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If Winter Comes Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

Singular or Plurals

0I sometimes have a difficulty in using nouns in terms of the notion of "number".02br
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00In the following two sentences, which the native speakers of English would usually use?02br
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00If both sentences are commonly used, what would be the difference in meaning?02br
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01font00They paid 01wbr00with credi01wbr00t cards.02br
00They paid 01wbr00with a cre01wbr00dit card.00 02font0-
  

Top answer

02br 02br 01font 00They paid with credit cards. 00They (multiple customers making different purchases) paid with credit cards (each customer used a credit card)02br 00They paid with a credit card. 00They (more than one person who are together buying something) paid with a credit card (one card is used to make the purchase)02font 02br 02br 01font 02br 02font 0-

— Feebs11

  • 02br 02br 01font 00They paid with credit cards.
  • 00They (multiple customers making different purchases) paid with credit cards (each customer used a credit card)02br 00They paid with a credit card.
  • 00They (more than one person who are together buying something) paid with a credit card (one card is used to make the purchase)02font 02br 02br 01font 02br 02font 0-
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3 Answers
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0Both are entirely acceptable, but the interpretations are different.02br
02br
01font00They paid with credit cards. 00They (multiple customers making different purchases) paid with credit cards (each customer used a credit card)02br
00They paid with a credit card. 00They (more than one person who are together buying something
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0 01blockquote
01cite10Feebs1112cite10Both are entirely acceptable, but the interpretations are different.12br
12br
12br
11font10They paid with credit cards. 10They (multiple customers making different purchases) paid with credit cards (each customer used a credit card)12br
10They
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5002br
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00Thank you very much for your prompt and precise explanation.02br
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00English is indeed a language of logic, isn't it?010id2
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