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HSS Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
The Brothers Grimm
Hi, how are you?
I've just come back from seeing the film the "Brothers Grimm."
Now, I was wondering if you could also say the brothers Grimms, and if it is common. I know you might call them the Grimm brothers or simply the Grimms when making it known that you are referring to the famous brothers is not so important.
Thanks in advance for your help.
HSS
I've just come back from seeing the film the "Brothers Grimm."
Now, I was wondering if you could also say the brothers Grimms, and if it is common. I know you might call them the Grimm brothers or simply the Grimms when making it known that you are referring to the famous brothers is not so important.
Thanks in advance for your help.
HSS
Top answer
No, you can't say that. You can only say "The Brothers Grimm", "The Grimm Brothers", or just "The Grimms". The second choice would be the most common by far for referring to a group of siblings, but since "The Brothers Grimm" is in reference to a famous group of siblings, it's used almost as a title rather than a generic reference and is thusly an exception.
- No, you can't say that.
- You can only say "The Brothers Grimm", "The Grimm Brothers", or just "The Grimms".
- The second choice would be the most common by far for referring to a group of siblings, but since "The Brothers Grimm" is in reference to a famous group of siblings, it's used almost as a title rather than a generic reference and is thusly an exception.
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6 Answers
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No, you can't say that. You can only say "The Brothers Grimm", "The Grimm Brothers", or just "The Grimms". The second choice would be the most common by far for referring to a group of siblings, but since "The Brothers Grimm" is in reference to a famous group of siblings, it's used almost as a title rather than a generic reference and is thusly an exception.
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Thanks, Erin.
Does the same construction then apply to such other analogues as grandparents, cousins, and mom and dad; e.g., the Grandparents McIrwin, the Cousins DeAnn, and the Mom and Dad Smith? They would be instead of the McIrwin grandparents, the DeAnn cousins, and the Smith mom and dad.
HSS
Does the same construction then apply to such other analogues as grandparents, cousins, and mom and dad; e.g., the Grandparents McIrwin, the Cousins DeAnn, and the Mom and Dad Smith? They would be instead of the McIrwin grandparents, the DeAnn cousins, and the Smith mom and dad.
HSS
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This construction is very odd, and almost never used in AmE.
The McIrwins, the DeAnns, the Smiths. This is the only way families are referred to. As was said before, "The Brothers Grimm" is used because they were well-known authors.
The McIrwins, the DeAnns, the Smiths. This is the only way families are referred to. As was said before, "The Brothers Grimm" is used because they were well-known authors.
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I agree that it's very unusual in AmE - for example, Orville and Wilbur Wright (who invented the airplane) are always referred to a "the Wright Brothers," not "the Brothers Wright." I wonder if the style of "the Brothers Grimm" is taken from German?
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Hello Khoff
Yes you are right. The Brothers Grimm must be a translation of die Brüder Grimm. The Brönte Sisters are the Brönte Sisters rather than the Sisters Brönte.
paco
Yes you are right. The Brothers Grimm must be a translation of die Brüder Grimm. The Brönte Sisters are the Brönte Sisters rather than the Sisters Brönte.
paco
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Thank you all who have helped me with this issue. Very informative, indeed.
Hiro/ Sendai, Japan
Hiro/ Sendai, Japan
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