marriage or marriages

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CalifJim

#525669 Wed, 11 Jun 08 05:03 AM

Anonymous
Is it right to say that marriages are abstract and uncountable?

No. The fact that you've used the plural marriages means it's countable. Any plural form you see indicates that the noun is countable. Uncountable (or noncountable) nouns do not occur in the plural.

CalifJim

Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004

California

Veteran Member (16,572)

"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

Marriage, Nouns, Plurals

Avangi

#526015 Wed, 11 Jun 08 08:42 PM

New2grammar
As far as I know singular and plural are words associated with countable.

Absolutely correct, but that doesn't stop us from saying that we use the singular form when indicating the abstract/concept/generic meanings of nouns.

In the sentence, "He wrote an article about the child in conflict with modern society," "child" is singular. (I may say this without evoking countable/uncountable.)

- A.

Avangi

Joined on Mon, Nov 19 2007

Senior Member (3,023)

". . . le plaisir delicieux et toujours nouveau d'une occupation inutile." - Henri de Regnier

Articles, Grammar, Marriage, Nouns, Plurals

optilang

#526018 Wed, 11 Jun 08 08:54 PM

I think

marriage - the condition of a couple legally united

marriage - the ceremony by which the condition is created.

Therefore I think, marriage in the singular when talking about the condition/state and marriages (if there are more than one) when talking about the ceremony or act of marriage.

optilang

Joined on Tue, May 13 2008

Poland

Senior Member (2,107)

OptiNative British English Speaker Wherever I may roam, I'm still a Londoner.

Marriage

Avangi

#526026 Wed, 11 Jun 08 09:06 PM

I agree with those who have said they're comfortable with "marriages" as a "concept/generic term."

Avangi

Marriage

Goodman

#526078 Wed, 11 Jun 08 11:43 PM

I am still having a difficult time seeing “marriages” as a concept or should I call it a generic term. To me “gay marriage” is a civil right to some, a controversy to many and a moral issue depending on one’s upbringing. Whichever the case may be, it’s singular in nature even though under this singularity lies many gay marriages. Communism is a concept / an ideology and a way of life and so I see “gay marriage” as a generic term and therefore should be interpreted as singular entity in general referral. That’s one man’s opinion.

Goodman

Joined on Mon, Nov 7 2005

Calif. USA

Senior Member (3,090)

The name says it all!

Marriage

Grammar Geek

#526111 Thu, 12 Jun 08 02:35 AM

Would you agree that in the statement "High-heeled shoes may look nice but damage the feet" is a generic statement? It doesn't have to apply to any specific shoes, except those with high heels.

Grammar Geek

Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006

Pennsylvania, USA

Veteran Member (15,294)

Barbara, who answers in American English.

Marriage

Goodman

#526170 Thu, 12 Jun 08 06:56 AM

<<>>Would you agree that in the statement "High-heeled shoes may look nice but damage the feet" is a generic statement?

But it's not an apple-to apple comparison.

I would call polygamy and Yoga is a generic term which is a way of life just like gay life style. But I still can't get connected to the “high-heeled shoes concept…..

Goodman

Marriage

Grammar Geek

#526311 Thu, 12 Jun 08 01:47 PM

See, I disagree.

High-heeled shoes are uncomfortable.

Gay marriages are [fine][disgusting]. (I don't want to get into that debate, obviously.)

In both of these sentences, I'm not talking about specific instances at all. I'm using the term generically, just like "Lions are fierce hunters."

A lion is a fierce hunter. Lions are fierce hunters.
A high-heeled shoe is sexy. High-heeled shoes are sexy.
A gay marriage is a celebration of love. Gay marriages are a celebration of love.

Singular or plural can still be used in a generic sense.

Grammar Geek

Marriage, Plurals

Yoong Liat

#526397 Thu, 12 Jun 08 04:04 PM

optilang

Therefore I think, marriage in the singular when talking about the condition/state and marriages (if there are more than one) when talking about the ceremony or act of marriage.

It should be '... there is more than one...'

Yoong Liat

Joined on Mon, Sep 4 2006

Singapore

Veteran Member (5,864)

Yoong Liat

Marriage

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