Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
of general expenses; general
profitable
audio
overhead
relevant
full quiz correct answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   Album   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

'a heavy traffic' vs 'heavy traffic' vs 'some heavy traffic'


Goto page Previous  1, 2
 
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
Sentence: Communication is a skill much like swiming | "I'm going to kip" means that 'I'm going to sleep'. right?
listening exercisestell a friend
Message
Author
'a heavy traffic' vs 'heavy traffic' vs 'some heavy traffic' #16 (permalink) Sat Mar 14, 2009 19:58 pm   'a heavy traffic' vs 'heavy traffic' vs 'some heavy traffic'
 

Sorry for my "intrusion" :)
Thanks everybody for such informative answers, and yet I have another question to Milanya. You stated that "uncountable nouns never take the indefinite article (a or an), but they do take singular verbs". However, are there exceptional situations when uncountable nouns take the indefinite article? For instance, "the theater performance was a success". Isn't the noun "success" uncountable? Then why does it take the indefinite article (a)? I do feel that such a sentence sounds grammatically correct, however I'm still confused. Would you be so kind to shed light upon my "problem"?
Thanks in advance
Li Chyan
You can meet me at english-test.net


Joined: 10 Mar 2009
Posts: 57

'a heavy traffic' vs 'heavy traffic' vs 'some heavy traffic' #17 (permalink) Sat Mar 14, 2009 20:31 pm   'a heavy traffic' vs 'heavy traffic' vs 'some heavy traffic'
 

Isn't the noun "success" uncountable?

No, it is not. At least, not in this context.
The first performance was a success, but the next one was not. The theater had one success and one failure.
If you can put a number before a noun, it is a countable noun.
_________________
con·text - The part of a text or statement that surrounds a particular word or passage and determines its meaning.
Milanya
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 29 Dec 2008
Posts: 923
Location: Texas, USA (at present)

Learn to use the present simple with the help of this short storyEnglish grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!Here is how you can learn English the fun way! Click to subscribe to free email English course
'a heavy traffic' vs 'heavy traffic' vs 'some heavy traffic' #18 (permalink) Sat Mar 14, 2009 21:47 pm   'a heavy traffic' vs 'heavy traffic' vs 'some heavy traffic'
 

Hi Ly Chyan,

There are some nouns that can be both countable and uncountable. 'Success' is one of those words. Look at these two sentences:

1 She wanted to complete her objective and she did this when she passed all her exams and to her this meant success. (In that sentence the word is uncountable)

2 The play attracted immediate support and filled the theatre every night. The critics claimed it was a success. (In that sentence the word is countable.)

Take another word - 'failure'.

1 You have to accept failure at one stage in your life. (Here the word is uncountable.)

2 He failed all his exams and he regarded himself as a failure. (Here the word is countable.)

I hope that helps.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple
Alan
Co-founder
Alan Townend

Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 13894
Location: UK

'a heavy traffic' vs 'heavy traffic' vs 'some heavy traffic' #19 (permalink) Sat Mar 14, 2009 21:50 pm   'a heavy traffic' vs 'heavy traffic' vs 'some heavy traffic'
 

Thank you both a lot!
Li Chyan
You can meet me at english-test.net


Joined: 10 Mar 2009
Posts: 57

'a heavy traffic' vs 'heavy traffic' vs 'some heavy traffic' #20 (permalink) Sun Mar 15, 2009 11:48 am   'a heavy traffic' vs 'heavy traffic' vs 'some heavy traffic'
 

Dear Alan,

Alan wrote:
There are some nouns that can be both countable and uncountable. 'Success' is one of those words.
Alan


I think your explanation perfectly explains to me (Is it possible for me to say something explains to me?) why 'make a success' makes sense, which has confused me for a long time. I used to think that 'a' should not be used before 'success' for 'success' is a abstract noun. Thank you. :)
_________________
Please feel free to correct me if you find any mistakes in my posts.
Infin1ty
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 598
Location: Beijing, China

'a heavy traffic' vs 'heavy traffic' vs 'some heavy traffic' #21 (permalink) Sun Mar 15, 2009 14:27 pm   'a heavy traffic' vs 'heavy traffic' vs 'some heavy traffic'
 

Hi Infinity,

Perhaps you could say: I think your explanation explains it perfectly for me. But that is a bit repetitive and it would be better to say: I think your explanation makes it perfectly clear to me.

Either way I'm pleased it did!

Alan
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms
Alan
Co-founder
Alan Townend

Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 13894
Location: UK

'a heavy traffic' vs 'heavy traffic' vs 'some heavy traffic' #22 (permalink) Sun Mar 15, 2009 15:00 pm   'a heavy traffic' vs 'heavy traffic' vs 'some heavy traffic'
 

Thanks again, Alan. Could you please also tell me what the difference is between 'explain to' and 'explain for'? Does 'explain to' sound a bit unfriendly and much like an order? Thanks.
_________________
Please feel free to correct me if you find any mistakes in my posts.
Infin1ty
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 598
Location: Beijing, China

'a heavy traffic' vs 'heavy traffic' vs 'some heavy traffic' #23 (permalink) Sun Mar 15, 2009 17:11 pm   'a heavy traffic' vs 'heavy traffic' vs 'some heavy traffic'
 

LOL
Miss Yume
New Member


Joined: 13 Mar 2009
Posts: 5

'a heavy traffic' vs 'heavy traffic' vs 'some heavy traffic' #24 (permalink) Sun Mar 15, 2009 17:15 pm   'a heavy traffic' vs 'heavy traffic' vs 'some heavy traffic'
 

Hello, Miss. What's so funny?
_________________
Please feel free to correct me if you find any mistakes in my posts.
Infin1ty
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 598
Location: Beijing, China

'a heavy traffic' vs 'heavy traffic' vs 'some heavy traffic' #25 (permalink) Sun Mar 15, 2009 17:22 pm   'a heavy traffic' vs 'heavy traffic' vs 'some heavy traffic'
 

hi
not fine <<<<<<<
Miss Yume
New Member


Joined: 13 Mar 2009
Posts: 5

'a heavy traffic' vs 'heavy traffic' vs 'some heavy traffic' #26 (permalink) Sun Mar 15, 2009 17:30 pm   'a heavy traffic' vs 'heavy traffic' vs 'some heavy traffic'
 

Hi Infinity,

The difference remains the same as usual with 'for' and 'to'. 'For' suggests on my behalf and 'to' is indirect.

If you do something to someone, that means someone receives it as in: The boxers fought hard and A did a lot of injury to B.

If you do something for someone, it is for someone's benefit as in: I wrote out the answers for you.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Passive Voice
Alan
Co-founder
Alan Townend

Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 13894
Location: UK

'a heavy traffic' vs 'heavy traffic' vs 'some heavy traffic' #27 (permalink) Sun Mar 15, 2009 17:34 pm   'a heavy traffic' vs 'heavy traffic' vs 'some heavy traffic'
 

Thanks again, Alan.
_________________
Please feel free to correct me if you find any mistakes in my posts.
Infin1ty
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 598
Location: Beijing, China

'a heavy traffic' vs 'heavy traffic' vs 'some heavy traffic' #28 (permalink) Sun Mar 15, 2009 19:05 pm   'a heavy traffic' vs 'heavy traffic' vs 'some heavy traffic'
 

l am so sorry
Miss Yume
New Member


Joined: 13 Mar 2009
Posts: 5

Display posts from previous:   
Sentence: Communication is a skill much like swiming | "I'm going to kip" means that 'I'm going to sleep'. right?
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Goto page Previous  1, 2
Page 2 of 2
Latest topics on ESL EFL Forums
Everyone vs all (Everyone is doing that)axe or hatchet?Prepositions: Really good technique of making amends in certain areas of languageHow to use these words: the loo, wc (water closet), toilet?Verb: to have/having something"unconvenient" or "inconvenient"? Rules for 'un-'blossom into vs bloom into vs grow intoSentence: If the price you are being asked to pay for...Fume vs angry vs offend vs whirl vs squeakIts vs Their: Jury made its decision. vs Jury were divided in their opinion.Sentence: Tomorrow I'll take paper of English subject and Arabic on the day...Way to write in good structure or following any part of English grammarAccording to vs with respect to vs referring to vs duo to vs regarding

 
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