use 'more a need' or 'less a need'? Are these possible?

Why do they have to be 'more need' or 'less need'? Here, need is being used as an uncountable noun.

Yes, I will accept these as set phrases: 'less of a need' and 'more of a need'; but how about these -- 'more a need' and 'less a need'? Are they good? Yes, but not in the above context. You'd need to say something like 'Sex is more a need than a choice'.

Best wishes again, Clive

Compare his response with the following part of your previous response:

The stream is less (of) a river than a creek. = less like a river than like a creek

The storm was more (of) a hurricane than a tornado. = more like a hurricane than like a tornado

-- What were you eating? Was that a stew? -- No. I'd say it was more of a soup

I think you used parentheses to indicate they are optional but as you can see from the last part of Clive's response, the word 'of' takes up specal importance in some sentences, wouldn't you say?? Why is that??

less/more/much (of) plus noun

Anonymous — Fri, 16 May 2008 01:31:13 GMT

Hi,

Can you help me to use the following types of phrases correctly? I have hard time seeing the differences contextually.

borrowed phrases "less a need/less need' from a post in this forum:

less a need/clown/any countable noun?? vs. less of a need/clown/any countable noun?? vs. less need/suitable uncountable nouns??

more a need/clown/any countable noun?? vs. more of a need/clown/any countable noun?? vs. more need/suitable uncountable nouns??

much need/suitable uncountable nouns?? vs. much of need/suitable uncountable nouns??

Re: article sentence analyses

Clive — Thu, 15 May 2008 12:25:21 GMT

Hi,

From the article:

I was more concerned whether or not I could use 'more a need' or 'less a need'? Are these possible?

Why do they have to be 'more need' or 'less need'? Here, need is being used as an uncountable noun.

Best wishes again, Clive

Best wishes, Clive

Experience

Anonymous — Wed, 14 May 2008 15:48:26 GMT

This is Rotter again. I can't log in to the forum. I tried in vain to log in using my username and the password. It accepts log in details. What is the problem?

........................................................................................................................................................................

1. Do you have any experience of working with data security?

In the above the word experience is an uncountable noun. For some reason, in English, when you learn something by studying or working it is not countable.

2. I have good/some experience of working with data security.

3. I have good/some experiences of working with data security.

How about my second and third sentences? Are both fine?

Re: noun

CalifJim — Wed, 14 May 2008 07:42:57 GMT

Anonymous
I learned that we could use the word 'different' with an uncountable noun

Think of these as exceptions. different is used far more often with countable nouns. If you do have a case where both the countable and the uncountable form of a noun can occur with different, the definition of the noun will be slightly different for each of the two usages.

The rat exhibits different behavior each time it runs through the maze.

(What the rat does each time is different. There is nothing specified about what the rat does on any given occasion.)

The rat exhibits a different behavior each time it runs through the maze.

(The specific behavior, possibly listed in a repertory of behaviors used by the researchers, is a different behavior each time. The rat scratched his head one time; it turned in a circle another time; and so on.)

Anonymous
went shopping together ... bought another brand. ... [couldn't find] the soap we bought yesterday

You've already said it in your set-up. Say this:

Where is the soap we bought yesterday?

__________

Or did you buy several bars of soap and you want to ask about one bar of soap? In that case say this:

Where is one of those bars of soap we bought yesterday?

Re: noun

Clive — Wed, 14 May 2008 04:43:31 GMT

Hi,

1. I learned that we could use the word 'different' with an uncountable noun like 'different grammar'. Then, it is also known to me that we can't use the word 'several' with an uncountable noun. Going back to the word 'different', how possibly one's perception of the situation be different for the situation outlined with a variable noun, a noun that be both countable and uncontable.

We held different discussion on the topic and couldn't reach agreement. Don't say this.

We held different discussions on the topic and couldn't reach agreement. Say it this way.

2. Yesterday, I and my roommate went shopping together to buy soap and found there are a lot of varieties/brands of soap in stock at the market, After looking at the choices, we forewent with our ususal brand of soap and bought another brand.

I am at home and trying to wash my hands and found there isn't the soap we bought yesterday; and I told to my roommate this.

1. Hi, where is a soap we bought yesterday? I want to use it. -- Does this sound OK ? No.

OR does it have to be this?

2. Hi, where is another brand of soap we bought yesterday. I want to use it. No. Say it this way.

Hi, where is the other brand of soap we bought yesterday? I want to use it.

or more concisely,say

Hi, where is the other soap we bought yesterday?

Best wishes, Clive

Re: noun

Mister Micawber — Wed, 14 May 2008 04:41:12 GMT

1. I learned that we could use the word 'different' with an uncountable noun like 'different grammar' -- Right
Then, it is also known to me that we can't use the word 'several' with an uncountable noun.-- Right

We held different discussion on the topic and couldn't reach agreement. -- No, the grammar is not good-- by using 'hold' and 'different' here, you have made 'discussion' countable.
We held different discussions on the topic and couldn't reach agreement. -- OK

2. Yesterday, I and my roommate went shopping together to buy soap and found there are a lot of varieties/brands of soap in stock at the market, After looking at the choices, we forewent our usual brand of soap and bought another brand.

1. Hi, where is a soap we bought yesterday? I want to use it. -- Does this sound OK ? -- No; you only bought one kind yesterday: 'the soap'
2. Hi, where is another brand of soap we bought yesterday. I want to use it. -- No; you only bought one kind yesterday: 'the other brand of soap'

noun

Anonymous — Wed, 14 May 2008 04:22:42 GMT

Hi, I have two questions

We held different discussion on the topic and couldn't reach agreement.

We held different discussions on the topic and couldn't reach agreement.

I am at home and trying to wash my hands and found there isn't the soap we bought yesterday; and I told to my roommate this.

1. Hi, where is a soap we bought yesterday? I want to use it. -- Does this sound OK ?

OR does it have to be this?

2. Hi, where is another brand of soap we bought yesterday. I want to use it.

Re: the action of obligating oneself to a course of action

Jackson6612 — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:45:03 GMT

Okay, I get it now. Avangi, May I ask you another question? Why is it an uncountable noun?

What does a bond world be a security mean?

A large quantity of food/clothes/provisions

Angliholic — Mon, 12 May 2008 05:19:26 GMT

A large quantity of food/clothes/provisions was sent to the disaster areas.

Hi,

Do all of the bolded words be preceded by "a large quantity of?" Namely, can "a large quantity of " be followed by countable and uncountable nouns alike? Thanks.