0
Morr Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Help with plural nouns
Hello,
I need some help with plural nouns! Don't be put off by all the text below - it's an easy read.
Situation A: I am referring to all gays in the USA.
1. Fortunately for gays, the Supreme Court has ruled in favour of gay marriage.
2. Fortunately for the gays, the Supreme Court has ruled in favour of gay marriage.
If I am referring to all gays in the US (but not in any other country), is either one of them definitively incorrect? My tutor says that #1 (no article) is better because it's all gays in America, so it's not a "subset group". But gays in America can be a subset group too - I am not referring to all the gays in the world but only to those in America. Wouldn't #2 (with the article) work in that case as well? (And yes, I know that I can get rid of the problem by adding "in America" after "gays" and use either article in that case, but I am deliberately not doing this to understand the dynamics better).
Situation B:
I am referring to all gays who are supposed to attend the Pride Parade in Seattle.
1. Unfortunately for gays, the weather will be very rainy this weekend in Seattle.
2. Unfortunately for the gays, the weather will be very rainy this weekend in Seattle.
Again, I am referring to only those gays who are planning to attend the parade this weekend in Seattle. My tutor says that either one can work. #2 can work because I am really saying "unfortunately for the gays [who are planning to show up for the parade in Seattle]" - I'm just omitting that part.
#1 (no article) can work if the person I am speaking with understands from a previously established context that I am referring only to those gays who are planning to show up in Seattle this weekend.
Could you please confirm that the above is correct?
Your help is appreciated. Sorry if the question was a bit too long!
I need some help with plural nouns! Don't be put off by all the text below - it's an easy read.
Situation A: I am referring to all gays in the USA.
1. Fortunately for gays, the Supreme Court has ruled in favour of gay marriage.
2. Fortunately for the gays, the Supreme Court has ruled in favour of gay marriage.
If I am referring to all gays in the US (but not in any other country), is either one of them definitively incorrect? My tutor says that #1 (no article) is better because it's all gays in America, so it's not a "subset group". But gays in America can be a subset group too - I am not referring to all the gays in the world but only to those in America. Wouldn't #2 (with the article) work in that case as well? (And yes, I know that I can get rid of the problem by adding "in America" after "gays" and use either article in that case, but I am deliberately not doing this to understand the dynamics better).
Situation B:
I am referring to all gays who are supposed to attend the Pride Parade in Seattle.
1. Unfortunately for gays, the weather will be very rainy this weekend in Seattle.
2. Unfortunately for the gays, the weather will be very rainy this weekend in Seattle.
Again, I am referring to only those gays who are planning to attend the parade this weekend in Seattle. My tutor says that either one can work. #2 can work because I am really saying "unfortunately for the gays [who are planning to show up for the parade in Seattle]" - I'm just omitting that part.
#1 (no article) can work if the person I am speaking with understands from a previously established context that I am referring only to those gays who are planning to show up in Seattle this weekend.
Could you please confirm that the above is correct?
Your help is appreciated. Sorry if the question was a bit too long!
Top answer
I see the intended reference without the word "the". By the way, Seattle is planning on hot weather for the parade tomorrow.
- I see the intended reference without the word "the".
- By the way, Seattle is planning on hot weather for the parade tomorrow.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
5 Answers
0
I see the intended reference without the word "the".
By the way, Seattle is planning on hot weather for the parade tomorrow.
By the way, Seattle is planning on hot weather for the parade tomorrow.
00
morrWouldn't #2 (with the article) work in that case as well?Yes. "Supreme Court" is enough context to delimit the people.
morrMy tutor says that either one can work.I agree with your tutor.
00
Thanks for your replies!
So basically, in either of the two examples, I can go with either, right?
So basically, in either of the two examples, I can go with either, right?
00
morrThanks for your replies!So basically, in either of the two examples, I can go with either, right?Yes.
00
Related Questions