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Believer Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

countable--contextually clear?

0Hi,02br
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00In the Apostles' Creed, it is written:02br
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00I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Universal Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.02br
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00There, why 'sins' and not 'sin' -- as the latter one seems to refer 'sin' generally? Can we use the countable version of a word if there is one. I happen to think 'sin' is a variable noun.02br
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00Another instance:02br
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00When you are trying take your flight at the airport, you are likely to see a sign that said "Liquids are Not Allowed." Is the use of the countable version of the word 'liquid' is OK if context or a situation makes it clear? I think what the sign meant by the words is liquid types like juice, alcoholic beverages, and so on are not allowed. 0-
  

Top answer

0The sense I get from my Catholic friends is that "the forgiveness of sins" is a recurring event: They go to confession regularly and specific sins are forgiven, individually. 02br 02br 00I think your analysis of the airport sign is correct. 0-

  • 0The sense I get from my Catholic friends is that "the forgiveness of sins" is a recurring event: They go to confession regularly and specific sins are forgiven, individually.
  • 02br 02br 00I think your analysis of the airport sign is correct.
  • 0-
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1 Answers
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0The sense I get from my Catholic friends is that "the forgiveness of sins" is a recurring event: They go to confession regularly and specific sins are forgiven, individually. The forgiveness of (all) sin is perhaps what Christ hoped to accomplish?02br
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00I think your analysis of the airport sign is correct. We also think of bottles of liquid as countable, as in a water

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