Bunch
No article before lipstick?
I took an English listening test. The dialogues from the audio goes:
W: Dad, this Sunday is Mom’s birthday.
M : I know. Did you find a good present for her?
W: Yes, I bought nice lipstick. I’m sure she’ll like it.
........
(https://clyp.it/cecndf1b)
I think that an article "a" must be inserted before 'nice lipstick', but the speaker did not say it, right?
Even the script had no "a". I'm confused. Is it really correct without "a"? Since it's an official test, I doubt they didn't have English native speakers proofread it. Confirm please.
2019年9月29日 07:21
回答 · 10
1
If you’ll check any dictionary, you’ll see that lipstick can be countable or uncountable. If uncountable, it doesn’t require any article. I usually use it uncountably (the word, not the product). In other words, no article is required.
https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/lipstick?q=lipstick
https://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/american/lipstick
2019年9月29日
1
I agree with you that it should have an article. I would say either:
Yes, I bought (HER) A nice lipstick
Yes, I bought (HER) SOME nice lipstick
2019年9月29日
1
(Canadian answer)
For my wife and her daughters, lipstick is uncountable.
Examples:
I bought shampoo and lipstick today.
I'm going to give Chantelle red lipstick for her birthday.
2019年9月29日
Emma is right. "Lipstick" can be a count noun or a non-count noun, so either "a" or "some" would work. But just "I bought nice lipstick" doesn't sound right in this context.
2019年9月29日
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