Article / Without article
I have this sentence "... so we have a problem with melting ice"

People said me what I shouldn't use here any article before "ice".

But I don't understand why I shouldn't, may be because it's "melting" before "ice"?

And if I use a verb + ing I should use noun without an article?

Thank you!

Question

Article / Without article
I have this sentence "... so we have a problem with melting ice"

People said me what I shouldn't use here any article before "ice".

But I don't understand why I shouldn't, may be because it's "melting" before "ice"?

And if I use a verb + ing I should use noun without an article?

Thank you!

Answer

English Grammar in Use 4th edition by Raymond Murphy is excellent.  The paper copy is reasonably priced and a PDF is floating around the net.

Unit 75.

Answer

You can put an article before "ice", but that will change the meaning of the sentence.
"We have a problem with melting the ice." --> You are trying to melt the ice and it's difficult.
"We have a problem with melting ice." --> Ice is melting, which is causing a problem.

In the second sentence "melting ice" goes together and means "ice that is melting". When you drive in the mountains, you can see signs that say "Danger, falling rocks" and not "falling the rocks".

I hope this helps. :)

Answers · 4

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