I have a cold and I have a fever.
Why is an indefinite article "a" put before the word "cold" or "fever"?
Are they countable nouns? Are there two colds(fevers), three colds...??

Question

I have a cold and I have a fever.
Why is an indefinite article "a" put before the word "cold" or "fever"? 
Are they countable nouns? Are there two colds(fevers), three colds...??

Answer

Hi Kimtalki,

No, fever and cold are not countable nouns.  So we always say I have a cold and a fever.  But if you were going to say  that you've had several of each, you would say:

I've had three colds this year.

Let me know if I can help you with any of my classes--Ilene Springer

Não perca a oportunidade de aprender uma língua no conforto da sua casa. Navegue pela nossa seleção de professores de línguas experientes e inscreva-se na sua primeira aula agora mesmo!