(a) difficulty/trouble/problem

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

1a. I have a difficulty understanding what he is saying.
1b. I have difficulty understanding what he is saying.
2a. I have a trouble understanding what he is saying.
2b. I have trouble understanding what he is saying.
3a. I have a problem understanding what he is saying.
3b. I have problem understanding what he is saying.
Please correct all.
Thanks.

2

To me, the article does not seem to be necessary unless you have some particular personal difficulty/trouble/problem in understanding what he says.

3

I would agree with Anglophile regarding #1.
No article for #2 in any situation.
The article is necessary with ‘problem’ in #3 unless you change it to ‘problems’.

4

Beeesneees, Anglophile,

  1. I have (a) difficulty(CN) (in) understanding what he is saying.
  2. I have (X: a) trouble(UN) (in) understanding what he is saying.
    3a. I have a problem (in) understanding what he is saying.
    3b. I have problems (in) understanding what he is saying.
    In all these sentences do you consider ‘in’ is optional or compulsory?
    Note:
    CN = countable noun
    UN = uncountable noun.
    Please comment.
    Thanks.
5

The nouns ‘difficulty’ and ‘trouble’ are found used as both count and noncount nouns. The NSE could differentiate them better. ‘In’ is optional.

6

You have already received answers from great teachers. What I can add is as follows:

   Although the nouns [i]difficulty[/i] and [i]trouble[/i] can be both countable and uncountable, in the expressions [i]have difficulty/have trouble[/i] both the nouns are used as non-count. (We [b]usually[/b] say 'have difficulty' and [b]never[/b] say 'have a trouble', thus, as Beeesneees said

‘In’ here is correct but optional in all cases. It is normally omitted in daily conversational use.

   Thanks.
7

Foreigner,

  1. I have trouble fixing the car.
  2. I have trouble in fixing the car.
    Do you consider both are correct?
    thanks.
8

Yes! They are absolutely correct!

9

You have already received answers from great teachers. What I can add is as follows:

   Although the nouns [i]difficulty[/i] and [i]trouble[/i] can be both countable and uncountable, in the expressions [i]have difficulty/have trouble[/i] both the nouns are used as non-count. (We [b]usually[/b] say 'have difficulty' and [b]never[/b] say 'have a trouble', thus, as Beeesneees said

‘In’ here is correct but optional in all cases. It is normally omitted in daily conversational use.

   Thanks.