This tag applies to questions that deal with grammatical number: “singular” versus “plural”, and (rarely) also “dual”.
0
votes
2answers
21 views
Singular-plural confusion, need clarification
I've just read this and thought it sounds a bit weird: "There was no significant difference in the rates of sepsis, shock, surgical wound infection...in dementia patients compared with non-dementia ...
0
votes
0answers
40 views
Usage of plural of “Industry”
"Analyze the differences between American and Japanese Construction Industry through site visits."
versus
"Analyze the differences between American and Japanese Construction Industries through site ...
0
votes
0answers
34 views
Plural of “You”
I have been trying to find a chart for the various inflections of the word "you". In particular, I am trying to understand the difference, if any, between "you all" and "all you all". Can anyone ...
0
votes
0answers
38 views
Correct use of “whose” in this context
Which of these would correctly imply individually judging each soul?
"As an Arbiter in the limbo between life and death, you must judge whose soul is worthy of heavenly salvation or eternal damnation....
0
votes
1answer
32 views
Is it possible to have a plural subject be a singular thing?
Here's a sentence I don't particularly understand.
"Necessary goods such as food also had to be shipped in order to meet the dietary needs of a consolidated population."
Wouldn't it have to be ...
0
votes
0answers
39 views
Get vs Gets - Singular vs plural verb with singular subject and collective noun object
This is probably a duplicate, but I can't figure out what to search for to describe it.
The question is "get" vs "gets."
Specifically:
"you may be among the 47% who get replaced"
or
"you may ...
1
vote
0answers
42 views
Why does “zero of one qualifications” sound better than “zero of one qualification” even though you only have one qualification? [on hold]
Of the two phrases:
zero of one qualification
zero of one qualifications
Because one is singular, it should be qualification without the plural suffix ‑s. But for reasons I cannot explain, to me ...
0
votes
0answers
21 views
How many sound systems in “a sound sytem in all three cars” [closed]
The sentence "I have installed a new sound system in all three cars" appears in this forum several years back. I wonder how many sound systems are involved. If the sentence were "I have installed a ...
0
votes
0answers
32 views
What is the correct way of naming stores basing on product name – singular or plural?
For example, if the store sells boats – should it be boat store or boats store? Furcоat store or furcоats store? Shoe store or shoes store?
Does the same apply to shops as well?
0
votes
0answers
29 views
Plural of “McFly” [duplicate]
What is correct?
McFlys
McFly's
McFlies
McFly family
The latter is valid for my case, but what if I'm referring to all people named McFly?
2
votes
2answers
76 views
“Numbers” or “number?” Which sentence is correct?
Which sentence is correct? Why?
In 2000, the number of Vietnamese students studied in Russia and France was around 3 million and 3.5 million respectively.
In 2000, the numbers of Vietnamese students ...
0
votes
0answers
22 views
A total of 80 marks “is” or “are” also available [duplicate]
A total of 80 marks is also available.
A total of 80 marks are also available.
Which is correct, please: 1, 2, or both?
1
vote
1answer
77 views
In my house, “there were” or “there was” many toys
Which of the following is correct and why:
1) In my house, there were many toys.
2) In my house, there was many toys.
An answer with an explanation would be greatly appreciated.
0
votes
2answers
54 views
visitors IP or visitor IPs or visitors IPs
Which one is correct?
visitors IP
visitor IPs
visitors IPs
To make things clear: a number of users visit a website. I want to say each IP of each visitor as a whole.
In other words what do you ...
1
vote
1answer
40 views
Different twist on “public” is or are?
I just read this sentence: "Note that 'public' have also other usages:" Since in this use of "public," we're talking about the word itself & not the group it's referring to, shouldn't the verb ...
1
vote
1answer
57 views
'None is' or 'none are', when the antecedent is plural? [duplicate]
Jacob Rees-Mogg MP, speaking by the invitation of the Speaker of the House of Commons in a lecture regarding Brexit, quoted a Financial Times article and, in passing, 'corrected' its grammar.
Quoting ...
0
votes
0answers
95 views
“Make” vs. “makes” in sentences like “Two and two make(s) four” or “Two and three make(s) five” [duplicate]
Which one is correct?
Two and two makes four.
Two and three make five.
1
vote
2answers
54 views
Why do we use “muscle/joint pain” in the singular in drug leaflets?
All drug leaflets list possible side effects of using the drug. Whenever muscle or joint pain is a possible side effect, it is listed in the singular (both muscle and pain), when it is generalized ...
1
vote
3answers
69 views
Plural of “be the life of a party”
I wanted to indicate that 2 people really livened up the party so I said, "They were the lifes of the party." It seemed natural. Someone immediately suggested it should be, "lives of the party." This ...
1
vote
1answer
59 views
Parking sign apostrophe? [duplicate]
Should there be an apostrophe in the sign "residents parking". A quick Google search suggests there shouldn't. But why not? Is "residents" an adjective?
4
votes
3answers
2k views
Why is the plural form of 'cupful' not 'cupsful'? [closed]
The plural form of cupful is cupfuls and cupsful? Shouldn't we be pluralizing the noun (cup) instead of the adjective?
-1
votes
2answers
29 views
Which still wants vs which still want [duplicate]
Which one is correct?
1) Pick those pieces of your heart which still wants to be happy , or
2) Pick those pieces of your heart which still want to be happy.
0
votes
1answer
34 views
Do I use the singular or plural form of a noun when describing an attribute of a plural noun? [duplicate]
Take these two sentences for example:
This is to compensate for the fluctuating character length in the sentence.
vs.
This is to compensate for the fluctuating characters length in the sentence....
0
votes
0answers
27 views
Plural of a digit, (NOT the word, “digit”, but of “3”)? [duplicate]
Is 3's a correct plural of the digit 3? That looks like a possessive. Is "3"s a correct plural?
1
vote
0answers
45 views
Mass Noun em-dash List-of-Plurals em-dash Verb
Is it just me, or?
All of the content you see on Stack Exchange—all the questions, answers, edits, reviews, users, badges, tags, and more—is stored in a relational database.
Seems technically ...
0
votes
0answers
7 views
What is the “s” at the end of some words and where does it go when talking about multiples? [migrated]
I just recently wrote a sentence to a client, then had to correct the sentence and wondered about one of the words.
I wrote the sentence:
Any Sunday in September works
Then I realized I could ...
0
votes
2answers
39 views
Oasis vs Oases - Which to use?
I am looking over something before posting it online and I have a sentence that simply doesn't seem to 'sound' right either way I write it. Specifically, I am trying to decide whether it is more ...
1
vote
0answers
38 views
In this context, is 'all' singular or plural?
Here are three sentences to help me ask this question:
The cats are all that they own.
All that they own is the cats.
All that they own are the cats.
The first sentence is definitely correct as ...
0
votes
1answer
140 views
Which one is correct and why? Hand vs hands [duplicate]
Which one is correct and why?
We held each other's hand
Or
We held each other's hands
0
votes
0answers
24 views
What exactly is the definition of “plural”? [duplicate]
I used to think plural meant 2+, but what about "0.5 hours"?
Is it more accurate to say "0.5 hour"? I don't think that's right, so my definition of "plural" must be inaccurate.
Even "0 days" seems ...
0
votes
1answer
49 views
Why do we “drive to the United Nations” but “drive to United Airlines”?
I understand why we "drive to Microsoft" but must "drive to the United Nations".
But why do we "drive to United Airlines" rather than "drive to the United Airlines"?
0
votes
0answers
45 views
Deciding between singular and plural sentence
I am having difficulty deciding which of the following sentences is correct.
Sentence A: We study the correlation between what ingredients people have and how nice their dinner is.
Sentence B: We ...
1
vote
3answers
122 views
Is a pluralized proper noun (Russias) the grammatical plural of that proper noun (Russia)?
Is "Russias" the plural of "Russia", in the sense that this is how they relate grammatically?
The reason that I suspect that they are not plural-singular is the following example.
[1] I see the egg.
...
1
vote
1answer
46 views
Singular/Plural: Here's or Here're [duplicate]
I came across this on the internet. What is the correct form? Singular or plural?
"Here is a pen and a ball."
or
"Here are a pen and a ball."
And please give me your thoughts on the contradiction ...
0
votes
0answers
22 views
Minus one dollar or minus one dollars? [duplicate]
Which is correct English, "you have minus one dollar in your account" or "you have minus one dollars in your account"?
Is the rule general?
For example, which is correct, "you have minus one diamond ...
0
votes
0answers
29 views
What number does a verb have when using “any”?
For example, if someone suggests: We could grab dinner, walk in the park, bike-ride, or whatever.
Should the response be: Any of those ideas sounds (or sound) good.? I.e. Is the correct number to use ...
6
votes
3answers
567 views
Insight into the pronunciation of the word algae?
Can anyone provide some insight into the pronunciation of the word algae? Various dictionaries give either the /g/ version as in gear or the /dʒ/ version as in jeep. For example:
https://dictionary....
1
vote
2answers
55 views
What are the advantages of having different word forms for different tenses?
I'm always wondering this question: what benefits can people get from using different forms of words in different contexts?
For example:
We say "he learns English" instead of "he learn English" but ...
0
votes
1answer
56 views
should I say 'a group of friends who lives close by' or 'a group of friends who live close by' [duplicate]
I'm attempting to design a worksheet for TEFL students. Here's one of the questions:
4) Your friend Tina who lives close by comes to visit you today. You want to ask her what she was doing when it ...
0
votes
2answers
37 views
Plural possessives [duplicate]
Which is correct: "Drs. Ha and Smith's comments" or "Drs. Ha's and Smith's comments" (referring to the comments of both drs.)
0
votes
1answer
39 views
Which is most appropriate? “Only do this with {management/management's/managemental} approval.”
Which is most appropriate? "Only do this with {management/management's/managemental} approval."
I get that the word "management" can be singular or plural. But, can it also be both possessive and ...
1
vote
1answer
69 views
“5 votes {was/were} chosen to be the number of close votes needed…”: Which is correct?
"5 votes was chosen to be the number of close votes needed to close a question on Stack Exchange."
Grammarly says that I should change "was" to "were," but it doesn't sound right to me. What's the ...
0
votes
0answers
20 views
What does it mean when a plural verb is sometimes used with a singular country-name as the subject? [duplicate]
I read a statement in this Facebook post:
Belgium make a statement with a clinical win
My question is why is it Belgium make in the plural, not Belgium makes in the singular?
Wouldn’t you say ...
1
vote
4answers
43 views
Is Windows (as in MS Windows) “it” or “them”
As in "This is MS Windows, do you like it?" vs "This is MS Windows, do you like them?".
Or "My MS Windows crashed, what should I do to fix them?" vs "My MS Windows crashed, what should I do to fix it?...
1
vote
1answer
70 views
Plural of East European surnames
Would the collective noun for the Ivanovic family be "Ivanoviches"?
I called the Invanoviches for confirmation.
0
votes
0answers
78 views
What is the correct way to use the genitive in “Marge's and Homer's personalities are the opposite”? [duplicate]
I was making drills with the genitive case and I made a sentence that I don't understand (ironically):
Marge's and Homer's personalities are the opposite.
I mean, it is supposed that every person ...
3
votes
1answer
70 views
Why do distributive adjectives mostly take a singular noun while quantitative adjectives mostly take a plural noun?
I am sure that there are some exceptions to this, but I have noticed that distributive adjectives like “each”, “every”, “either”, “neither”, etc., mostly take a singular noun, while quantitative ...
0
votes
0answers
18 views
Plural usage of this sentence
Think of the security guys in the green fluorescent jacket with their back towards the field.
or
Think of the security guys in the green fluorescent jackets with their backs towards the field.
...
1
vote
0answers
64 views
“Here is a list of all (the) modified files.” Should I write “the” or not?
In this sentence:
Here is a list of all modified files.
Do I write the before modified or not ?
I know that plural nouns often lose the article, but I'm not sure with this sentence.
0
votes
0answers
23 views
Is a term like micromanagement or micromanaging used with a singular/plural verb?
Micromanaging usually excessively emphasises or emphasise?
Would micromanagement affect the singular/plural aspect?
