0
Gori Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

Plural in this case?

0I got a bit confused whether or not I should make the following noun 01u00plural or singular if I want to say that each student has his/her own bag02u00. Please help me distinguish the meanings between 1 and 2 below.02br
02br
001. I saw a few students with bags. / I saw a few students carrying bags.02br
002. I saw a few students with a bag. / I saw a few students carrying a bag.0-
  

Top answer

0I saw a few students with bags. -- Each student carried one or more02br 02br 00I saw a few students carrying bags. -- same02br 02br 00I saw a few students with a bag.

— Inchoateknowledge

  • 0I saw a few students with bags.
  • -- Each student carried one or more02br 02br 00I saw a few students carrying bags.
  • -- same02br 02br 00I saw a few students with a bag.
  • -- one each or one for all02br 02br 00I saw a few students carrying a bag.
  • -- same02br 02br 00'few students' I regard as one entity0-
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

6 Answers
0
0I saw a few students with bags. -- Each student carried one or more02br
02br
00I saw a few students carrying bags. -- same02br
02br
00I saw a few students with a bag. -- one each or one for all02br
02br
00I saw a few students carrying a bag. -- same02br
02br
00'few students' I regard as one entity0-
0
0
0Hmmm, how about in the following case? What's the difference in the meaning?02br
02br
001. Many students have an umbrella.02br
002. Many students have unmbrellas.02br
02br
00Is the above 1 case acceptable? 0-
0
0
0 01blockquote
01cite10Gori12cite10Hmmm, how about in the following case? What's the difference in the meaning?12br
12br
101. Many students have an umbrella.12br
102. Many students have unmbrellas.12br
12br
10Is the above 1 case acceptable? 12br
12blockquote
11b01font
0
0
0 01blockquote
00...make the following noun 11u10plural or singular if I want to say that each student has his/her own bag12u10. 12blockquote
12br
00 Neither will convey the idea of 01i00each02i00, i.e., 01i00all02i00.02br
02br
01i00I saw a few students
0
0
0 01blockquote
001. Many students have an umbrella.12br
10 2. Many students have umbrellas.12blockquote
10No difference in meaning. I would probably say the second one.02br
00 Neither one is equivalent to either of these:02br
02br
01i00Many students have more than one umbrella.02br
00 A grou
0
0
0Thank you all your advice and explanations.02br
00Okay, I understand that I can use either case, right?02br
00Again, I appreciate all your help with my questions.0-
0

Related Questions