Fire-resistant materials are used to retard ____ of modern aircraft in case of accidents.
A. a damage to the passenger cabin
B. that damages to the passenger cabin
C. damage to the passenger cabin
D. passenger cabin’s damages

Note: I choice was A. and got it wrong. So I guess the “a damage” is always wrong although it is OK to have “damages.” Your analysis of the question is appreciated.

Question

Fire-resistant materials are used to retard ____ of modern aircraft in case of accidents.
A.	a damage to the passenger cabin
B.	that damages to the passenger cabin
C.	damage to the passenger cabin
D.	passenger cabin’s damages

Note: I choice was A. and got it wrong. So I guess the “a damage” is always wrong although it is OK to have “damages.” Your analysis of the question is appreciated.

Answer

Yes, C. is the correct answer. You cannot have "a" damage, much like you cannot have "a sand" or "a health."

"Damages" is actually a special noun that isn't really the plural of damage. (A plane cannot have damages. It has damage.) I have never heard damages used outside of the context of money awarded in a law suit.

Answer

"damage" is usually uncountable, so "a" is unaccpetable. "damages" in the plural is grammatically possible, but I think indicates the "costs of the damage", so it has a limited legal usage? I'd have to think more. But you want C.

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