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Icadia Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
About unknown quantity
I have some problems in express my ideas into english.
My grammar book says
"for a negative or unknown quantity, we normally use the plural."
there were no passengers on the bus.
have you read any good books lately?
I would you like to focus on "unknown quantity". the "unknown quantity" hangs over me these day.
Do you really use the plural when you don't need to suggest a exact quantity in a situation?
"My son says I scold him so often it has given him a complex. He constantly loses things -- coats, lunch boxes, expensive toys, games -- and damages property such as computers,"
The sentence above is from Dear abby. I know why "coats, lunch boxes" are used. they are called "distributive plural" ,and I've already studied it. I have no questions about them. please focus on the "computers"
what I would like to know is if the plural in "computers" is related to the explanation from my grammar book, in other word "unknown quantity"
sometimes, I am confused when I see this kind of sentences. Is it related to "unknown quantity" or "generalizations" or something else?
My grammar book says
"for a negative or unknown quantity, we normally use the plural."
there were no passengers on the bus.
have you read any good books lately?
I would you like to focus on "unknown quantity". the "unknown quantity" hangs over me these day.
Do you really use the plural when you don't need to suggest a exact quantity in a situation?
"My son says I scold him so often it has given him a complex. He constantly loses things -- coats, lunch boxes, expensive toys, games -- and damages property such as computers,"
The sentence above is from Dear abby. I know why "coats, lunch boxes" are used. they are called "distributive plural" ,and I've already studied it. I have no questions about them. please focus on the "computers"
what I would like to know is if the plural in "computers" is related to the explanation from my grammar book, in other word "unknown quantity"
sometimes, I am confused when I see this kind of sentences. Is it related to "unknown quantity" or "generalizations" or something else?
Top answer
In this case it is a generalization and not an unknown quantity. "such as" is used to give examples Hope this helps. asia
- In this case it is a generalization and not an unknown quantity.
- "such as" is used to give examples Hope this helps.
- asia
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1 Answers
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In this case it is a generalization and not an unknown quantity.
"such as" is used to give examples
Hope this helps.
Mark
http://www.perfectenglish.asia
"such as" is used to give examples
Hope this helps.
Mark
http://www.perfectenglish.asia
0
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