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Diamondsmith Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Can we count nouns of different categories together?
Hello. Can we enumerate entities belonging to different semantic categories together? For example:
1.The police seized 50 grenades and firearms;
2.We saw 9 monks and children in the temple;
3.There were 200 soldiers and horses on the hillside;
4.The police seized 20 guns and knives.
I asked this because some Englishmen said these are grammatical sentences but only ambiguous. And two Australian librarians have confirmed to me they often heard such sentences in the TV program: "The police seized 20 knives and firearms last night". I myself have also heard similar expressions. But I find it a bit strange. Can anyone help?
1.The police seized 50 grenades and firearms;
2.We saw 9 monks and children in the temple;
3.There were 200 soldiers and horses on the hillside;
4.The police seized 20 guns and knives.
I asked this because some Englishmen said these are grammatical sentences but only ambiguous. And two Australian librarians have confirmed to me they often heard such sentences in the TV program: "The police seized 20 knives and firearms last night". I myself have also heard similar expressions. But I find it a bit strange. Can anyone help?
Top answer
-- Yes, of course; no problem: I have 5 apples and 3 oranges . However, your term 'semantic categories' bemuses me. g.
- -- Yes, of course; no problem: I have 5 apples and 3 oranges .
- However, your term 'semantic categories' bemuses me.
- g.
- monks and children or guns and knives?
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27 Answers
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Can we enumerate entities belonging to different semantic categories together?-- Yes, of course; no problem: I have 5 apples and 3 oranges. However, your term 'semantic categories' bemuses me. What are the different categories of e.g. monks and children or guns and knives?
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This is because in many languages, like Thai or Chinese, etc, these nouns cannot be juxtaposed together. Many English "Experts" also do not accept these sentences either, so I asked.
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Please supply a link to any 'English experts' who reject those. And you have still not told me what 'categories' are indicated.
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This is one of the experts: http://www.english-test.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=378582
And many more!!
As for the categories, knife belongs to the 'mouth' category, gun to the 'handle' category; monks to the 'clerical' category and boys to 'general human' category; horse to the 'an
And many more!!
As for the categories, knife belongs to the 'mouth' category, gun to the 'handle' category; monks to the 'clerical' category and boys to 'general human' category; horse to the 'an
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The problem with your sentences is that it's too vague. Were there 50 grenades and "some" guns? Were there 50 items, including a combination of grenades and guns? Were there nine monks and a few children, or nine people, including monks and children?
There is nothing ungrammatical about the sentences, but they are so imprecise that they don't contain the needed information.
There is nothing ungrammatical about the sentences, but they are so imprecise that they don't contain the needed information.
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No, we don't need a long story. English does not deal in such categories as 'mouth' vs 'handle', and I was distracted by your mention of categories in the first place, as should be obvious from my first post.
The question is merely whether 'ten noun #1 and noun #2' means 'ten noun #1 + ten noun #2' or ten noun (#1 + #2) , isn't it? Yes, they are all ambiguous, and i
The question is merely whether 'ten noun #1 and noun #2' means 'ten noun #1 + ten noun #2' or ten noun (#1 + #2) , isn't it? Yes, they are all ambiguous, and i
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Thanks a lot! I am not asking for ways of improving them
. I am just looking for evidences to falsify them. It IS really very
. I am just looking for evidences to falsify them. It IS really very00
Hi,
Can we enumerate entities belonging to different semantic categories together? For example:
1.The police seized 50 grenades and firearms;
2.We saw 9 monks and children in the temple;
3.There were 200 soldiers and horses on the hillside;
4.The police seized 20 guns and knives.
I asked this because some Eng
Can we enumerate entities belonging to different semantic categories together? For example:
1.The police seized 50 grenades and firearms;
2.We saw 9 monks and children in the temple;
3.There were 200 soldiers and horses on the hillside;
4.The police seized 20 guns and knives.
I asked this because some Eng
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There is a lot of linguistic literature about 'noun classification' availableI guess this is an English Forum and we should not go too far
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Hi,
So, if my brother comes this morning, then my Chinese friend can't tell her friend this in Chinese?
So, if my brother comes this morning, then my Chinese friend can't tell her friend this in Chinese?
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