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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Could it be one piece?

Hi. Could they be meant (to say) "one piece of equipment"? Or does it have to be more than one piece?

This equipment is mine.

His equipment was bought yesterday.
  

Top answer

'Equipment' is a non-count noun, so there is no way to judge from your sentences how many pieces are involved-- it could be a single piece of equipment or it could be several pieces of equipment.

— Mister Micawber

  • 'Equipment' is a non-count noun, so there is no way to judge from your sentences how many pieces are involved-- it could be a single piece of equipment or it could be several pieces of equipment.
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3 Answers
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'Equipment' is a non-count noun, so there is no way to judge from your sentences how many pieces are involved-- it could be a single piece of equipment or it could be several pieces of equipment.
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Hi. Thank you. If I am not mistaken, a typical dictionary definition would go like "Equipment consists of several or a group of ...." Why would there be word or words like "sev eral" or "a group of ..." if that articulation (?) of a typical definition were correct?
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I don't understand your concern. 'Equipment consists of several or a group of [e.g. instruments]' does not conflict with my earlier statement.

Here are some actual dictionary entries:

Equipment: the items needed for a particular purpose.
Equipment: the set of tools, clothing, etc., needed for a particular activity or purpose
Equipment: anything kept,
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