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New2grammar Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

marriage or marriages

0I'm all for gay marriage/marriages.02br
02br
00My parents approve of arranged marriage/marriages.02br
02br
00Which is correct?02br
02br
00Thanks0-
  

Top answer

0 I think if you want to use the term "marriage" in a general sense, which I think how you intended to use in for your first sentence, then I see no need to resort to many instances of marriages. So, I think this is good: I'm all for gay marriage. But for your second sentence, it sounds better with the plural, only because I usually hear it like that -- can't give a solid reason; I think 'arrange marriage' is OK too.

— Anonymous

  • 0 I think if you want to use the term "marriage" in a general sense, which I think how you intended to use in for your first sentence, then I see no need to resort to many instances of marriages.
  • So, I think this is good: I'm all for gay marriage.
  • But for your second sentence, it sounds better with the plural, only because I usually hear it like that -- can't give a solid reason; I think 'arrange marriage' is OK too.
  • My parents approve of arranged marriages/arrange marriage.
  • 0-
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36 Answers
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0 I think if you want to use the term "marriage" in a general sense, which I think how you intended to use in for your first sentence, then I see no need to resort to many instances of marriages. So, I think this is good: I'm all for gay marriage. But for your second sentence, it sounds better with the plural, only because I usually hear it like that -- can't give a solid reason; I thi
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0
0I'm all for gay 01del00marriage02del00/marriages.02br
02br
00My parents approve of arranged 01del00marriage02del00/marriages.02br
00I don't like the idea of 01b00a02b00 gay marriage.02br
00I don't like the idea of 01b00an02b00 arranged marriage.0-
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0I agree with your last two sentences. 02br
02br
00 It is possible to use the uncountable in the first sentence? 0-
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1blockquote
01cite10New2grammar12cite10It is possible to use the u11b10ncountable 12b10in the first sentence? 12blockquote
10What do you mean by 'uncountable'?0-
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0I support gay marriage - the concept of gay marriage. Use the singular.02br
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00For reasons I can't explain either, I too prefer arranged marriages.02br
02br
00Edit: That is, as a matter of style, I prefer the plural in arranged marriages. I am neutral on the actual topic!0-
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0Yoong Liat, when I said uncountable, I meant abstract or what GG said, concept. Is my choice of word confusing?0-
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1blockquote
01cite10New2grammar12cite12br
10Yoong Liat, when I said uncountable, I meant abstract or what GG said, concept. Is my choice of word confusing?12br
12br
12blockquote
10Yes, the word is confusing because, I think, you mean 'arranged marriage/marriages.' So I think you should have used 01i00
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0As far as I know singular and plural are words associated with countable. For example02br
02br
00An apple (is singular)02br
02br
00Apples(is plural)02br
02br
00a gay marriage ( is singular)02br
02br
00gay marriages (is plural)02br
02br
00gay marrriage (is abstract/uncountable)02br
02br
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0gay marrriage (is abstract/uncountable)02br
02br
00The reason I chose uncountable was that I wanted to emphasize the abstractness. Is my understanding incorrect? If so, please correct me. Thanks.02br
00I believe in gay marriage02br
00I believe in marriage02br
00Both are correct when talking about marriage as an 'institution' 0-
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0
1blockquote
01cite10New2grammar12cite12br
10I'm all for gay marriage/marriages.12br
12br
10My parents approve of arranged marriage/marriages.12br
12blockquote
10I'd use the plural. 0-
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