0
Bn77 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Count noun
All staff are required to display their emloyee ID when passing through the security area.
Is it possible to use the singular form of the noun 'staff' instead of using the plural form in the above sentence?
Is it possible to use the singular form of the noun 'staff' instead of using the plural form in the above sentence?
Top answer
Yes. Even then, the singular for would be more natural, in my opinion.
- Yes.
- Even then, the singular for would be more natural, in my opinion.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
9 Answers
0
Yes.
'Staffs' is unlikely, unless you are referring to groupps of people employed by different employers.Even then, the singular for would be more natural, in my opinion.
'Staffs' is unlikely, unless you are referring to groupps of people employed by different employers.Even then, the singular for would be more natural, in my opinion.
00
That's interesting, since in the case of sheet music, the plural for "staff" is "staves". So I suppose musicians get around that issue. But feel free to use it in your context, and be met with a mob of furrowed brows.
00
0
Hi,
In my experience, In N. America the term 'staff' is not widely used. I hear it for schools, and stores sometimes.
But for eg offices and factories, I hear 'employees'. Not 'staff'.
Clive
In my experience, In N. America the term 'staff' is not widely used. I hear it for schools, and stores sometimes.
But for eg offices and factories, I hear 'employees'. Not 'staff'.
Clive
00
0
Anonymous can i say full of grains orfull with grainsPlease start a fresh thread for a completely different question.
00
Why do one say: Big Italian Pizza and not Italian big pizza?
Thanks
Thanks
00
Anonymous Why do one say: Big Italian Pizza and not Italian big pizza?ThanksPlease start a fresh thread for a completely different question.
00
Staff can be plural or singular, but when it's singular it still refers to all of the staff, not one person. "The entire staff is home sick today." Singular but referring to everyone who works there.
But if you meant to ask if you can use the singular form as in "Every staff is...", that is not correct.
You could instead say "Every staff MEMBER is..." or "Every employee is..."
But if you meant to ask if you can use the singular form as in "Every staff is...", that is not correct.
You could instead say "Every staff MEMBER is..." or "Every employee is..."
0
Related Questions