Conversation started Jul 21, 2015 at 7:36.
Damkerng T.
Damkerng T.
Jul 21, 2015 07:36
0
Q: Articles before -ing nouns

Bebop B.I wonder if there's any rule behind using articles, both definite and indefinite, before "-ing" nouns, i.e. drinking, killing, upbringing and so on. I feel like most of them can go both ways; I wouldn't mind saying: My friend says that his parents didn't manage to give him a proper upbringin...

articles nouns
Should be similar to other countable-uncountable nouns.
But when is a noun countable, and when is it not?
Perhaps it's related to the concept of abstract nouns.
Maybe we can (alway?) rephrase the abstracted version of noun with "the idea of X", "the thought of X", "the concept of X", "the act of X", and such.
While "the X" is an instance of its instantiation.
> Reading is good for you. = The act of reading is good for you.
> The well reading of the common-prayer is of great importance, ... (an instantiation of a specific kind of reading)
 
Conversation ended Jul 21, 2015 at 7:43.