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Englishnewbie Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Values / plural/singular

Hello,

Dictionaries say VALUES are plural (like SALES) if it is use for

family values, traditional values, ethical values, etc.

Ok,

So if I want to say

I want to consider value systems. (referring to values)

Can I use it in the singluar form if used as an adjective like this?

Or because this is plural form, I need to use

I want to consider VALUES systems. (like SALES team).

Which is correct?

Thanks you.
  

Top answer

Use the singular ( value system ), which is the usual form when using nouns as attributive modifiers: shoe store, pencil case , etc. By the way, your dictionary definition is misleading, since the use of plural 'values' is no different than it is for any other countable noun. You can discuss 'family values' or just a single 'family value', just as you can have 'two shirts' or 'one shirt'.

— Mister Micawber

  • Use the singular ( value system ), which is the usual form when using nouns as attributive modifiers: shoe store, pencil case , etc.
  • By the way, your dictionary definition is misleading, since the use of plural 'values' is no different than it is for any other countable noun.
  • You can discuss 'family values' or just a single 'family value', just as you can have 'two shirts' or 'one shirt'.
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10 Answers
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Use the singular (value system), which is the usual form when using nouns as attributive modifiers: shoe store, pencil case, etc.

By the way, your dictionary definition is misleading, since the use of plural 'values' is no different than it is for any other countable noun. You can discuss 'family values' or just a single 'family value', just as you can have 'two shirts' or
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HI,
Thanks for the reply.

Mcmillian says VALUES (in terms of family values for example) are the same as SALES in terms of PLURAL form only.

This is why I was confused.

Are you saying that this is wrong and that ethical values can be used as a singluar (an important ethical value)?

Thanks.
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Yes, that is what I'm saying. 'Sales' is an exception that 'values' is not:

Sales manager, sales receipts, sales department
Value judgement, value pack, value theory
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There are value/values (countable) for things such as "nutrutional value" or "monatary value", but

for cultural values, traditional values, macmillian says PLURAL only.

It seems like VALUE theory pertains to the former...

Can you help to clarify?

Thanks..
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I have already clarified, but you seem unable to accept it: you can have many cultural values or just one cultural value. Of course any culture always has more than one cultural value—just as humans always have more than one finger—but that is an observation of reality, not of grammar. Can we not speak of one finger when we need to?
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I guess I am having trouble with two dictionaries saying that
"ethical values" are plural only...

But you are saying that it can be used as COUNTABLE.

And I trust you.

So i will consider it as a countable noun, (please tell me if you mean something other than countable)

Thanks!
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One traditional value, two traditional values; one finger, two fingers.
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So why do people say "both its predictive and explanatory VALUE"???
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Your dictionary is correct. Values in the sense of traditional values is always plural.

You would say "values system". You cannot say "one traditional value" or "family is a traditional value" because values is always plural and uncountable. You have to rephrase as "family is one of american traditional values". Some people will say "family is a traditional values" which is better tha

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