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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

At once / at a time

Which is correct?

I've never washed this many clothes at once at a time in one go.

Thank you
  

Top answer

I would probably say I've never washed this much clothes at once. or I've never washed this many articles of clothes/clothing at once.

— Ivanhr

  • I would probably say I've never washed this much clothes at once.
  • or I've never washed this many articles of clothes/clothing at once.
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15 Answers
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I would probably say

I've never washed this much clothes at once.
or
I've never washed this many articles of clothes/clothing at once.
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once, at a time, in one go: choose one.
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IvanhrI've never washed this much clothes at once.orI've never washed this many articles of clothes/clothing at once.
The first is incorrect - clothes is plural.

The second is possible, but not very natural with 'articles of clothing'; 'articles of clothes' is not possible.
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fivejedjonThe first is incorrect - clothes is plural.
Nope. This is an exception to the rule. We can't really say "We have 10 clothes", can we?

You're right about 'articles of clothes' being wrong. I made a mistake.
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IvanhrNope. This is an exception to the rule. We can't really say "We have 10 clothes", can we?
Clothes is a slightly unusual word. It belongs to a small class of plural nouns with no singular form (cattle is another). We do not normally use numerals in front of them, but they are plural; So;

My clothes is/are in the wardr
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I would still say

I haven't got much clothes.
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IvanhrI would still say I haven't got much clothes.
Well, the Corpus of Contemporary American English has 52 citations for 'many clothes' and none for 'much clothes'. The (smaller) British National Corpus has 14 for 'many clothes' and none for 'much clothes'.

These figures do rather suggest that 'much clothes' is not a natural choice for many native s
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Which would you choose?
I've never washed this many clothes at once/ at a time /in one go.

Thank you
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fivejedjonThese figures do rather suggest that 'much clothes' is not a natural choice for many native speakers.
Perhaps, but if we don't restrict ourselves to COCA only, then it seems that quite a few native speakers might accept 'much clothes'.

I think that, when I say 'much clothes', I mentally picture a sizable pile of clothes rather than t
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IvanhrPerhaps, but if we don't restrict ourselves to COCA only, then it seems that quite a few native speakers might accept 'much clothes'.
What evidence have you for this.?






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