Difference between news and information

[revazchik]

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #70 "Chit Chat: In the train", question 3

Mrs Ashton: Well, that's good ..........

(a) information
(b) knowledge
(c) knowing
(d) news

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #70 "Chit Chat: In the train", answer 3

Mrs Ashton: Well, that's good news.

Correct answer: (d) news

Your answer was: incorrect
Mrs Ashton: Well, that's good information.
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what is the difference between news and informarion?

revazchik

[Alan]

Hi revazchik,

News is an account about what has recently happened as in a news programme on the tv or radio telling you what has happened in the world.

Information describes facts and details about a certain subject. When you go to a large store and you want to know where you can buy something, you go to the information desk to find out.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Your Choice

[Conchita]

Uncountable nouns are another small hurdle for English beginner sudents. Common mistakes are: ‘I would like an information’, ‘I heard a news’ or ‘we bought a furniture’, as they would say in their language.

This typical feature of English seems a bit strange at first and it may take some time to remember to use ‘a piece of’ when meaning just one article:

a piece of luggage/advice/furniture/information/news/clothing/writing/chalk/paper/work, etc.