Depression or depressions?

Question

some example: depression( s ), drink( s ), beverage( s ) etc.

when do we use depression and depressions?
Depression is countable but we can't actually count our depression.
So I find it confusing.

drink( s ) and beverage( s ) confuse me a lot too.
When should I use drink or drinks? beverage or beverages?

thanks

Clodpole · Accepted Answer

Depression can mean different things. If you mean depression as in feeling sad, then that's an abstract noun which is always singular. You can never say depressions in this case. If more than one person is depressed, you would say "they are suffering from depression" or "they are depressed". You still can't say depressions.

If you mean depression as in a hole in the ground, or pressing a button, or the state of the economy, then you can have more than one. So you use either depression if there's one, or depressions if there are more than one.

With drink and beverage, the simple rule is that you use drink if there's one drink, and drinks if there are more than one. Same with beverage and beverages.

Drink is also a verb, and in that case you use drinks for the third person (I drink, you drink, he drinks, we drink, you drink, they drink). Beverage is only ever a noun.

Hope this helps.

Clodpole.

Anonymous · Answer

The mental condition of feelings of despondency can only be called depression.
When depression means a financial slump, a dinge in an otherwise flat surface, or the meteorological phenomenon, it can be used in the plural.

You can have one drink or two drinks of water. When drink means the excessive and habitual consumption of alcohol, it is never pluralised.
'It was the drink that caused his early death.'

Beverage/s is easy. You can have one or more - like one drink or two drinks.

Rover

Depression or depressions?

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