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Gori Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
When to make the noun plural?
I was reading one grammar source, where they say:
" For instance, when we want each student to see his or her counselor (and each student is assigned to only one counselor), but we want to avoid that "his or her" construction by pluralizing, do we say "Students must see their counselors" or "Students must see their counselor"? The singular counselor is necesssary to avoid the implication that students have more than one counselor apiece. Do we say "Many sons dislike their father or fathers"? We don't mean to suggest that the sons have more than one father, so we use the singular father." (From "Guide to Grammar & Writing")
Now I have a question. For example, if a teacher tells his wife to look at all the students' noses(nose?) in his class, which would be more appropriate to say?
1. Look at their nose.
2. Look at their noses.
Since we do not mean to suggest that each student has more than one nose, should we use "nose" instead of "noses"? Or since we are talking about Mr. A's nose, Mr. B's nose, Mr. C's nose, and more, should we use the plural form "their noses" instead of the singular form "nose"?
I am confused. Please give me advice on when I should actually use the plural form and when I should not.
" For instance, when we want each student to see his or her counselor (and each student is assigned to only one counselor), but we want to avoid that "his or her" construction by pluralizing, do we say "Students must see their counselors" or "Students must see their counselor"? The singular counselor is necesssary to avoid the implication that students have more than one counselor apiece. Do we say "Many sons dislike their father or fathers"? We don't mean to suggest that the sons have more than one father, so we use the singular father." (From "Guide to Grammar & Writing")
Now I have a question. For example, if a teacher tells his wife to look at all the students' noses(nose?) in his class, which would be more appropriate to say?
1. Look at their nose.
2. Look at their noses.
Since we do not mean to suggest that each student has more than one nose, should we use "nose" instead of "noses"? Or since we are talking about Mr. A's nose, Mr. B's nose, Mr. C's nose, and more, should we use the plural form "their noses" instead of the singular form "nose"?
I am confused. Please give me advice on when I should actually use the plural form and when I should not.
Top answer
e. when it is shared cultural knowledge-- there is no need to singularize.
- e.
- when it is shared cultural knowledge-- there is no need to singularize.
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5 Answers
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When the number of fathers, noses, etc is obvious-- i.e. when it is shared cultural knowledge-- there is no need to singularize.
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Dear Mister Micawber:
Thank you for your advice.
So, do you mean that I can use the plural form in all the examples given (Many sons dislike their fathers./Students must see their counselors./Look at their noses.)?
Is it correct?
Thank you for your advice.
So, do you mean that I can use the plural form in all the examples given (Many sons dislike their fathers./Students must see their counselors./Look at their noses.)?
Is it correct?
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Any time that confusion is unlikely, it is considered good style to match singular with singular and plural with plural; otherwise, you must choose the form that makes it clear:
Because we are not familiar with the counseling system:
A student must see his/her counselor (Each has one counselor)
A student must see his/her counselors (Each has more than one)
Because we are not familiar with the counseling system:
A student must see his/her counselor (Each has one counselor)
A student must see his/her counselors (Each has more than one)
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Dear Mister Micawber,
Thank you for your comments and advice.
Your comments are very informative and help me a lot.
Thank you for your comments and advice.
Your comments are very informative and help me a lot.
00
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