|
|
 #2 (permalink) Mon Jun 05, 2006 7:12 am Countable vs. uncountable nouns |
|
|
Hi,
In this test you do two things: find the error and then replace it with the correct word.
Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple |
|
Alan
Co-founder
Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 13887
Location: UK
|
|
| #3 (permalink) Thu Aug 14, 2008 21:58 pm Countable vs. uncountable nouns |
|
|
Is it wrong to say "certain about the facts" ?
Why is the correct answer "of"? |
|
Tuga
New Member
Joined: 25 Jun 2008
Posts: 2
Location: Brazil
|
 |
| #4 (permalink) Fri Aug 15, 2008 4:24 am Countable vs. uncountable nouns |
|
|
.
'Certain of' and 'certain about' are both right, Tuga, but we must choose only one for the answer template. The writer may have flipped a coin to choose.
.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's |
|
 Mister Micawber
Language Coach
Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 13015
|
|
| #5 (permalink) Fri Aug 15, 2008 6:55 am Countable vs. uncountable nouns |
|
|
Probably a bit more scientific than this, I should have thought!
| Quote: |
| The writer may have flipped a coin to choose. |
Alan
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms |
|
Alan
Co-founder
Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 13887
Location: UK
|
|
| #6 (permalink) Fri Aug 15, 2008 12:19 pm Countable vs. uncountable nouns |
|
|
What's the reason then, Alan?
Your comment suggests that you disagree that 'about' could have easily been used instead of 'on' in the test sentence.
.
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln |
|
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8316
Location: USA
|
|
| #7 (permalink) Fri Aug 15, 2008 13:07 pm Countable vs. uncountable nouns |
|
|
When you write a test with multiple choice to find the error, there is always a 'correct' answer in mind so that the mechanics of the system can work. There is however the risk that there could be other possible 'correct' answers. The point is that 'for' is wrong and in the answer 'of' was offered as a correct answer. I assume you meant 'of' here:
| Quote: |
| instead of 'on' in the test sentence |
. But my comment was not about choosing 'about' but a reaction to a remark made by Charles and I should have thought that was obvious. To explain further I chose 'totally certain of' as I felt that 'of' was more appropriate and my feeling is that 'about' doesn't convey the preciseness of 'of' after totally certain.
Alan
.
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Passive Voice |
|
Alan
Co-founder
Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 13887
Location: UK
|
|
| #8 (permalink) Fri Jun 18, 2010 11:03 am Countable vs. uncountable nouns |
|
|
Agh I am still confused as to why for was incorrect.
However I made a change to the sentence like this: I'm not totally certain for the facts that many ambulances were called but from what I have heard, it seems that there were several people injured.
Despite its relevancy as a whole sentence, is it correct to use 'for' in the sentence above? |
|
Kai Felrose
I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 14 Apr 2010
Posts: 16
|
|
| #9 (permalink) Fri Jun 18, 2010 13:03 pm Countable vs. uncountable nouns |
|
|
No, you cannot use 'for'. 'Certain for' simply does not work in English. Each English adjective works with one or more different prepositions and often different consequent meanings-- or no prepositions at all. There are no rules; you must learn these collocations individually.
Certain of/about
Afraid of/for
Happy for/about
angry about/at
etc.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's |
|
Mister Micawber
Language Coach
Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 13015
|
|
|
| Why smells and not is smelling? | this 17-year-old son vs his 17-year-old son |
