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Old 26-Nov-2004, 14:49
jack jack is offline
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jack
Default Problem / Uncountable

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=63066&dict=CALD
The dictionary says 'problem' is countable not both. But can I make it uncountable?

Are these correct? If not, why?
1. I have computer problem. (Can 'problem' be uncountable here or do I need an uncountable determiner? Like this:
2. I have some computer problem. (Why do I need to have 'some' here? There's no way this sentence is correct without it?)

3. I have a weird computer problem.

4. I have weird computer problem.

http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=...nG=Search&meta=
5. I have computer problem. (If this is incorrect, why? Google has 73,000 results!)
6. I have some computer problem.

7. I have problem. (Is this correct? Can I make 'problem' uncountable like that? If not, why? If I could, that would not be grammatical right?)
8. I have some problem.

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/defi...8738&dict=CALD
9. Some street don't look very clean. (Can I make ‘street’ uncountable? If not, why?)


11. I have stomach ache. (Is this incorrect? Why? I can't make 'ache' uncountable?)
12. I have a stomach ache. (Why do I need 'a' here?)


Last edited by jack; 26-Nov-2004 at 15:12.
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