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Michaelting Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Generalisation
Mercury is liquid at room temperature.
Mercury is a liquid at room temperature.
Mercury and water (yeah, I know it is a bad example) are liquid at room temperature.
Mercury and water (yeah, I know it is a bad example) are liquids at room temperature.
How do you know when a noun can be used in the generalised form? Do you have to memorise or something?
Mercury is a liquid at room temperature.
Mercury and water (yeah, I know it is a bad example) are liquid at room temperature.
Mercury and water (yeah, I know it is a bad example) are liquids at room temperature.
How do you know when a noun can be used in the generalised form? Do you have to memorise or something?
Top answer
I don't think those ('liquid' and 'liquid') are generalized nouns; I think they are adjectives.
- I don't think those ('liquid' and 'liquid') are generalized nouns; I think they are adjectives.
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4 Answers
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I don't think those ('liquid' and 'liquid') are generalized nouns; I think they are adjectives.
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Oh I see.
Let me change it up.
We need exercise.
We need exercises.
He is a man of amibition.
He is a man of ambitions.
How do you when you can use the generalised form?
Let me change it up.
We need exercise.
We need exercises.
He is a man of amibition.
He is a man of ambitions.
How do you when you can use the generalised form?
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These are the ones we use (though the other 2 are grammatically fine):
We need exercise.
He is a man of amibition.
I'm afraid I must guess that it is a matter of usage, collocation and set phrase. For instance, 'a man of + ambition/honor/strength/means' is a semi-fixed phrase.
We need exercise.
He is a man of amibition.
I'm afraid I must guess that it is a matter of usage, collocation and set phrase. For instance, 'a man of + ambition/honor/strength/means' is a semi-fixed phrase.
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I'm afraid I must guess that it is a matter of usage, collocation and set phrase. For instance, 'a man of + ambition/honor/strength/means' is a semi-fixed phrase.
It is still easier than Chinese, believe me.
It is still easier than Chinese, believe me.
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