Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

Unek · Joined: 01 Mar 2007 Posts: 8

Hello,

Do I need an article here? Which is correct?

a) Thanks to science we have a greater knowledge of these parts of the world.

b) Thanks to science we have greater knowledge of these parts of the world.

Thank you very much Smile

2006 · Joined: 27 Nov 2006 Posts: 610

You don't need the article 'a'; infact, it is correct without the 'a' because "knowledge" is noncountable.

However, I think that some native speakers do say "a greater knowledge", maybe because "a" is often used with "greater". Examples are, 'a greater accomplishment' and 'a greater disappointment'. Of course the latter two nouns are countable. Again, I would not say "a greater knowledge".

Because "greater" in your sentences means 'more', I think the best sentence is, 'Thanks to science, we have more knowledge of these parts of the world.