OBLIGATORY A IN COUNT NOUNS

English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)

OBLIGATORY “A” in Count Nouns

The man was in ~coma~ for days (nonstandard).
The man was in *a comma* for days (standard).
Someone who is in a coma is in a state of deep unconsciousness.

I think she has ~cold~ (nonstandard).
I think she has *a cold* (standard).
If you have a cold, you have a mild, very common illness which makes you sneeze a lot and gives you a sore throat or a cough.

He had ~stroke~ before he died (nonstandard).
He had *a stroke* before he died (standard).
If someone has a stroke, a blood vessel in their brain bursts or becomes blocked, which may kill them or make them unable to move one side of their body.

She always has ~headache~ (nonstandard).
She always has *a headache* (standard).
If you have a headache, you have a pain in your head.
GAB