when does the noun “time” become a countable noun?












3















I am writing an email to my friend and want to use this sentence: "I am having a great time."



I would like to know whether the above sentence is correct.



Also, I know that time can be an uncountable or a countable noun. I would appreciate if you could provide some examples of the word "time" in sentences and could explain the usage of the word in each case.



Thank you,
Mun










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  • When these are the times that try men's souls.

    – Hot Licks
    May 29 '15 at 12:41
















3















I am writing an email to my friend and want to use this sentence: "I am having a great time."



I would like to know whether the above sentence is correct.



Also, I know that time can be an uncountable or a countable noun. I would appreciate if you could provide some examples of the word "time" in sentences and could explain the usage of the word in each case.



Thank you,
Mun










share|improve this question

























  • When these are the times that try men's souls.

    – Hot Licks
    May 29 '15 at 12:41














3












3








3








I am writing an email to my friend and want to use this sentence: "I am having a great time."



I would like to know whether the above sentence is correct.



Also, I know that time can be an uncountable or a countable noun. I would appreciate if you could provide some examples of the word "time" in sentences and could explain the usage of the word in each case.



Thank you,
Mun










share|improve this question
















I am writing an email to my friend and want to use this sentence: "I am having a great time."



I would like to know whether the above sentence is correct.



Also, I know that time can be an uncountable or a countable noun. I would appreciate if you could provide some examples of the word "time" in sentences and could explain the usage of the word in each case.



Thank you,
Mun







grammar uncountable-nouns countable-nouns






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Jan 11 '14 at 17:52







M.H. Cho

















asked Jan 11 '14 at 17:30









M.H. ChoM.H. Cho

1614




1614













  • When these are the times that try men's souls.

    – Hot Licks
    May 29 '15 at 12:41



















  • When these are the times that try men's souls.

    – Hot Licks
    May 29 '15 at 12:41

















When these are the times that try men's souls.

– Hot Licks
May 29 '15 at 12:41





When these are the times that try men's souls.

– Hot Licks
May 29 '15 at 12:41










4 Answers
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5














"Time" can mean either the passage of time e.g. "time waits for no man", or an occasion or moment e.g. "we had a great time last night" . The passage of time is not countable, but occasions are.



Other languages have different words for these which may be less confusing, e.g. in Portuguese, tempo refers to time as in the passage of time, and altura means time as in an occasion or moment.






share|improve this answer































    4














    In the sentence "I am having a good time", you are not using time in the sense of time on a clock. This sentence is equivalent to saying something like "This moment in time is great.", So that sentence is clearly correct. Also, time is countable in that sentence, because it is specifically "a time.". In the sentence "I don't have the time.", time is not countable. This is because you don't have a set amount of time. It could be any amount, therefore it is uncountable.






    share|improve this answer


























    • You're right. I misread the source I got this from. I'm about to change it

      – recursive recursion
      Jan 11 '14 at 18:52






    • 2





      There is also the time(s) construction indicating number of repetitions; every time I went/all the times I went/both times I went, etc.

      – John Lawler
      Jan 11 '14 at 20:28





















    0














    Time: When referring to multiple past memories I would say would make it a countable noun.



    "My best friend and I share a lot of good times"



    "All the times I went to the grocery store during the night, they were sold out of banana's"






    share|improve this answer
























    • Welcome to ELU Stack Exchange. To make this a better answer, you should cite some references other than your own opinion. For example. you could note that Merriam-Webster's second sense of the word "time" (merriam-webster.com/dictionary/time) is "the point or period when something occurs : occasion." This is a countable noun. Then contrast this with the first sense, which is not countable, and give examples of each.

      – Katherine Lockwood
      Nov 16 '16 at 2:02



















    0














    Wiktionary gives the following countable usages for time:



    A measurement of a quantity of time; a numerical or general indication of a length of progression. a long time; Record the individual times for the processes in each batch. Only your best time is compared with the other competitors. The algorithm runs in O(n2) time.




    1898, Winston Churchill, The Celebrity, chapter 1: “I was about to say that I had known the Celebrity from the time he wore kilts. But I see I will have to amend that, because he was not a celebrity then, nor, indeed, did he achieve fame until some time after I left New York for the West.”



    1938, Richard Hughes, In Hazard: “The shock of the water, of course, woke him, and he swam for quite a time.”




    An experience. We had a wonderful time at the party.




    1898, Winston Churchill, The Celebrity: “I was about to say that I had known the Celebrity from the time he wore kilts. But I see I will have to amend that, because he was not a celebrity then, nor, indeed, did he achieve fame until some time after I left New York for the West.”




    An era; (with the, sometimes in plural) the current era, the current state of affairs. Roman times; the time of the dinosaurs




    63 BC, Cicero, “First Oration against Catiline” (in translation): “O the times, O the customs!” (Originally, “O tempora o mores”)



    1601, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: “The time is out of joint”






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      4 Answers
      4






      active

      oldest

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      4 Answers
      4






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      5














      "Time" can mean either the passage of time e.g. "time waits for no man", or an occasion or moment e.g. "we had a great time last night" . The passage of time is not countable, but occasions are.



      Other languages have different words for these which may be less confusing, e.g. in Portuguese, tempo refers to time as in the passage of time, and altura means time as in an occasion or moment.






      share|improve this answer




























        5














        "Time" can mean either the passage of time e.g. "time waits for no man", or an occasion or moment e.g. "we had a great time last night" . The passage of time is not countable, but occasions are.



        Other languages have different words for these which may be less confusing, e.g. in Portuguese, tempo refers to time as in the passage of time, and altura means time as in an occasion or moment.






        share|improve this answer


























          5












          5








          5







          "Time" can mean either the passage of time e.g. "time waits for no man", or an occasion or moment e.g. "we had a great time last night" . The passage of time is not countable, but occasions are.



          Other languages have different words for these which may be less confusing, e.g. in Portuguese, tempo refers to time as in the passage of time, and altura means time as in an occasion or moment.






          share|improve this answer













          "Time" can mean either the passage of time e.g. "time waits for no man", or an occasion or moment e.g. "we had a great time last night" . The passage of time is not countable, but occasions are.



          Other languages have different words for these which may be less confusing, e.g. in Portuguese, tempo refers to time as in the passage of time, and altura means time as in an occasion or moment.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered May 29 '15 at 10:07









          DaveBoltmanDaveBoltman

          48438




          48438

























              4














              In the sentence "I am having a good time", you are not using time in the sense of time on a clock. This sentence is equivalent to saying something like "This moment in time is great.", So that sentence is clearly correct. Also, time is countable in that sentence, because it is specifically "a time.". In the sentence "I don't have the time.", time is not countable. This is because you don't have a set amount of time. It could be any amount, therefore it is uncountable.






              share|improve this answer


























              • You're right. I misread the source I got this from. I'm about to change it

                – recursive recursion
                Jan 11 '14 at 18:52






              • 2





                There is also the time(s) construction indicating number of repetitions; every time I went/all the times I went/both times I went, etc.

                – John Lawler
                Jan 11 '14 at 20:28


















              4














              In the sentence "I am having a good time", you are not using time in the sense of time on a clock. This sentence is equivalent to saying something like "This moment in time is great.", So that sentence is clearly correct. Also, time is countable in that sentence, because it is specifically "a time.". In the sentence "I don't have the time.", time is not countable. This is because you don't have a set amount of time. It could be any amount, therefore it is uncountable.






              share|improve this answer


























              • You're right. I misread the source I got this from. I'm about to change it

                – recursive recursion
                Jan 11 '14 at 18:52






              • 2





                There is also the time(s) construction indicating number of repetitions; every time I went/all the times I went/both times I went, etc.

                – John Lawler
                Jan 11 '14 at 20:28
















              4












              4








              4







              In the sentence "I am having a good time", you are not using time in the sense of time on a clock. This sentence is equivalent to saying something like "This moment in time is great.", So that sentence is clearly correct. Also, time is countable in that sentence, because it is specifically "a time.". In the sentence "I don't have the time.", time is not countable. This is because you don't have a set amount of time. It could be any amount, therefore it is uncountable.






              share|improve this answer















              In the sentence "I am having a good time", you are not using time in the sense of time on a clock. This sentence is equivalent to saying something like "This moment in time is great.", So that sentence is clearly correct. Also, time is countable in that sentence, because it is specifically "a time.". In the sentence "I don't have the time.", time is not countable. This is because you don't have a set amount of time. It could be any amount, therefore it is uncountable.







              share|improve this answer














              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer








              edited Jan 11 '14 at 18:54

























              answered Jan 11 '14 at 18:27









              recursive recursionrecursive recursion

              198111




              198111













              • You're right. I misread the source I got this from. I'm about to change it

                – recursive recursion
                Jan 11 '14 at 18:52






              • 2





                There is also the time(s) construction indicating number of repetitions; every time I went/all the times I went/both times I went, etc.

                – John Lawler
                Jan 11 '14 at 20:28





















              • You're right. I misread the source I got this from. I'm about to change it

                – recursive recursion
                Jan 11 '14 at 18:52






              • 2





                There is also the time(s) construction indicating number of repetitions; every time I went/all the times I went/both times I went, etc.

                – John Lawler
                Jan 11 '14 at 20:28



















              You're right. I misread the source I got this from. I'm about to change it

              – recursive recursion
              Jan 11 '14 at 18:52





              You're right. I misread the source I got this from. I'm about to change it

              – recursive recursion
              Jan 11 '14 at 18:52




              2




              2





              There is also the time(s) construction indicating number of repetitions; every time I went/all the times I went/both times I went, etc.

              – John Lawler
              Jan 11 '14 at 20:28







              There is also the time(s) construction indicating number of repetitions; every time I went/all the times I went/both times I went, etc.

              – John Lawler
              Jan 11 '14 at 20:28













              0














              Time: When referring to multiple past memories I would say would make it a countable noun.



              "My best friend and I share a lot of good times"



              "All the times I went to the grocery store during the night, they were sold out of banana's"






              share|improve this answer
























              • Welcome to ELU Stack Exchange. To make this a better answer, you should cite some references other than your own opinion. For example. you could note that Merriam-Webster's second sense of the word "time" (merriam-webster.com/dictionary/time) is "the point or period when something occurs : occasion." This is a countable noun. Then contrast this with the first sense, which is not countable, and give examples of each.

                – Katherine Lockwood
                Nov 16 '16 at 2:02
















              0














              Time: When referring to multiple past memories I would say would make it a countable noun.



              "My best friend and I share a lot of good times"



              "All the times I went to the grocery store during the night, they were sold out of banana's"






              share|improve this answer
























              • Welcome to ELU Stack Exchange. To make this a better answer, you should cite some references other than your own opinion. For example. you could note that Merriam-Webster's second sense of the word "time" (merriam-webster.com/dictionary/time) is "the point or period when something occurs : occasion." This is a countable noun. Then contrast this with the first sense, which is not countable, and give examples of each.

                – Katherine Lockwood
                Nov 16 '16 at 2:02














              0












              0








              0







              Time: When referring to multiple past memories I would say would make it a countable noun.



              "My best friend and I share a lot of good times"



              "All the times I went to the grocery store during the night, they were sold out of banana's"






              share|improve this answer













              Time: When referring to multiple past memories I would say would make it a countable noun.



              "My best friend and I share a lot of good times"



              "All the times I went to the grocery store during the night, they were sold out of banana's"







              share|improve this answer












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              answered Nov 16 '16 at 0:46









              Marc ViherkoskiMarc Viherkoski

              1




              1













              • Welcome to ELU Stack Exchange. To make this a better answer, you should cite some references other than your own opinion. For example. you could note that Merriam-Webster's second sense of the word "time" (merriam-webster.com/dictionary/time) is "the point or period when something occurs : occasion." This is a countable noun. Then contrast this with the first sense, which is not countable, and give examples of each.

                – Katherine Lockwood
                Nov 16 '16 at 2:02



















              • Welcome to ELU Stack Exchange. To make this a better answer, you should cite some references other than your own opinion. For example. you could note that Merriam-Webster's second sense of the word "time" (merriam-webster.com/dictionary/time) is "the point or period when something occurs : occasion." This is a countable noun. Then contrast this with the first sense, which is not countable, and give examples of each.

                – Katherine Lockwood
                Nov 16 '16 at 2:02

















              Welcome to ELU Stack Exchange. To make this a better answer, you should cite some references other than your own opinion. For example. you could note that Merriam-Webster's second sense of the word "time" (merriam-webster.com/dictionary/time) is "the point or period when something occurs : occasion." This is a countable noun. Then contrast this with the first sense, which is not countable, and give examples of each.

              – Katherine Lockwood
              Nov 16 '16 at 2:02





              Welcome to ELU Stack Exchange. To make this a better answer, you should cite some references other than your own opinion. For example. you could note that Merriam-Webster's second sense of the word "time" (merriam-webster.com/dictionary/time) is "the point or period when something occurs : occasion." This is a countable noun. Then contrast this with the first sense, which is not countable, and give examples of each.

              – Katherine Lockwood
              Nov 16 '16 at 2:02











              0














              Wiktionary gives the following countable usages for time:



              A measurement of a quantity of time; a numerical or general indication of a length of progression. a long time; Record the individual times for the processes in each batch. Only your best time is compared with the other competitors. The algorithm runs in O(n2) time.




              1898, Winston Churchill, The Celebrity, chapter 1: “I was about to say that I had known the Celebrity from the time he wore kilts. But I see I will have to amend that, because he was not a celebrity then, nor, indeed, did he achieve fame until some time after I left New York for the West.”



              1938, Richard Hughes, In Hazard: “The shock of the water, of course, woke him, and he swam for quite a time.”




              An experience. We had a wonderful time at the party.




              1898, Winston Churchill, The Celebrity: “I was about to say that I had known the Celebrity from the time he wore kilts. But I see I will have to amend that, because he was not a celebrity then, nor, indeed, did he achieve fame until some time after I left New York for the West.”




              An era; (with the, sometimes in plural) the current era, the current state of affairs. Roman times; the time of the dinosaurs




              63 BC, Cicero, “First Oration against Catiline” (in translation): “O the times, O the customs!” (Originally, “O tempora o mores”)



              1601, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: “The time is out of joint”






              share






























                0














                Wiktionary gives the following countable usages for time:



                A measurement of a quantity of time; a numerical or general indication of a length of progression. a long time; Record the individual times for the processes in each batch. Only your best time is compared with the other competitors. The algorithm runs in O(n2) time.




                1898, Winston Churchill, The Celebrity, chapter 1: “I was about to say that I had known the Celebrity from the time he wore kilts. But I see I will have to amend that, because he was not a celebrity then, nor, indeed, did he achieve fame until some time after I left New York for the West.”



                1938, Richard Hughes, In Hazard: “The shock of the water, of course, woke him, and he swam for quite a time.”




                An experience. We had a wonderful time at the party.




                1898, Winston Churchill, The Celebrity: “I was about to say that I had known the Celebrity from the time he wore kilts. But I see I will have to amend that, because he was not a celebrity then, nor, indeed, did he achieve fame until some time after I left New York for the West.”




                An era; (with the, sometimes in plural) the current era, the current state of affairs. Roman times; the time of the dinosaurs




                63 BC, Cicero, “First Oration against Catiline” (in translation): “O the times, O the customs!” (Originally, “O tempora o mores”)



                1601, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: “The time is out of joint”






                share




























                  0












                  0








                  0







                  Wiktionary gives the following countable usages for time:



                  A measurement of a quantity of time; a numerical or general indication of a length of progression. a long time; Record the individual times for the processes in each batch. Only your best time is compared with the other competitors. The algorithm runs in O(n2) time.




                  1898, Winston Churchill, The Celebrity, chapter 1: “I was about to say that I had known the Celebrity from the time he wore kilts. But I see I will have to amend that, because he was not a celebrity then, nor, indeed, did he achieve fame until some time after I left New York for the West.”



                  1938, Richard Hughes, In Hazard: “The shock of the water, of course, woke him, and he swam for quite a time.”




                  An experience. We had a wonderful time at the party.




                  1898, Winston Churchill, The Celebrity: “I was about to say that I had known the Celebrity from the time he wore kilts. But I see I will have to amend that, because he was not a celebrity then, nor, indeed, did he achieve fame until some time after I left New York for the West.”




                  An era; (with the, sometimes in plural) the current era, the current state of affairs. Roman times; the time of the dinosaurs




                  63 BC, Cicero, “First Oration against Catiline” (in translation): “O the times, O the customs!” (Originally, “O tempora o mores”)



                  1601, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: “The time is out of joint”






                  share















                  Wiktionary gives the following countable usages for time:



                  A measurement of a quantity of time; a numerical or general indication of a length of progression. a long time; Record the individual times for the processes in each batch. Only your best time is compared with the other competitors. The algorithm runs in O(n2) time.




                  1898, Winston Churchill, The Celebrity, chapter 1: “I was about to say that I had known the Celebrity from the time he wore kilts. But I see I will have to amend that, because he was not a celebrity then, nor, indeed, did he achieve fame until some time after I left New York for the West.”



                  1938, Richard Hughes, In Hazard: “The shock of the water, of course, woke him, and he swam for quite a time.”




                  An experience. We had a wonderful time at the party.




                  1898, Winston Churchill, The Celebrity: “I was about to say that I had known the Celebrity from the time he wore kilts. But I see I will have to amend that, because he was not a celebrity then, nor, indeed, did he achieve fame until some time after I left New York for the West.”




                  An era; (with the, sometimes in plural) the current era, the current state of affairs. Roman times; the time of the dinosaurs




                  63 BC, Cicero, “First Oration against Catiline” (in translation): “O the times, O the customs!” (Originally, “O tempora o mores”)



                  1601, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: “The time is out of joint”







                  share













                  share


                  share








                  edited 3 mins ago

























                  answered 8 mins ago









                  MalvolioMalvolio

                  24.5k85188




                  24.5k85188






























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