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Yanx Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary
Increase: singular or plural form?
Hi,
For the words "increase" and "decrease" in the following context, why does the author uses the singular form in the first sentence and the plural form in the second. What is the difference between the two forms in meaning. When do they have the difference? Better give me more examples if available. Thank you!
Sentence 1:This paper will consider three specific aspects:1... , 2 unusual change in global climate, and a decrease in people's powers of concentration.
Sentence 2: Due to temperature increases, many icebergs will melt.
Thank you !
For the words "increase" and "decrease" in the following context, why does the author uses the singular form in the first sentence and the plural form in the second. What is the difference between the two forms in meaning. When do they have the difference? Better give me more examples if available. Thank you!
Sentence 1:This paper will consider three specific aspects:1... , 2 unusual change in global climate, and a decrease in people's powers of concentration.
Sentence 2: Due to temperature increases, many icebergs will melt.
Thank you !
Top answer
Hi, For the words "increase" and "decrease" in the following context, why does the author uses the singular form in the first sentence and the plural form in the sec Srictly speaking, 'a decrease' suggests that there is only one decrease, or that the writer will just consider one decrease. However, I don't think the writer is writing carefully here. ( Note the lack of an article with 'unusual change'.
- Hi, For the words "increase" and "decrease" in the following context, why does the author uses the singular form in the first sentence and the plural form in the sec Srictly speaking, 'a decrease' suggests that there is only one decrease, or that the writer will just consider one decrease.
- However, I don't think the writer is writing carefully here.
- ( Note the lack of an article with 'unusual change'.
- ) What is the difference between the two forms in meaning.
- When do they have the difference?
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6 Answers
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Hi,
For the words "increase" and "decrease" in the following context, why does the author uses the singular form in the first sentence and the plural form in the sec
Srictly speaking, 'a decrease' suggests that there is only one decrease, or that the writer will just consider one decrease.
For the words "increase" and "decrease" in the following context, why does the author uses the singular form in the first sentence and the plural form in the sec
Srictly speaking, 'a decrease' suggests that there is only one decrease, or that the writer will just consider one decrease.
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Thanks Clive!
But if I add a or an before increase and decrease and translate them into Chinese literally, the sentences may not read smoothly
Besides, i still do not quite understand, why does the authors use "a decrease" in a decrease in people's powers of concentration. Since the author refers to the decrease in general, not to any decrease in particular, why n
But if I add a or an before increase and decrease and translate them into Chinese literally, the sentences may not read smoothly
Besides, i still do not quite understand, why does the authors use "a decrease" in a decrease in people's powers of concentration. Since the author refers to the decrease in general, not to any decrease in particular, why n
00
Hi,
But if I add a or an before increase and decrease and translate them into Chinese literally, the sentences may not read smoothly
Besides, i still do not quite understand, why does the authors use "a decrease" in a decrease in people's powers of concentration. Since the auth
But if I add a or an before increase and decrease and translate them into Chinese literally, the sentences may not read smoothly
Besides, i still do not quite understand, why does the authors use "a decrease" in a decrease in people's powers of concentration. Since the auth
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Hi Clive,
I see your point, my problem is just how to translate it, I mean if I translate it into Chinese, I may drop the "a" before decrease, which sounds better, but because I dropped the "a", the decrease seems to be more general, which does not reflect the original meaning word by word. But if you can give me two examples, perhaps I can further understand it then. You know translat
I see your point, my problem is just how to translate it, I mean if I translate it into Chinese, I may drop the "a" before decrease, which sounds better, but because I dropped the "a", the decrease seems to be more general, which does not reflect the original meaning word by word. But if you can give me two examples, perhaps I can further understand it then. You know translat
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Hi,
Sentence 1:This paper will consider three specific aspects:1... , 2 unusual change in global climate, and a decrease in people's powers of concentration.
Sentence 2: Due to temperature increases, many icebergs will melt.
Sentence 1:This paper will consider three specific aspects:1... , 2 unusual change in global climate, and a decrease in people's powers of concentration.
Sentence 2: Due to temperature increases, many icebergs will melt.
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Hi Clive,
My primary job is just to do a good translation, but like 'temperature increases', which literally means temperature goes up at least more than one time in English, does not have a different meaning with 'temperature increase' (which means increase only one time) in Chinese, and in general, for Chinese, we will not differ the two forms in meaning.
Anyway, thanks again
My primary job is just to do a good translation, but like 'temperature increases', which literally means temperature goes up at least more than one time in English, does not have a different meaning with 'temperature increase' (which means increase only one time) in Chinese, and in general, for Chinese, we will not differ the two forms in meaning.
Anyway, thanks again
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