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#2 (permalink) Wed Jun 21, 2006 15:48 pm Should I omit the INDEFINITE ARTICLE to mean 'I was surprise |
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| You needn't omit it!Why?! |
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Pamela I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 1239 Location: Rf
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#3 (permalink) Wed Jun 21, 2006 15:48 pm Count/uncountable nouns |
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You need the indefinite article in this sentence, because 'cake' is a count noun. However, the article is omitted for uncountable nouns:
What (terrible) weather! What (excruciating) pain! What (wonderful) news! |
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Conchita Language Coach

Joined: 26 Dec 2005 Posts: 2826 Location: Madrid, Spain
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#4 (permalink) Wed Jun 21, 2006 15:59 pm Should I omit the INDEFINITE ARTICLE to mean 'I was surprise |
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Hello! Thanks for all your replies, but what about a name that can be countable or uncountable?
For instance, 'crime'.
Which one should I use?
What a crime! What crime!
Thanks a lot! |
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Jesus1 I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 192
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#5 (permalink) Wed Jun 21, 2006 16:08 pm Should I omit the INDEFINITE ARTICLE to mean 'I was surprise |
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| In that case, the article should or should not be used depending on the context. Use it if you refer to a particular crime or criminal act. Don't use it if crime or illegal activities in general are meant. Still, to me, the expression 'what crime' sounds a bit strange and I would probably express it differently. |
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Conchita Language Coach

Joined: 26 Dec 2005 Posts: 2826 Location: Madrid, Spain
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#6 (permalink) Wed Jun 21, 2006 21:24 pm Should I omit the INDEFINITE ARTICLE? |
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Hi Jesus
1- He killed his own daughter? What a heinous crime! 2- You mean to say I have committed a crime...what crime?
1- What a suitable conversation! 2- What conversation are you referring to right now?
I hope this helps a bit!
Tom |
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Tom I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 2071
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#7 (permalink) Wed Jun 21, 2006 22:39 pm Should I omit the INDEFINITE ARTICLE? |
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Thanks to everyone!
But, Tom, Is it necessary to use an adjective in your first sentence?. Can?t I just say:
'What a crime!'
Do I always need to use an adjective with countanble nouns in exclamations?
Thanks in advance! |
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Jesus1 I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 192
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#8 (permalink) Wed Jun 21, 2006 23:08 pm Should I omit the INDEFINITE ARTICLE? |
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Hi,
No, it is not necessary.
Tom |
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Tom I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 2071
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#9 (permalink) Sun May 23, 2010 16:36 pm Indefinite article with "what" |
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| Why do we use "a" with the word shame ?like "what a shame !".I read that we can with singular nouns,is the word "shame" a singular noun?as far as I know it's uncountable noun,so how come "a" is used with such uncountable nouns ?[/b][/s] |
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Linda.ch New Member
Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4
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#10 (permalink) Sun May 23, 2010 16:44 pm Should I omit the INDEFINITE ARTICLE? |
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'Shame' is not generally counted, but in some instances it is a countable noun. For example: "I felt two shames: one for hurting my friend, and a greater one for lying about it."
That said, the expression "a shame" is idiomatic and has its own separate meaning, which is often used in structures like "What a shame" or "It's a shame that..."
Another similar example might be "coffee". Coffee can be uncountable: a hot dark brown drink that has a slightly bitter taste (Longman Dictionary). But it can be countable and be used with an article too, and the meaning is different: a coffee = a cup of coffee. _________________ Cheers m' dears! |
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Beeesneees Language Coach

Joined: 08 Apr 2010 Posts: 4930 Location: UK
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#11 (permalink) Sun May 23, 2010 17:40 pm Should I omit the INDEFINITE ARTICLE? |
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I can imagine saying "What crime!"
If I just learn of an astonishing rash of crimes or am reacting to a distinct pattern of crime, I can say "What crime!" That doesn't sound funny to me. |
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Mordant Language Coach
Joined: 12 May 2010 Posts: 1530 Location: United States
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#12 (permalink) Sun May 23, 2010 20:08 pm Should I omit the INDEFINITE ARTICLE? |
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I'd think such uncountables as shame and the like become "countable" as they refer to particular events but not to the conceptions per se.
What a shame! = What a shameful event! but not = *What a shamefulness!
Thus, an uncountable takes a/an if an event/entity/etc is concerned: [+individual, -conceptional]. |
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Haihao I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Posts: 2419 Location: Japan
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#13 (permalink) Sun May 23, 2010 20:50 pm Should I omit the INDEFINITE ARTICLE? |
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1-What about "rubbish",do we say " what rubbish" because it can't be uncountable noun ?Also,I think I've read that "shame" can't have the "s" of the plural. 2-I think we use the article " a" if we have like this sentence : " what a silly mistake!",why we don't put "a" in this one " what dreadful weather !"? 3-How to differenciate between " how and what" ?Example: we don't say "what awful" but "how awful",could you shed some light on that ,please ? Many thanks |
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Linda.ch New Member
Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4
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#14 (permalink) Sun May 23, 2010 20:55 pm Should I omit the INDEFINITE ARTICLE? |
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| Wha about " mess",why do we say "what a mess" since "mess" can't be countable ? |
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Linda.ch New Member
Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4
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#15 (permalink) Sun May 23, 2010 20:56 pm Should I omit the INDEFINITE ARTICLE? |
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| Please,can you show me where I can ask a question which isn't asked before in the forum ?I just know how to reply. |
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Linda.ch New Member
Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4
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| will and before... | imminent |