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Pructus Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Plural and singular
Hi, Everyone!!
Though this one seems to be a purely grammatical issue....
In Japan there is a proverb, "If it stinks, put a lid on it." Alas, this seems to have been Toyota's approach to its burgeoning safety crisis, initially denying, minimizing and mitigating the problems involving brakes that don't brake and accelerators that have a mind of their own. President Akio Toyoda, grandson of the founder, was MIA for two weeks and the company has appeared less than forthcoming about critical safety issues, risking the trust of its customers world-wide. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704533204575047370633234414.html
"accelerators that have a mind of their own"
accelerators.... is plural. So, "a mind" is grammatical here?
Another example is "those who have a choice". "those" is plural so logically it seems that "choice" must be plural.
Is it just traditional usage?
Though this one seems to be a purely grammatical issue....
In Japan there is a proverb, "If it stinks, put a lid on it." Alas, this seems to have been Toyota's approach to its burgeoning safety crisis, initially denying, minimizing and mitigating the problems involving brakes that don't brake and accelerators that have a mind of their own. President Akio Toyoda, grandson of the founder, was MIA for two weeks and the company has appeared less than forthcoming about critical safety issues, risking the trust of its customers world-wide. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704533204575047370633234414.html
"accelerators that have a mind of their own"
accelerators.... is plural. So, "a mind" is grammatical here?
Another example is "those who have a choice". "those" is plural so logically it seems that "choice" must be plural.
Is it just traditional usage?
Top answer
Look at it this way: each accelerator has only one mind. We hear the plural sometimes, but I prefer the singular.
- Look at it this way: each accelerator has only one mind.
- We hear the plural sometimes, but I prefer the singular.
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1 Answers
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Look at it this way: each accelerator has only one mind. We hear the plural sometimes, but I prefer the singular.
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