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TeacherJapan Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

What difference does it make?

I've always wanted to know what difference does it make to choose the singular or the plural as in the next example.

I wish I could read ( ? )

(1) newspapapers in English as easily as I could Japanese ones.
(2) a newspaper in English as easily as I can one in Japanese.

newspapers? a newspaper?
  

Top answer

In that case you can use either "newspapers" or "a newspaper". It hardly makes a difference to the meaning. " (this part is actual and not imagined).

— GPY

  • In that case you can use either "newspapers" or "a newspaper".
  • It hardly makes a difference to the meaning.
  • " (this part is actual and not imagined).
  • "as easily as I can in Japanese" seems more parallel.
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5 Answers
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In that case you can use either "newspapers" or "a newspaper". It hardly makes a difference to the meaning.

Assuming you are talking about the present, it should be "as easily as I can ..." (this part is actual and not imagined).

"as easily as I can in Japanese" seems more parallel.
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teacherJapannewspapers ... a newspaper ...
For generic references like these it makes no difference. The two forms are in free variation.

CJ
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teacherJapan(2) a newspaper in English as easily as I can one in Japanese.
Does the pronoun "one" mean "a newspaper" or "the newspaper"?
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Anonymous teacherJapan(2) a newspaper in English as easily as I can one in Japanese.Does the pronoun "one" mean "a newspaper" or "the newspaper"?
"a newspaper".
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I see. Your suggestion sounds a lot better! Thank you very much!
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