Learn English and meet people on the world’s largest EFL social network

We have partnered with TradePub to bring you free industry magazines and resources - no coupons or credit cards required!

Visit: englishforums.tradepub.com


Share this topic:
This question is Not Answered
Latest post Wed, Feb 14 2007 1:31 AM by If Winter Comes. 3 replies.
Suggest an answer | | |
If Winter Comes  +  328960 Wed, 14 Feb 07 12:36 AM

I sometimes have a difficulty in using nouns in terms of the notion of "number".

In the following two sentences, which the native speakers of English would usually use?

If both sentences are commonly used, what would be the difference in meaning?

They paid with credit cards.
They paid with a credit card.

Joined on Thu, Jan 4 2007
New Member 10
Feebs11  +  328971 Wed, 14 Feb 07 01:01 AM

Both are entirely acceptable, but the interpretations are different.


They paid with credit cards.    They (multiple customers making different purchases) paid with credit cards (each customer used a credit card)
They paid with a credit card.   They (more than one person who are together buying something) paid with a credit card (one card is used to make the purchase)



Joined on Thu, Nov 23 2006
UK
Veteran Member 5,015
Philip  +  328974 Wed, 14 Feb 07 01:08 AM
 Feebs11 wrote:

Both are entirely acceptable, but the interpretations are different.


They paid with credit cards.    They (multiple customers making different purchases) paid with credit cards (each customer used a credit card)
They paid with a credit card.   They (more than one person who are together buying something) paid with a credit card (one card is used to make the purchase)



Sounds good to me!
Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005
Veteran Member 8,604
At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen
If Winter Comes  +  328979 Wed, 14 Feb 07 01:31 AM

Big Smile [:D]

Thank you very much for your prompt and precise explanation.

English is indeed a language of logic, isn't it?

© MediaCet Ltd. 2009, v5.0.3598.39794. All content posted by our users is a contribution to the public domain, this does not include imported usenet posts.*
For web related enquires please contact us on webmaster@mediacet.com, status updates are available at status.mediacet.com.
*Usenet post removal: Use 'X-No-Archive'. You may not have understood that your posts would end up in the public domain. Please send proof of the poster's email, we will remove immediately.