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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
No singular version possible?
Hi. I think someone told me that the word "treachery" is a plural noun. I think that means that it only comes in plural form like "jeans." I think the word "jeans" is a plural noun. Does that mean the phrase "a treachery" isn't correct?
Top answer
Hi Anon, The word "treachery" is not plural. It is grammatically singular, and it is also an uncountable noun. Basically, you can compare it to the way the word "information" is used.
- Hi Anon, The word "treachery" is not plural.
- It is grammatically singular, and it is also an uncountable noun.
- Basically, you can compare it to the way the word "information" is used.
- You cannot say "an information" and you cannot say "a treachery".
- You can say "some information" and you can say "some treachery".
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7 Answers
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Hi Anon,
The word "treachery" is not plural. It is grammatically singular, and it is also an uncountable noun. Basically, you can compare it to the way the word "information" is used.
You cannot say "an information" and you cannot say "a treachery".
You can say "some information" and you can say "some treachery".
The word "jeans" is grammatically plural.
The word "treachery" is not plural. It is grammatically singular, and it is also an uncountable noun. Basically, you can compare it to the way the word "information" is used.
You cannot say "an information" and you cannot say "a treachery".
You can say "some information" and you can say "some treachery".
The word "jeans" is grammatically plural.
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Hi. Thank you. I think we can say "treacheries." Then why is it that we can't seem to say the phrase "a treachery"?
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The phrase "a treachery" is fine, but not very commonly seen.
Here is a quote from a literary review:
This lyrical, demanding, and doggedly honest study asks why love so often fails, not just through bad luck or tragic conflict with some other great human value, but through a treachery from within.
And another example from Mark Twain's "Prince and the Pauper"
Here is a quote from a literary review:
This lyrical, demanding, and doggedly honest study asks why love so often fails, not just through bad luck or tragic conflict with some other great human value, but through a treachery from within.
And another example from Mark Twain's "Prince and the Pauper"
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I agree with AlpheccaStars.
Treachery can be plural.
Anything that can be described as a type of behaviour can be used in the plural where appropriate.
( 'behaviours' is often used, especially in the sciences, to mean types of behaviour. )
Such treacherous behaviours are not confined to our enemies, I have seen them in our friends also.
Such t
Treachery can be plural.
Anything that can be described as a type of behaviour can be used in the plural where appropriate.
( 'behaviours' is often used, especially in the sciences, to mean types of behaviour. )
Such treacherous behaviours are not confined to our enemies, I have seen them in our friends also.
Such t
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Hi Anon
You're right that the word "treacheries" is occasionally used, however the singular, collective form is far more commonly used. I suppose you may also run into an occasional usage of "a treachery" as well, but I would expect that to be rare.
As I said before, the word "treachery" is used as an uncountable noun. That is the typical usage. And one of the grammatical charac
You're right that the word "treacheries" is occasionally used, however the singular, collective form is far more commonly used. I suppose you may also run into an occasional usage of "a treachery" as well, but I would expect that to be rare.
As I said before, the word "treachery" is used as an uncountable noun. That is the typical usage. And one of the grammatical charac
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Patrick LockerbyTreachery can be plural.Hi Patrick
I still say the word "treachery" is singular. Would you ever use the word "treachery" with a plural verb?
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Their treacheries were many, their friends, few.
Treacheries were perpetrated throughout the land.
Such treacheries were unknown in the days of chivalry.
'were' plural.
'treacheries' is interchangeable with 'acts of treachery' .
Treacheries were perpetrated throughout the land.
Such treacheries were unknown in the days of chivalry.
'were' plural.
'treacheries' is interchangeable with 'acts of treachery' .
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