phrase 'part of' with a plural noun

Question

Hi,I have difficulty using the phrase 'part of' before a plural noun. I am not quite sure whether I have to pluralize the phrase like 'parts of' or singularize like 'part of'. Do you have some guidelines?part (parts??) of congratulationspart (parts??) of possible solutions

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

I have difficulty using the phrase 'part of' before a plural noun. I am not quite sure whether I have to pluralize the phrase like 'parts of' or singularize like 'part of'. Do you have some guidelines?

part (parts??) of congratulations Sounds odd. I don't know what you mean here.

part (parts??) of possible solutions 'Part' sounds odd. 'Parts' is OK, but I think that we'd often prefer to say things like 'partial solutions'.

I suggest it's simpler to begin by consider simple and concrete examples.

After the collision, parts of the two cars lay on the road. This suggests parts from each car were on the road.

'Part of the two cars' sounds very odd, because we relate the idea of a 'a part' to a whole or complete item, ie an integral item.

Best wishes, Clive

phrase 'part of' with a plural noun

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