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

[Li Chyan]

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

[Milanya]

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.

[Alan]

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

[Li Chyan]

Thank you both a lot!

[Infin1ty]

Dear Alan,

[Alan]

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

[Infin1ty]

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.

[Miss Yume]

LOL

[Infin1ty]

Hello, Miss. What's so funny?
_________________
Please feel free to correct me if you find any mistakes in my posts.

[Miss Yume]

hi
not fine <<<<<<<

[Alan]

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

[Infin1ty]

Thanks again, Alan.
_________________
Please feel free to correct me if you find any mistakes in my posts.

[Miss Yume]

l am so sorry