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Question about article "a" == Kate phoned me last night. She's on holiday in France. She's having a great time and doesn't want to come back. == Why "a" before "great time"? Is time countable?

Corrections · 4

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The word "time" has different meanings.  Sometimes it is an uncountable noun meaning the perceived continuum of the past, present, and future, as regarded as a whole.   This is your время.

 

But the word "time" can also mean a specific period or portion of the continuum.  These periods and portions sometimes are often expressed in Russian as "раз", and are countable.   Examples:  I have been to France two times (два раза)...    This is the first time (первый раз) I have ever listened to the music of Tchaikovsky.  ---  Other times you would express the idea of a period or portion of time with the Russian word время, not раз, but in English we would still use the word "time":   I had a great time at the party. (Я прекрасно провёл время ...). 

 

 

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Thanks, Ric.
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(Good question, but this should go under Q&A rather than notebooks.) You're right in that "a" is usually for quantifiable objects, but remember there are always phrases in every language that don't follow grammar rules because they are sayings rather than strict constructions. "A" can stand for 1 (as a unit); so even though time is not quantifiable like a basket of apples is, for example, it is still 1 time (1 vacation) she is enjoying.

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