[Grammar] "I read a book," "I read books" and "I read book."

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mamen

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1. I read a book.

2. I read books.

3. I read book.

I know that sentences (1) and (2) are grammatically correct.
In the third sentence, "a" was omitted. Is it also correct?
 

tedmc

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No. 3 is wrong without the article 'a' since book is countable.
You can say : I read fiction.

not a teacher
 

mamen

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Would this mean that in the sentence "I never saw action during the war," the word action is uncountable and it's the reason why there is no an or the?
And the word action in the sentences below is countable?
1. I never saw an/the action during the war.
2. I never saw actions during the war.

Thanks in advance.
 

Rover_KE

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1 and 2 are wrong. You need to say

'I never saw action during the war'.
 

Tdol

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Would this mean that in the sentence "I never saw action during the war," the word action is uncountable and it's the reason why there is no an or the?
And the word action in the sentences below is countable?
1. I never saw an/the action during the war.
2. I never saw actions during the war.

Thanks in advance.

Action, like many nouns, can be used both countably and uncountably. It is probably better to think of these as characteristics, rather than part of the nature of the noun. When you're talking about fighting in wars, we tend to use it uncountably, though if the conflict consisted of a single instance the action (=all) would work. In many other contexts, we use it countably.
 

mamen

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Action, like many nouns, can be used both countably and uncountably. It is probably better to think of these as characteristics, rather than part of the nature of the noun. When you're talking about fighting in wars, we tend to use it uncountably, though if the conflict consisted of a single instance the action (=all) would work. In many other contexts, we use it countably.

Does this mean that in the sentence "Regular verbs take the -d or -ed ending to express action in the past" the word action is uncountable since we didn't use an or the in the given sentence?

Thanks in advance.
 
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