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Rex Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

Heads of government or heads of government

0 01b00European heads of government have been vying with each other to devise new ways of serving up the EU Constitution to the peoples of Europe for approval.02b00 02br
00But all the proposals seem to have one thing in common - that they will not work, for legal or political reasons.02br
00 There are two reasons why the leaders think a successful recipe is urgently needed.02br
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00 I think it should be 'European heads of governments'.02br
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00For example, Frecnch President is a head of a government.02br
00 The British Prime Minister and the French President are heads of governments.02br
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00I would like to read your comments on this.02br
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Top answer

02br 02br 00For example: justices of the peace, sisters-in-law, etc. 02br 02br 00I understand your logic in saying there is more than one government, but the HEADS are what are being counted, not the governments. 0-

— BarbaraPA

  • 02br 02br 00For example: justices of the peace, sisters-in-law, etc.
  • 02br 02br 00I understand your logic in saying there is more than one government, but the HEADS are what are being counted, not the governments.
  • 0-
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7 Answers
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0There are a number of expressions where the main noun is what takes the plural, and not the prepositional phrase.02br
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00For example: justices of the peace, sisters-in-law, etc. 02br
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00I understand your logic in saying there is more than one government, but the HEADS are what are being counted, not the governments. I don't think if you made gover
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0 Thanks Grammar for the reply.02br
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00 You didn't convince me that it should always be government in this context.0-
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0Hi Rex,02br
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01font01b00European heads of government 02b02font00It seems to me that the word 'government' is simply used in a general and non-count sense here. Would you argue that we should say 'European ministers of defences' rather than 'European ministers of defence'.02br
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00Best wishes,
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0 Clive, I appreciate your comments.02br
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00 There are no restrictions to use the word defences.02br
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00 Let us say there are several garrisons to protect to the entry points of a city.02br
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00 I would say army has several defences to protect the city.02br
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00 However, it sounds odd to say 'minist
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0'European heads of governments' is the plural of 'European head of governments'.02br
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00The only situation where 'heads of governments" sounds natural is in a phrase such as "Heads of governments about to be defeated at the polls".0-
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0 If you see an individual head of a government, you will always say he is a head of a government.02br
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00 If you see two of them together, would you say they are heads of governments?02br
00 [What is wrong with this?]02br
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00 You could say they are presidents or prime minsters.0-
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0 I just want to read your comment on the following:02br
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00 If you see two of them together, would you say they are heads of governments?02br
00 [What is wrong with this?]0-
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