command: countable or uncountable?

[Lost_Soul]

Hi,

What kind of noun is "command" (in the meaning of "knowledge"): countable or uncountable?
From what I have seen, it is countable.
He has a good command of German

but in the dictionary entry for this noun, it is stated that

[Klpno]

I'm not sure but I think that 'S' stands for 'singular.'

[Lost_Soul]

Then why do S(singular) and U(uncountable) stand in line like they are mutually exclusive?
Is it because "command" can be either countable singular or uncountable...
If so, I'd be grateful if someone gave me an example where "command" is uncountable...
That's a mystery to me ...

[Klpno]

Alex, I just looked this word up in the Oxford Advanced Learner's dictionary:

KNOWLEDGE
5 [U, sing.] ~ (of sth) your knowledge of sth; your ability to do or use sth, especially a language: Applicants will be expected to have (a) good command of English.

[Klpno]

[Lost_Soul]

Hi, KLPNO

Thank you, you did a good research job !

But I'd like to ask native English speakers if these 2 sentences sound equally good:

1. He has good command of English
2. He has a good command of English

Thanks !

[Nicholas]

[Mister Micawber]

.
I think they're both OK, with the countable version much more prevalent. The uncountable, I think, appears more often in some collocations, like 'in command of' and 'have command'.
.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Lost_Soul]

Thank you !

I have no more questions. The prosecution rests.