Usage of the word news (It's a terrible news vs. It's terrible news)

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

Hi,

Can we say this? It’s a terrible news.

or we must say: It’s terrible news.

or: These are terrible news. (with plural, even if I’m thinking of just one piece of news).

thanks

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2

“News” is an uncountable noun, so we can never say “a news”, and you can’t use a plural verb with the word.

You can say, “This is a terrible piece of news.”

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3

Dear Jamie,

Thanks for your answer again.
So we always have to add ’ a piece of’? There is no way to avoid it?
e.g.: ‘It’s terrible news’ - is not correct at all?

thanks

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4

“It’s terrible news,” is perfectly correct, and we say it most of the time. However, many foreigners feel a need to refer to one specific item of news, but it’s ungrammatical to say “a news”. In those situations we have to say “piece of news”.

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5

.
Just as a summary for what Jamie has already written, here are some direct responses to your original questions (inside the quote):

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