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Anonymous Posted 21 years ago
Vocabulary
Singular vs Plural for non-count nouns
Can you please explain when to use non-count nouns in their plural forms. For example:
profit vs profits
feeling vs feelings
communication vs communications
difficulty vs difficulties
skill vs skills
My difficulty is that I can't seemd to understand the concept or when to add an "s" to something that I can't count, e.g., I can't count how many profit(s), or how many feeling(s), etc. I can count one apple or two apples. Can you please explain. Thank you very much.
Sunshine in DC.
profit vs profits
feeling vs feelings
communication vs communications
difficulty vs difficulties
skill vs skills
My difficulty is that I can't seemd to understand the concept or when to add an "s" to something that I can't count, e.g., I can't count how many profit(s), or how many feeling(s), etc. I can count one apple or two apples. Can you please explain. Thank you very much.
Sunshine in DC.
Top answer
When a non-count noun takes a plural form, it becomes a countable noun. You have to decide whether you are speaking of the non-countable condition/quality/amount, or of multiple instances of the same. -- or I can decide that feeling is inappropriate for a spectator sport and I can go place a bet with my bookie.
- When a non-count noun takes a plural form, it becomes a countable noun.
- You have to decide whether you are speaking of the non-countable condition/quality/amount, or of multiple instances of the same.
- -- or I can decide that feeling is inappropriate for a spectator sport and I can go place a bet with my bookie.
- Does this help?
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6 Answers
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When a non-count noun takes a plural form, it becomes a countable noun. You have to decide whether you are speaking of the non-countable condition/quality/amount, or of multiple instances of the same. For example, I can have many feelings during a baseball game-- elation, depression, hope, despair,etc.-- or I can decide that feeling is inappropriate for a spectator sport and I
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kindly give the singular of the following sentence; These trousers are expensive.
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Anonymouskindly give the singular of the following sentence; These trousers are expensive.There is no singular. This trouser is expensive is not Standard English.
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