0
Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Countable or uncountable use
Hi, I was looking at lyrics of the song called "It's a small world" and in the song sheet someone gave me, I saw this line.
It's a world of laughter, a world of tears, It's a world of hopes and a world of fears.
My question is, "Why did the author use 'fears' and 'hopes' and not 'fear' and 'hope'?"
I think because in the context they are used, the use of "fears" and "hopes" is better and gives a more realistic feeling to the song and to use the uncountable and abstract "fear" and "hope" wouldn't be good.
Like here, one could use both the words 'discussion' and 'discussions' but the 'discussions' sounds better in the context it is in (eventhough hard to tell exact context from this sentence).
I have written this article with the questions for you to ponder on to elicit more future discussions on the topics we raised previously.
It's a world of laughter, a world of tears, It's a world of hopes and a world of fears.
My question is, "Why did the author use 'fears' and 'hopes' and not 'fear' and 'hope'?"
I think because in the context they are used, the use of "fears" and "hopes" is better and gives a more realistic feeling to the song and to use the uncountable and abstract "fear" and "hope" wouldn't be good.
Like here, one could use both the words 'discussion' and 'discussions' but the 'discussions' sounds better in the context it is in (eventhough hard to tell exact context from this sentence).
I have written this article with the questions for you to ponder on to elicit more future discussions on the topics we raised previously.
Top answer
, of many individuals, each person having his or her own set. I would use the singular discussion if I expected the group to meet, perhaps, only one more time. If I wanted to emphasize the possibility of several meetings, I might use the plural.
- , of many individuals, each person having his or her own set.
- I would use the singular discussion if I expected the group to meet, perhaps, only one more time.
- If I wanted to emphasize the possibility of several meetings, I might use the plural.
- My tendency is to use the singular always, but I think the plural can't be considered to be wrong.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
1 Answers
0
I think to emphasize the hopes, fears, etc., of many individuals, each person having his or her own set.
I would use the singular discussion if I expected the group to meet, perhaps, only one more time. If I wanted to emphasize the possibility of several meetings, I might use the plural. My tendency is to use the singular always, but I think the plural can't be considered to be wro
I would use the singular discussion if I expected the group to meet, perhaps, only one more time. If I wanted to emphasize the possibility of several meetings, I might use the plural. My tendency is to use the singular always, but I think the plural can't be considered to be wro
0
Related Questions