Hi
Do you use the expression "It's a nonsense!", or similar?
Is "nonsense" only uncountable in your variant of English?
Is "nonsense" a noun or an adjective in the above?
How do you see it?
"a nonsense"
Moderators: Dimitris, maneki neko2, Lorikeet, Enrico Palazzo, superpeach, cecil2, Mr. Kalgukshi2
*That's a nonsense would be out in my English. However, the phrase make a nonsense of is pretty common. Do the following seem odd to you?
"Pain, sickness, cruelty, above all death itself, seem to make a nonsense of life."
http://homepages.which.net/~radical.fai ... ateway.htm
"It would make a nonsense of the law to compensate a career criminal like Fearon and would set a terrible precedent"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/2988830.stm
"Both Sarah and I are determined not to make a nonsense of it again" - Prince Andrew on his relationship with Sarah Ferguson.
"Pain, sickness, cruelty, above all death itself, seem to make a nonsense of life."
http://homepages.which.net/~radical.fai ... ateway.htm
"It would make a nonsense of the law to compensate a career criminal like Fearon and would set a terrible precedent"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/2988830.stm
"Both Sarah and I are determined not to make a nonsense of it again" - Prince Andrew on his relationship with Sarah Ferguson.
With lorikeet
Hey!
I'm with Lorikeet, though I understand the "a nonsense" usage in the examples offered. I'd still say, myself, "That's nonsense" or maybe simply a bludgening "Nonsense!"
Just yesterday saw P Ustinov in "Evil under the sun" and off the top of my head I recall different characters using these other "nonsense" words: "balderdash", "poppycock" and "twaddle". I'd consider these three as non-count nouns, while nonsense seems more an adjective to me, though in lol's examples it is clearly being used as a noun.
peace,
revel.
I'm with Lorikeet, though I understand the "a nonsense" usage in the examples offered. I'd still say, myself, "That's nonsense" or maybe simply a bludgening "Nonsense!"
Just yesterday saw P Ustinov in "Evil under the sun" and off the top of my head I recall different characters using these other "nonsense" words: "balderdash", "poppycock" and "twaddle". I'd consider these three as non-count nouns, while nonsense seems more an adjective to me, though in lol's examples it is clearly being used as a noun.
peace,
revel.
Re: With lorikeet
What makes you feel that "balderdash," "poppycock" and "twaddle" are non-count nouns, while "nonsense" seems more like an adjective?revel wrote:Hey!
I'm with Lorikeet, though I understand the "a nonsense" usage in the examples offered. I'd still say, myself, "That's nonsense" or maybe simply a bludgening "Nonsense!"
Just yesterday saw P Ustinov in "Evil under the sun" and off the top of my head I recall different characters using these other "nonsense" words: "balderdash", "poppycock" and "twaddle". I'd consider these three as non-count nouns, while nonsense seems more an adjective to me, though in lol's examples it is clearly being used as a noun.
peace,
revel.
Not very strong examples....
Hey!
Well, the following are not very strong examples as I don't think anyone would try such use, but here is my reason.
That's nonsense. Those are nonsense words. (That's big. That's a big house.)
That's poppycock. That's a poppycock idea. (That's a table. That's a table lamp.)
I guess those examples are really very weak after all. Perhaps it is because I can imagine using "nonsense" in the "before the noun" position as an adjective, while the other three don't sound at all right in that position but seem to be nomers for the words or ideas that are being classified as "balderdash". On the other hand, maybe those words don't represent a mass, but again, a quality, like "stupid" or "silly" but those are really adjectives, though the cute victorian child might say to the boy she likes "Don't be a silly (boy, that is)".
Mr D¡ck says nonsense is a noun. Nonsensical is an adjective. Twaddle, balderdash are offered as synonyms, twaddle being both noun and verb, while balderdash is a noun (with the obsolete meaning of a muddled mixture of liquors). I wonder what Steven Jones would say, he's much better at these grammatical things than I am.
peace,
revel.
Well, the following are not very strong examples as I don't think anyone would try such use, but here is my reason.
That's nonsense. Those are nonsense words. (That's big. That's a big house.)
That's poppycock. That's a poppycock idea. (That's a table. That's a table lamp.)
I guess those examples are really very weak after all. Perhaps it is because I can imagine using "nonsense" in the "before the noun" position as an adjective, while the other three don't sound at all right in that position but seem to be nomers for the words or ideas that are being classified as "balderdash". On the other hand, maybe those words don't represent a mass, but again, a quality, like "stupid" or "silly" but those are really adjectives, though the cute victorian child might say to the boy she likes "Don't be a silly (boy, that is)".
Mr D¡ck says nonsense is a noun. Nonsensical is an adjective. Twaddle, balderdash are offered as synonyms, twaddle being both noun and verb, while balderdash is a noun (with the obsolete meaning of a muddled mixture of liquors). I wonder what Steven Jones would say, he's much better at these grammatical things than I am.
peace,
revel.
Learning about one's own language is a good thing and accepting other variants shows an educated mind.Tara B wrote:I have to concur with the Americans. I have only ever heard "nonsense" used as a noncount noun or an adjective.
"A nonsense" hurts my ears
. . . but I learn something new every time I visit this forum.