The article "a"

Question

This is an excerpt from a textbook."When customer demand for an item cannot be met from stock, there are shortages. Then customer have a choice"First question: Why is it that the article "a" does not appear in the first sentence, "When [a] customer demand..."Second question: Same question, the article "a" in the second sentence, "Then [a] customer..."Being a non native speaker of English, I would have expressed like this: "When a customer demand for an item cannot be met from stock, there are shortages. Then the customer has a choice"

Clive · Accepted Answer

This is an excerpt from a textbook.

"When customer demand for an item cannot be met from stock, there are shortages. Then customer have a choice"

First question: Why is it that the article "a" does not appear in the first sentence, "When [a] customer demand..."
Because the word 'customer' s used as an adjective describing 'demand'. And demand' here is used in a non-count way, and thus does not take an article.
Second question: Same question, the article "a" in the second sentence, "Then [a] customer..."
It's an error in the textbook. An article is required, But 'the' is more natural than 'a'.
The customer has or Customers have

Being a non native speaker of English, I would have expressed like this:

"When a customer demand for an item cannot be met from stock, there are shortages. Then the customer has a choice"

Anonymous · Answer

Thank your sir. Now I learn that you can use a noun as an adjective.

As to using a word in a non-count way, which one is correct,
"Wolf is considered as menace to ranchers" or
"Wolf is considered as a menace to ranchers" or
"A wolf is considered as a menace to ranchers" or
"Wolves are considered as menace to ranchers"

I believe the first one is correct, but the second could be too (other predators are menace to ranchers as well)
but any explanations? And we use "wolf" not "wolves" to emphasize "what animal"?

Clive · Answer

Now I learn that you can use a noun as an adjective.

As to using a word in a non-count way, which one is correct,
"Wolf is considered as menace to ranchers" or No
"Wolf is considered as a menace to ranchers" or No
"A wolf is considered as a menace to ranchers" or Yes
"Wolves are considered as a menace/menaces to ranchers"

I believe the first one is correct, but the second could be too (other predators are menace to ranchers as well)
but any explanations? And we use "wolf" not "wolves" to emphasize "what animal"?
If you want to speak generally of wolves, say 'wolves'. Or more rarely, you could say 'the wolf', to refer to the whole species.

Have a look here for some background.
http:// grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/noncount.htm

The article "a"

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