Questions tagged [singular-vs-plural]
For questions about the difference between singular and plural forms of a word; when they should be used, or the difference between them.
1,365 questions
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in others' eyes
"I have seen a trace of strain
In other's eyes, not spoken"
From the song: "The Sea Refuses No River" by Pete Townshend.
Source:
https://www.streetdirectory.com/lyricadvisor/song/...
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Singular vs. Plural
I have deleted a prior similar thread whose example sentence was too confusing. I am now using a more simple example. Would you use SINGULAR or PLURAL, and why?
Many biopsies are pointless because ...
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"armaments + noun" vs "armament + noun"
a name:
Military Armament Corporation
That is, we have the phrase:
(1) armament corporation
But in dictionaries, I see the following:
armaments industry / programme / production / factory
That is, we ...
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"when they have a particular situation“ or "particular situations” understanding the subject is plural
(1) [ Members of an organization / Members of the organization ] may arbitrarily interpret what is not mentioned in the code of conduct, namely the silence, so long as they do not violate the written ...
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either side: plural or singular
He sat in the back of the car with a policeman on either side.
-Longman Dictionary-
Unfortunately I was sitting at the table with smokers on either side of me.
-Cambridge Dictionary-
They both ...
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Singular/Plural dilemma in given context [duplicate]
The writers in that department write like they never read a book in their lives.
The writers in that department write like they never read a book in their life.
Is the second sentence grammatically ...
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"How can Members change their password (or) passwords?”
Should I use a plural possessive pronoun for a singular noun?
I am aware that this structure is called "distributive plurals". However, after much research, I feel no closer to the answer. I ...
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Are there execeptions to the rule that we always use singular forms to refer to singular objects and vice versa?
If that was the case, those movies would not have been successful.
If that was the case, those movies would not have been a success.
If that was the case, those movies would not have been successes. ...
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”User embeds a flipbook“ or "Users embed a flipbook"
"User embeds a flipbook on his website but notices that there is a small report icon located on the right side of the flipbook. "
I want to know if "User" is correct. I thought I ...
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subject verb agreement in Collins Dictionary usage of “temperatures"
Source: https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/celsius
Highest temperatures 11° Celsius, that's 52° Fahrenheit.
Since the subject "temperatures" is plural, why isn't the be-...
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"in a sentence like…" would it necessarily exclude other examples?
Consider the singular use of "a sentence" in this statement:
This is a question about the origin of "pretty" as an adverb in
a
sentence like "that's pretty good" or a ...
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"A small percentage of the revenues was/were donated to charity."
We say
The revenues were donated to charity
but we say
A small percentage of the revenues was donated to charity
(or should we use "were" instead?).
Furthermore, a dictionary has the ...
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This shows how popular astronomical channels, in particular, and astronomy, in general, [is/are] in England. => IS or ARE? Why?
This shows how popular astronomical channels, in particular, and astronomy, in general, is/are in England.
I’m wondering if we use “is” to match with the subject right in front of it “astronomy” or ...
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“I like bananas” vs “I like a banana”
In English grammar, ‘generic reference’ is used when you make a reference to all the members of a class of people or things.
So I can say "A lizard is like a dinosaur in appearance" and &...
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"a bunch of random Xs {do/does}”
I think this might prove to be an interesting question for learners and native speakers alike. At least I hope so.
This question was posted recently:
"seeing what what looks like a bunch of ...