Should I omit the INDEFINITE ARTICLE?

[Jesus1]

Hi, how are you? Thanks in advance!

E.X What a cake!

My questions:

1.- Should I omit the indefinite
article to mean 'I was surprised by the
cake they gave me as a present?in this exclamation?

2.- Must I always omit the indefinite article
in exclamations like that?

Thanks a lot!

[Pamela]

You needn't omit it!Why?!

[Conchita]

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!

[Jesus1]

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!

[Conchita]

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.

[Tom]

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

[Jesus1]

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!

[Tom]

Hi,

No, it is not necessary.

Tom

[Linda.ch]

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]

[Beeesneees]

'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!

[Mordant]

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.

[Haihao]

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].

[Linda.ch]

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

[Linda.ch]

Wha about " mess",why do we say "what a mess" since "mess" can't be countable ?

[Linda.ch]

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.