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SuperESL Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Plural - Singular

"Why is it that we cannot get over our deep racial [animosities]?"

Are there any reasons why the singular form - [animosity] - cannot be used here? Of course the sentence refers to 'our' - more than one person's - racial animosities. But then since it concerns a widespread phenomenon - racism - wouldn't the singular 'animosity' be more suitable to conveying the generality of it?

Thank you.

Joe
  

Top answer

" Are there any reasons why the singular form - [animosity] - cannot be used here? No reasons at all! SuperESL wouldn't the singular 'animosity' be more suitable to conveying the generality of it ?

— Avangi

  • " Are there any reasons why the singular form - [animosity] - cannot be used here?
  • No reasons at all!
  • SuperESL wouldn't the singular 'animosity' be more suitable to conveying the generality of it ?
  • Yes.
  • But the plural would "be more suitable to conveying the" multiplicity of it.
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2 Answers
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SuperESL"Why is it that we cannot get over our deep racial [animosities]?"

Are there any reasons why the singular form - [animosity] - cannot be used here?
No reasons at all!
SuperESLwouldn't the singular 'animosity' be more suitable to conveying the generality of it?
Yes.
But the plural would
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".....be more suitable to the conveying of the prevalence of it."

".....be more suitable to conveying the prevalence of it."

".....be more suitable for conveying the prevalence of it."
".....be more suitable to convey the prevalence of it."

Are any of the four phrases above wrong grammar-wise? Must an infinitive follow "to"? It seems that in some cases, as in "I look
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