English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
Without Article ‘A’
He is ~a freeborn~ (nonstandard).
He is freeborn (standard). A person not born in slavery is freeborn; the word is an adjective (not a noun) so should not attract ‘a’.
He took ~a French leave~ (nonstandard).
He took French leave (standard). To leave one’s job without permission is to take French leave and the expression is not preceded by article ‘a’.
The King’s name is in ~a mud~ (nonstandard).
The King’s name is mud (standard). A person’s name is mud when the person is not liked or trusted.
GAB
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