jaypark8383
Member
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2011
- Member Type
- Student or Learner
- Native Language
- Korean
- Home Country
- South Korea
- Current Location
- United States
Hello everybody,
As well all know, we normally do not put articles, especially 'a' and' an before abstract nouns.
However, that's not always the case. Take "a gross invasion of privacy" for example. I remember, a long time ago, someone telling me that I am supposed to put "a or an" whenever abstract nouns are preceded by adjective words. But that's not always true. What really baffles me is that there are cases where we don't use a/an before 'adjective+abstract noun'. Why is that?
Does it solely depend on whether abstract nouns can be countable as well? If so, how do tell when abstract nouns are countable?
As well all know, we normally do not put articles, especially 'a' and' an before abstract nouns.
However, that's not always the case. Take "a gross invasion of privacy" for example. I remember, a long time ago, someone telling me that I am supposed to put "a or an" whenever abstract nouns are preceded by adjective words. But that's not always true. What really baffles me is that there are cases where we don't use a/an before 'adjective+abstract noun'. Why is that?
Does it solely depend on whether abstract nouns can be countable as well? If so, how do tell when abstract nouns are countable?