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Originally Posted by Eway Is "duty" countable?
Should I say "pay duty" or "pay a duty"? |
Pay duty.
Pay duty charges.
Pay a duty charge.
Pay the duty charge.
Pay the duty charges.
The noun 'charge(s)' is often omitted (...), and in that particular context, 'duty' functions as an adjective, so it's neither count or non-count.
Pay a duty means, pay a non-specific duty, one that hasn't been mentioned by the speaker, whereas
Pay the duty means, pay a specific duty, one that the speaker and the listener know about.