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ESL forum > Grammar and Linguistics > a question to native speakers concerning an article usage    

a question to native speakers concerning an article usage



ueslteacher
Ukraine

a question to native speakers concerning an article usage
 
Could you explain, please, why there is an indefinite article in this sentence:
"I always have a problem finding a parking space."
Whereas, there �s no article in the following idioms:
have trouble doing
have problems doing (I get that this is plural though)

I thought that the indefinite article is used in a different idiom: have a problem with...

The thing is that I�ve looked it up in all dictionaries available and couldn´t find a phrase where problem would be in singular with have +doing

I �d be grateful to hear some explanations from our native speaking friends.
Sophia

15 Mar 2012      





PhilipR
Thailand

The word problem is a countable noun (article needed when singular) whereas trouble is usually (but not always) uncountable (either no article or definite article).

Thus

Have a problem with or Have problems with
Have a problem doing smth or Have problems doing smth

An idiom with trouble + definite article would be

Take the trouble to do smth

15 Mar 2012     



ueslteacher
Ukraine

Thanks, Philip!
Sophia

15 Mar 2012