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Coquita Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

Nationalities

0Is it ok to say "Chinese are friendly" instead of "THE Chinese are friendly"?02br
02br
00I have another question: Why do you use the plural when you talk about "Americans" and not when you talk about "The English"?02br
02br
00Thanks!0-
  

Top answer

02font 00 No, say 'the Chinese'. 02br 02br 00However, in English speaking countries, it is more common to speak of 'Chinese 01i 00people'02i 00. 02font 02br 02br 01font 00I'm tempted to say it's just common usage, ie we say it because that's what we say.

— Clive

  • 02font 00 No, say 'the Chinese'.
  • 02br 02br 00However, in English speaking countries, it is more common to speak of 'Chinese 01i 00people'02i 00.
  • 02font 02br 02br 01font 00I'm tempted to say it's just common usage, ie we say it because that's what we say.
  • However, I note that the forms that end in 's' are easy for me to say.
  • The forms that don't take an 's' would be harder for me to say if I tried to add an 's'.
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1 Answers
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0Hi Coquita,02br
02br
00Welcome to the Forum.02br
02br
01font00Is it ok to say "Chinese are friendly" instead of "THE Chinese are friendly"?02font00 No, say 'the Chinese'. 02br
02br
00However, in English speaking countries, it is more common to speak of 'Chinese 01i00people'02i
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