Forum newsfeeds
Forum Newsfeeds


Sites for Teachers

Sites for Teachers


Go Back   UsingEnglish.com ESL Forum > Learning English > Ask a Teacher
Register FAQDonate Members List Mark Forums Read Tags

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 26-Nov-2004, 14:49
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,344
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
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.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 27-Nov-2004, 06:06
Casiopea's Avatar
VIP Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Country: Canada
Location: China
First Language: English
Posts: 12,998
Thanks: 0
Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts
Casiopea is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: Problem / Uncountable


The following are correct:

3. I have a weird computer problem.

6. I have some computer problem.

12. I have a stomach-ache.

Note, in 6. 'some' is synonumous with a considerable or a remarkable; e.g, I have a considerable or remarkable computer problem.

Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 27-Nov-2004, 10:25
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,344
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
jack
Default Re: Problem / Uncountable

Thanks.

1. I have (some) computer problem. (So I have to use an determiner here? Like 'some'?)

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/def...78738&dict=CALD
2. Some street don't look very clean. (Can I make ‘street’ uncountable? If not, why?)

What do these mean?
3. This one has networking ability. (This is correct right? What does it mean?)
4. This one has a networking ability. (This one only has ONE networking ability?)

5. She has killing ability.
6. She has a killing ability.

5. This one has ability. (Is this right? If not, why?)
6. This one has a ability.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 27-Nov-2004, 10:46
Casiopea's Avatar
VIP Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Country: Canada
Location: China
First Language: English
Posts: 12,998
Thanks: 0
Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts
Casiopea is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: Problem / Uncountable

This one has networking ability. (general networking ability)

This one has a networking ability. (an unspecified type/kind of networking ability)
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 27-Nov-2004, 11:29
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,344
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
jack
Default Re: Problem / Uncountable

Thanks.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
Reply
Tags: ,




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Language teaching problem Eway General Language Discussions 17 22-Feb-2007 10:15
what are "formatting problem, paragraphing problem, missing space,word form"? japanjapan Ask a Teacher 1 24-Nov-2004 07:24
Problem with posting a question jiang Support Area 6 10-Oct-2004 14:45
Guide to Countable and Uncountable Nouns Red5 General Language Discussions 0 15-Aug-2004 22:54
I have a problem aaa1000 Ask a Teacher 4 01-Apr-2004 19:42


All times are GMT. The time now is 06:27.



vBulletin, Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.1.0
Copyright © 2002 - 2008 UsingEnglish.com