0
Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Vocabulary

Clock / Clocks question

Hello all,
I am a native English speaker from America, and I've been having a bit of a debate with my wife, who is Russian.

She claims that the word "clocks" is/was used to define a single clock at some point, especially in British English.
I have found no evidence of this in my research online, and have never heard this usage personally.

So, she's saying that in British English one could point to the single clock on the wall and say "Look at the clocks".
I think it should be "Look at the clock".

It is my belief that this is a simple misunderstanding of the usage between our two native languages. ???? could be translated into English as both "hours" and "a clock".

Apparently her schoolbooks growing up in Russia led her to believe that "clocks" could be used in the singular.

Does anyone have any insight into this? Is it an antiquated usage? British English? Simply an error in the textbook?

Thanks!
  

Top answer

Hi, I've never, never heard of such a usage. Sounds completely wrong to me. ( As well as 'Look at the clock', people commonly say 'Look at the time' .

— Clive

  • Hi, I've never, never heard of such a usage.
  • Sounds completely wrong to me.
  • ( As well as 'Look at the clock', people commonly say 'Look at the time' .
  • ) Best wishes, Clive
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

8 Answers
0
Hi,

I've never, never heard of such a usage. Sounds completely wrong to me.

( As well as 'Look at the clock', people commonly say 'Look at the time'. )

Best wishes, Clive
0
0
CliveI've never, never heard of such a usage. Sounds completely wrong to me.

( As well as 'Look at the clock', people commonly say 'Look at the time'. )

I agree. However Rick Nelson sings:
Baby, look at that clock,
why can't it be wrong?

I suppose it's the thatthat makes the difference?
0
0
You could certainly say, "look at the clock," if you were drawing attention to the clock itself rather than the time. "Look at the clock -- I think it's stopped." "Look at the clock -- there's a big spider in between the 3 and the 4." "Look at the clock -- it must have been shattered by the same shot that killed the butler, and we can tell that the crime occurred exactly at 5:30!"
0
0
Hi CB,

You misunderstood me. I didn't say that people don't say 'Look at the clock'. I just offered another expression that is also used.

Clive
0
0
Thanks for your input!

Anyone else have any insight into this matter? Perhaps any Russians who can recall your old English textbooks in gradeschool?
0
0
CliveYou misunderstood me.

Indeed. I missed the "as well as" part. Sorry.Emotion: embarrassed
0
0
Formerly using clocks like scales. Hmmm. Not entirely unreasonable. I wonder.
Maybe she meant scales. We used to say scales all the time, but usually say scale now.
Step on the scale(s). Let's see how much you weigh.
CJ
0
0
The singular in British English is most definitely clock, not clocks. Seems that the Russian school book has a blip in it.
0

Related Questions