Questions about indefinite articles before uncountable nouns

Asked May 30 '18 at 20:40

Active Jun 01 '18 at 13:16

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I know that you're not usually supposed to use articles before uncountable nouns but that there are sometimes exceptions to this rule. I'm a bit stumped by when the exception applies and when it doesn't. So I was wondering if someone could tell me which is correct in these two situations:

Revenge, for example:

"Is this really (a) revenge orchestrated by those people?"

Income, for example:

"So, if we get (a) stable income and our organization grows larger..."

edited Jun 01 '18 at 13:16

JJJ

7,148

asked May 30 '18 at 20:40

Jinzal

1

They are both being used as count nouns. – Arm the good guys in America May 30 '18 at 21:22
@user No they're not. The only reasonable definition of a count noun usage avoids whether or not a definite article may be used. You can't have 'Are these really a couple of revenges orchestrated by those people?' They are, however, probably best considered as partial countifications. – Edwin Ashworth May 30 '18 at 21:32
Answered for general examples at A blinding light / blinding sunlight / a blinding sunlight – Edwin Ashworth May 30 '18 at 21:33
I don't think there's a problem with articles if they're plural articles. "the water" is fine, as is "some water". – Acccumulation May 30 '18 at 21:59

Questions about indefinite articles before uncountable nouns

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