Aid and Aids

Posted by Pak Guru on August 30th, 2020 | 0 comments | countability, countable uncountable, IELTS, speaking, vocabulary, writing

Receiving any aids from developed countries might be benefitial for developing countries.

OK so there is a difference between aid (countable) and aid (uncountable).

aid (countable)

This kind of aid has a specific purpose, and generally makes it easier to perform a task:

• a hearing aid (an electronic device) makes it easier to hear
• a visual aid (a powerpoint slide) makes it easier to teach or to understand an idea
• a study aid (a dictionary) helps to understand what words mean
• a navigational aid (a compass) makes it easier to find your way

aid (uncountable)

This kind of aid is generic and multi-purpose

• financial aid (funding for infrastructure projects)
• foreign aid (possibly financial, but could be in the form of education or even food)
• legal aid (possibly financial, but also in the form of human resources)
• military aid (human resources)

In our opening statement the kind of aid referred to is generic and we can assume that it is meant for a wide range of non-specific purposes. So what we need is:

• Receiving any aid from developed countries might be beneficial for developing countries.

Challenge!

In the comments, use aid (countable) and aid (uncountable) to write a sentence describing the following image!