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SuperESL Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Plural/Singular Countable/Uncountable nouns
“It is not the case that there are no [differences] between fraternal countries and us,” he noted, “on the strategic plane we should unite with them, but in terms of tactics we cannot be uncritical.” Later in the speech he again turned to the issue: “between countries it is impossible not to have [differences] in politics, and there are [differences] in [ethnicity, religion, language, and custom and habit]. Therefore, if you think we are going to have absolutely no [problem] with these countries, that is blind optimism.”
Leaving aside the fact that this is an awkwardly constructed sentence - it's translated from a different language - [are/is?] any of the bracketed words in error in terms of plural/singular form?
I am having enormous trouble with deciding when to use the uncountable form of a noun and when to use the countable form. Also, it seems that very often both the singular and plural forms can be used to denote 'the general class' (as opposed to specific instances) of a noun.
Thank you.
Joe
Leaving aside the fact that this is an awkwardly constructed sentence - it's translated from a different language - [are/is?] any of the bracketed words in error in terms of plural/singular form?
I am having enormous trouble with deciding when to use the uncountable form of a noun and when to use the countable form. Also, it seems that very often both the singular and plural forms can be used to denote 'the general class' (as opposed to specific instances) of a noun.
Thank you.
Joe
Top answer
Hi Joe, The bracketed uses are all correct. There are differences in the following categories: We find differences in the following categories: There are differences among the following categories: We find differences among the following categories: There is a difference in the way he does it. There are differences in the way he does it.
- Hi Joe, The bracketed uses are all correct.
- There are differences in the following categories: We find differences in the following categories: There are differences among the following categories: We find differences among the following categories: There is a difference in the way he does it.
- There are differences in the way he does it.
- There is a difference between his style and mine.
- There are differences between his style and mine.
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8 Answers
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Hi Joe,
The bracketed uses are all correct.
There are differences in the following categories:
We find differences in the following categories:
There are differences among the following categories:
We find differences among the following categories:
There is a difference in the way he does it.
The bracketed uses are all correct.
There are differences in the following categories:
We find differences in the following categories:
There are differences among the following categories:
We find differences among the following categories:
There is a difference in the way he does it.
00
"After the age of 9 there are clear differences in [habits] and they increase with the age."
"In addition, religious backgrounds and ethnic identities account for differences in [customs]."
I culled the above two sentences from the Internet. Are they wrong to use the plural form for the bracketed words? In my initial post, my use of the singular form for the words 'habit' and 'cu
"In addition, religious backgrounds and ethnic identities account for differences in [customs]."
I culled the above two sentences from the Internet. Are they wrong to use the plural form for the bracketed words? In my initial post, my use of the singular form for the words 'habit' and 'cu
00
Both singular and plural work in your sentences.
In my opinion this represents a change from uncountable to countable (from stuff to things).
changes in habit (uncountable)
Changes in habits (countable)
changes in a/the habit (countable)
In my opinion this represents a change from uncountable to countable (from stuff to things).
changes in habit (uncountable)
Changes in habits (countable)
changes in a/the habit (countable)
00
Thanks so much. Just to follow up with a related query:
"As for dealings with imperialist countries......."
"As for dealings with [the] imperialist countries......"
"As for [the] dealings with [the] imperialist countries......"
"As for relationships with fraternal countries......"
"As for relationships with [the] fraternal countries......"
"As
"As for dealings with imperialist countries......."
"As for dealings with [the] imperialist countries......"
"As for [the] dealings with [the] imperialist countries......"
"As for relationships with fraternal countries......"
"As for relationships with [the] fraternal countries......"
"As
00
Only context would determine it.
The definite article "the" implies that you have a particular group in mind (or particular dealings).
Certain countries may have been referred to earlier in the conversation (or certain dealings).
OR you may be intending to stress ALL the imperialist/fraternal countries (or dealings/relationships).
Absent the
The definite article "the" implies that you have a particular group in mind (or particular dealings).
Certain countries may have been referred to earlier in the conversation (or certain dealings).
OR you may be intending to stress ALL the imperialist/fraternal countries (or dealings/relationships).
Absent the
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"The [outcome] of international [struggle] mirrors the balance of power."
"The [outcomes] of international [struggle] mirror the balance of power."
"The [outcome] of international [struggles] mirros the balance of power."
"The [outcomes] of international [struggles] mirror the balance of power."
I have no idea how to go about deciding which of these sentences ar
"The [outcomes] of international [struggle] mirror the balance of power."
"The [outcome] of international [struggles] mirros the balance of power."
"The [outcomes] of international [struggles] mirror the balance of power."
I have no idea how to go about deciding which of these sentences ar
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It seems to me that you need "number agreement," making #1 and #4 acceptable.
(That's probably the wrong term. You have agreement between subject and verb.)
I mean, you can't mix countable and uncountable here. The plurals indicate countable nouns.
Sorry, I'm asleep! The definite article makes "outcome" and "outcomes" both countable.
"International struggle"
(That's probably the wrong term. You have agreement between subject and verb.)
I mean, you can't mix countable and uncountable here. The plurals indicate countable nouns.
Sorry, I'm asleep! The definite article makes "outcome" and "outcomes" both countable.
"International struggle"
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Avangi,
On a different question: do I need change the tense of the phrase "it follows that......" when it is embedded in an indirect speech sentence? As in -
"Stalin ascribed to the Americans in no uncertain terms three strategic moves that he believed were in the making preparatory to war: 'the first is to mobilize the power of the alliance of the European imperialist countries;
On a different question: do I need change the tense of the phrase "it follows that......" when it is embedded in an indirect speech sentence? As in -
"Stalin ascribed to the Americans in no uncertain terms three strategic moves that he believed were in the making preparatory to war: 'the first is to mobilize the power of the alliance of the European imperialist countries;
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