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New2grammar Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

shampoo(s)

There are a wide variety of shampoo[ s] at the store.

There are a wide variety of shower gel[ s] at the store.

Should the words, shampoo and shower gel be pluralized in this context?

Thanks!
  

Top answer

" Just shampoo. This is one of those times when you could use either. You are emphasizing the different types, so even though it's not a countable noun, you can use shampoos.

  • " Just shampoo.
  • This is one of those times when you could use either.
  • You are emphasizing the different types, so even though it's not a countable noun, you can use shampoos.
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4 Answers
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In the US, you wouldn't say "shampoo gel." Just shampoo.

This is one of those times when you could use either. You are emphasizing the different types, so even though it's not a countable noun, you can use shampoos.
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New2grammarThere are a wide variety of shampoo[ s] at the store.

There are a wide variety of shower gel[ s] at the store.

There are is a wide variety of shampoos at the store.

There are is a wide variety of shower gels at the store.
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Thank you, GG.

I Googled and seem to have gotten this result.

a wide variety of shampoos -- 1,860 hits

a wide variety of shampoo -- 2,600 hits

a wide variety of furniture -- 56,000 hits

a wide variety of furnitures -- 4 hits

Is this results coincide with what you are thinking? Is 'shampoo' a rare case where a person can use either -- whereas,
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*Furnitures, *equipments, and *advices are all examples when you cannot make them plural, even when you talk about different types.

On the other hand, shampoos, coffees, and wines can all be used in the plural sense - I note these are all liquids, but "fishes" is used in the plural when talking about many different species of fish, so clearly that alone doesn't account for the rule.

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