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Plural forms only!
Plural forms only!
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chris
#2132 Tue, 15 Jul 03 05:48 PM
Today's question - How many words can the forums think of that only exist in the plural form?
For example, the word scissors can only be in the plural form.
chris
Joined on Mon, Apr 7 2003
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Plurals
maj
#2134 Tue, 15 Jul 03 09:04 PM
trousers, glasses.
maj
Joined on Mon, Mar 31 2003
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Plurals
Re: Plural forms only!
Re: Plural forms only!
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Plural forms only!
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Re: Plural forms only!
Re: Plural forms only!
Re: Plural forms only!
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Re: Plural forms only!
chris
#2136 Tue, 15 Jul 03 09:34 PM
Excellent - Woody can you think of any more?
chris
Plurals
Woodward
#2154 Wed, 16 Jul 03 05:05 AM
Cattle, trousers, pants, shorts, binoculars, jeans, pyjamas, pliers.
Woodward
Joined on Tue, Jun 24 2003
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<hint> Don't let schooling interfere with your education.</hint> www.woodward.cl
Plurals
Elena
#4957 Tue, 19 Aug 03 01:16 AM
Woodward, I can understand that 'cattle' is 'plural' because it refers to several animals, but why the other words like 'scissors' are considered 'plural'? To me they are just words that end by 's' as much they are naming things which have two parts but they are only one thing, the half of 'trousers' is nothing, the half of 'glasses' is nothing while a part of the cattle is something, and to get 'plural' you have to have more than a thing.
I am saying something weird? Maybe there is a formal linguistic word to call theses kind of plurals like 'semi-plural' or 'odd-plural' he he or 'godwhatakindofpluralisthis' Sorry. Tell me please, I think there is one but i don't remember.
Elena
Joined on Thu, Jul 31 2003
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Plurals
Elena
#4958 Tue, 19 Aug 03 01:22 AM
I addressed Woodward but my plea is for all teachers.
Thanks.
Elena
Plurals
Woodward
#4967 Tue, 19 Aug 03 05:38 AM
To have a 'plural' you have to have more than a thing is not necessarily True.
Some words are considered only in a plural form. Normally before these words you can say:
a pair of glasses or a pair of trousers but in reality you are talking about one.
These are just one of the many exceptions that exist in English. The specific name of the plural...I don't know if there is a specific word for it.
Consider your own language, Spanish. Isn't it the same in that too. You refer to one thing though you say it in plural.
The following nouns are always considered/said in plural form even though we are talking about 'one':
clothes pants pyjamas trousers binoculars glasses pliers scales scissors shears savings earnings surroundings stairs premises valuables ... ...
Woodward
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Elena
#4978 Tue, 19 Aug 03 10:45 AM
Yes, in Spanish is the same even more patent because we have plural form for the article , 'las tijeras' (the scissors)
And if I wanted to be fussy with the whims of real language I've could focused in 'cattle' rather than the other kind of plurals that , at least, have plural linguistic form as much they are expressing an only thing.
Curious thing: Greek have 'dual' form, so, to get common plural word (I don't know about the whims) they need more than two things. Do you know other languages with 'dual'?
Thanks for make me to stop my worry about this silly thing that was spinning in my mind.
Elena
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Plurals
Woodward
#5024 Tue, 19 Aug 03 10:18 PM
Arabic has dual forms. Trying to conjugate verbs is a nightmare!
Woodward
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