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

Re: Why the past perfect?

Believer — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 12:01:06 GMT

CalifJim wrote:
1. <<the people of France sided with Sarkozy. That's because the French, who until now had used violent protests to counter government-led labor reforms, felt a heightened sense of crisis regarding the future of their country>>
Past point of view: ... the people ... sided with Sarkozy ... because the French ... felt a ... sense of crisis ...
Something that happened before the siding with Sarkozy and before the French felt a sense of crisis: The French had used violent protests. [Do not take 'now' literally; 'until now' means 'until this point in the narrative'.]

2. << a New York Times-CBS-MTV survey>> New York Times (together with CBS and MTV) is being used as an adjective to tell us what kind of survey was conducted. The article has to apply to the noun survey. It is a survey conducted by The New York Times, CBS, and MTV. The pattern of two articles in a row is not used in English. You can't have a The New York Times survey, for example.   The second article is always dropped in these cases. Even if you see the phrase the New York Times survey, the The in The New York Times is dropped. the goes with survey, not with New York Times, because you can't have the The New York Times survey.

Thank you.With my previous compliment still standing, I have this question. I thought about starting a new thread but since I am not that good at quoting, I have decided to attach it to this one. I am going to use both an uncountable noun and a countable noun in an adjectival way. I hope you would be able to help me.

The roach-infested environment (roach being countable)

The greed-infested mind (greed being uncountable)

Are these a case in point for your statement (??)that said "The pattern of two articles in a row is not used in English"?

3. <<we're centrist. ... <>Why ~~the word 'centrist' does~~ does the word 'centrist' not have an article? >>It's an adjective. We're tired. We're happy. We're centrist. (centrist: having political beliefs that are not particularly rightist or leftist.)

CJ

Re: Any new/s???

CalifJim — Mon, 21 May 2007 05:46:35 GMT

I was merely quoting from my dictionary. It said that news is plural in form but always used as a singular.

As Maple points out, another way of stating it is to say it's an uncountable noun. In any case, no matter what you call it, it must be used only with an s: news. Not a new. And whenever it must agree with other sentence elements, these must be singular. The news is good. Not The news are good. Not The new is good.

CJ

Re: pile of ash / ashes

Yoong Liat — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 10:18:54 GMT

Believer wrote:

Hi, Yoong Liat

I was looking at my Collins Cobuild Advanced Learner's English Dictionary for the word 'ash' and it had a notation among other notations something like this. Can you tell me if that tells anything about its countability. I am confused about the "also N in pl" part. What does that mean?

I'm quoting from the same dictionary.

Ash (uncountable noun) is (singular verb) the grey or black powdery substance that is left after something is burnt. You can also refer to it as ashes. (plural noun)

He brushes the cigarette ash (uncountable noun) from his sleeves.

A dead man's ashes (plural noun) are (plural verb) their remains after their body has been burnt.

So whether the word is uncountable or plural depends on which word you use: 'ash' (uncountable), 'ashes' (plural).

I hope you are no longer confused.

Best regards

Re: uncountables being countables

Believer — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 22:59:44 GMT

Thank you.

I see those words 'rain' and 'works' appear quite a lot in their countable forms but rarely I see the other majority?? of uncountable nouns appear as countable nouns so readily and accepted with open understanding.

For example, I think, you will rarely or, in that matter, may never see the words like "nervousness" or "loveliness" appearing in countable forms, although, I think Apersic said (alluded??) something to the effect it could be done.

Why is that?

Is that something to do with the notion that was propounded by Mr. M pretty long ago that kind of went like this: (I believe I am quoting exactly as Mr. M noted in his response to my query.)

1 -- Most nouns have the potential of being both countable and uncountable.

2 -- However this option is not equally viable for all nouns; in many instances, it requires a vey specific situation for this to happen Most nouns, as you know from dictionary, are primary one or the other.

4 -- The writer/speaker makes of course makes the choice, but it is not a free option if he wishes to communicate effectively.

Mr. M went on to say that, i think, this exercise must resonate with the reader/listener.

Is Mr. M is saying most nouns in the world of the English language have the potential of being both countable and uncountable; thus, how the words are noted as in the dictionary is relative?

OK, if anyone makes the words like "boy" or "girl" to refer to its quality, can it resonate with the reader?

I think Aperisic said pretty far ago that the word "ball" can mean the gadget used to play games and on the other hand, the experience of playing games with a ball. OK, but the experience of playing games with a ball isn't exactly talking about the ball's quality, is it?

I am somewhat confused. Please help.