Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
to train; to accustom; to adapt; to stipulate; to prepare
condition
vacillate
plate
fulfill
full quiz correct answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   Album   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

"such awful food" vs. "such a awful food"



 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
difference between 'almost all' and 'most of' | Do you know the idiom "white girl"?
listening exercisestell a friend
Message
Author
"such awful food" vs. "such a awful food" #1 (permalink) Wed May 02, 2007 12:29 pm   "such awful food" vs. "such a awful food"
 

Hello everybody!

Could you clarify to me why in following sentence we should use "such" instead of "such a" ...

"The food at the hotel was so awful. I've never eaten such awful food."

kind regards,
Zajac!
Zajac
I'm new here and I like it ;-)


Joined: 28 Apr 2007
Posts: 19

"such awful food" vs. "such a awful food" #2 (permalink) Wed May 02, 2007 12:38 pm   "such awful food" vs. "such a awful food"
 

.
'Food' here is uncountable, so no 'a'.
.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's
Mister Micawber
Language Coach


Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 13015

How do you use the English Prepositions correctly?English grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!How many different ways with words do you know? Subscribe to free email English course
"such awful food" vs. "such a awful food" #3 (permalink) Wed May 02, 2007 12:38 pm   "such awful food" vs. "such a awful food"
 

Food is uncountable here, Zajac

Edit: MM, you proved to be the fastest. :wink:
Pamela
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Posts: 1271
Location: RF

"such awful food" vs. "such a awful food" #4 (permalink) Wed May 02, 2007 12:41 pm   "such awful food" vs. "such a awful food"
 

'Food' doesn't take an indefinite article in your sentence because the noun is uncountable here.

Edit: Oops! Well, better three than none.
Conchita
Language Coach


Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 2826
Location: Madrid, Spain

"such awful food" vs. "such a awful food" #5 (permalink) Wed May 02, 2007 13:04 pm   "such awful food" vs. "such a awful food"
 

thanks!

I should remember about that!

Zajac
Zajac
I'm new here and I like it ;-)


Joined: 28 Apr 2007
Posts: 19

"such awful food" vs. "such a awful food" #6 (permalink) Wed May 23, 2007 7:37 am   "such awful food" vs. "such a awful food"
 

Even if the noun is countable , we cannot say "such a awful...." because the adjective begins with a vowel .
Sultano
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 29 Jan 2006
Posts: 191

"such awful food" vs. "such a awful food" #7 (permalink) Wed May 23, 2007 8:30 am   "such awful food" vs. "such a awful food"
 

.
'More haste, less speed'. Thanks, Sultano.
.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's
Mister Micawber
Language Coach


Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 13015

"such awful food" vs. "such a awful food" #8 (permalink) Wed May 23, 2007 9:33 am   "such awful food" vs. "such a awful food"
 

Mister Micawber wrote:
.
'More haste, less speed'.
.


This might be off-topic, but I find it interesting to compare this saying with its French and Spanish equivalents, which are, respectively:

- Hurry up slowly.

- Dress me slowly, I'm in a hurry.
Conchita
Language Coach


Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 2826
Location: Madrid, Spain

Display posts from previous:   
difference between 'almost all' and 'most of' | Do you know the idiom "white girl"?
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on ESL EFL Forums
need help with subjunctive format vs fortwo or more than two?how to understand 'that' for the paragraph?How is the word "recommend" used?Could you throw the the light on ADVERBS?done substitutes have?instructions above vs above instructionscountable vs. uncountablePhrase: one of thosePractice English Practice QuestionsExpression: sagged backPlural forms: Potatoes are vegetables and cherries are fruits

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Subscribe to FREE email English course
First name E-mail