English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
With or Without A?
The task gave me ~tough time~ (nonstandard).
The task gave me a tough time (standard).
He did the work in ~hurry~ (nonstandard).
He did the work in a hurry (standard).
Note however that “haste” does not attract article a:
I did it in ~a haste~ (nonstandard).
I did it in haste (standard).
GAB
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