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BMO Posted 22 years ago
Grammar

Plural

From this morning's paper:

1. Entire houses were taken off their foundation and just disappeared.
Foundation or foundations and why?

2. Together they caused dozens of deaths and billions of dollars in damage.
Damage or damages and why? When do you use damages?

Thanks.
  

Top answer

Hi bmo, (1) 'Foundations'-- each house has a foundation, and generally it's clearer to keep number (singular/plural) consistent. In this case, I doubt that all the houses are together on a single foundation. (2) This is a different case.

— Mister Micawber

  • Hi bmo, (1) 'Foundations'-- each house has a foundation, and generally it's clearer to keep number (singular/plural) consistent.
  • In this case, I doubt that all the houses are together on a single foundation.
  • (2) This is a different case.
  • 'Damage' here is uncountable-- 'much damage was done by the typhoon'.
  • 'Damages' is a primarily legal word for compensatory payment for an injury, loss of assets or goodwill, etc.
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2 Answers
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Hi bmo,

(1) 'Foundations'-- each house has a foundation, and generally it's clearer to keep number (singular/plural) consistent. In this case, I doubt that all the houses are together on a single foundation.

(2) This is a different case. 'Damage' here is uncountable-- 'much damage was done by the typhoon'. 'Damages' is a primarily legal word for compensatory payment for an
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Thank you so much. The newspaper was wrong re: foundation. (actually it was quoting someone.)
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