mistakes with textbook?

[Anonymous]

I have some questions about count/noncount nouns! Here they are:

Why can't I say:

I get a little mail everyday?
Mail is a noncount noun and you can use little with noncount nouns so I'm confused!

Why can't I say 'I get too much mail everyday?'

Why can't I say-' I get a few letters everyday.' and 'I get too many letters everyday. I get several letters everyday and I get three letters everyday.

The book says these are all wrong. why?

 

[Tdol]

You can say 'I get a little mail every day', and 'too much'. If this in in your textbook,then it's a mistake. The same is true with 'letters'- you are right and the book is wrong. What's the book?;-)

 

[Casiopea]

First, are you certain the book isn't making reference to the adverb 'everyday'? It should be two words, every day. :wink:

Second, are you certain the book isn't making reference to meaning. That is, without the determiner 'a', little and few express 'not a lot', like this,

Non-count: I get little mail every day. (not a lot)
Count: I get few letters every day. (not a lot)

All the best,