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alexwlh
Member
Posts: 21
Posted   Edit or Delete MessageReport This Post  
Hello,

Which of the following sounds better to you?

1. The contractor has reasonable grounds to claim payments for the changes.
2. The contractor has reasonable grounds to claim a payment for the changes.
3. The contractor has reasonable grounds to claim a payment for changes.

Thanks!
Rachel, Moderator
Member
Posts: 15136
Posted   Hide PostEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post  
quote:
1. The contractor has reasonable grounds to claim payments for the changes.
2. The contractor has reasonable grounds to claim a payment for the changes.
3. The contractor has reasonable grounds to claim a payment for changes.

More usual than any of these sentences would be this one:

The contractor has reasonable grounds to claim payment for the charges.

'Payment' can be a noncount noun, as shown here in the LDOCE:

http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/payment.

'Claim payment' is a set phrase. Here are three hits (of 966,000) from Google from my search 'to claim payment:

  • I have a Paypal account, but when I try to claim payment for an item I sold, it asks me to make a new Paypal account.
    forums.ebay.com/db2/topic/Seller-Central/.../520145505 -

  • Roman-Dutch law the insurer had a right to claim payment of the premium from the insured, or, when appropriate, to claim such payment from the broker. ...
    books.google.com/books?isbn=0702149209...

  • Please note, you have two years from the date you received a service or treatment to claim payment from the TAC. Home | Making a Claim | Provider Resources ...
    www.tac.vic.gov.au/.../NavigationController.do?.
    		•
    alexwlh
    Member
    Posts: 21
    Posted   Hide PostEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post  
    Thanks, Rachel.

    So does it mean when it comes to a set phrase, we don't need to follow the general article rules? Like "everything goes according to plan", not "....to plans"?
    Rachel, Moderator
    Member
    Posts: 15136
    Posted   Hide PostEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post  
    Yes, exactly!
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