Hi, Mike Powell!
I read your message from 03.05.2019 02:26

> -----Beginning of the citation-----
 ak> Historical opinion is now split. Some scholars think that the lack
 ak> of contemporary accounts of Arthur mean he is a later invention.
> ----- The end of the citation -----
 ak> 1. What about the absence of article before "Historical opinion"?
 ak> 2. why do they write "mean" instead of "means"?

 MP> Not sure on #1. However, #2 I believe is because "mean" is the
 MP> plural form, in this case "lack of accounts mean." Accounts is
 MP> plural, so mean is also plural. If the sentence said "lack of a
 MP> contemporary account," the writer would have used "means" instead
 MP> as account is singular.

 MP> At least that is how I was taught it.

In Longman dictionary I found out "lack" can be used in both forms.

[The lack of oxygen at this height saps power.]
"saps" is related to "lack" and oxygen doesn't make "lack" uncountable.

or an uncountable form:

[Their apparent lack of progress mean they are not doing their job properly.]

Bye, Mike!
Alexander Koryagin
english_tutor 2019

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