uktous  +  964731 Sun, 08 Nov 09 01:59 AM hi, The following sentence was sent to me by an employer. The 2009 entry vacancy we currently have is for a position in our investment team. Our 2010 entry holds both investment and accounting vacancies. question1 Clearly, there must be more than 1 vacancy. Why he wrote 2009 entry vacancy ? question2 Clearly, there must be more than 1 entry Why he wrote Our 2010 entry ? thanks uktous Joined on Mon, Oct 26 2009 Junior Member 100 Business, Sentences, Careers

	Avangi  +  964823 Sun, 08 Nov 09 04:03 AM I suspect that "entry" has a special meaning/definition for him. Eg., "Our 2010 roster still has three vacancies." "Entry" clearly does not mean "candidate." Also, "vacancy" and "entry" may be either countable or uncountable. "Vacancy is very high in our apartment building right now.  In fact, we have seven vacancies." "Illegal entry into the US has slowed recently.  In the past three months there have been only seven million illegal entries." Avangi Joined on Mon, Nov 19 2007 Veteran Member 8,172 ". . . le plaisir delicieux et toujours nouveau d'une occupation inutile." - Henri de Regnier

	uktous  +  964907 Sun, 08 Nov 09 06:25 AM when vacancy means "unfilled job position", it is countable. However, the employer still writes "vacancy". I know that he is right, because usually in this case people will  write "vacancy" But I don't know the reason uktous Business, Careers

	Avangi  +  964937 Sun, 08 Nov 09 07:15 AM The 2009 entry vacancy we currently have is for a position in our investment team. Our 2010 entry holds both investment and accounting vacancies. You say "clearly there must be more than one vacancy."  Why "clearly"?  It's not clear to me. Do you think the 2010 vacancies are plural because they are in two categories?? (only one vacancy in each category) Maybe his English is not too good.  The 2009 statement is all singular:  "[it] is for a position" I suppose it's possible he's speaking of "the position" as a job classification (singular) while 2010 has openings in two classifications (plural).  In this case he may be using "vacancy" as uncountable noun. "We have a vacancy of two openings for the position of accountant."  Does that make sense? I don't think a native English speaking American would put it this way, but it's not ungrammatical. Avangi Nouns, Plurals, Uncountable Nouns, Speaking, Chat, Friendships

	uktous  +  965356 Sun, 08 Nov 09 06:31 PM I suppose it's possible he's speaking of "the position" as a job classification (singular) . In this case he may be using "vacancy" as uncountable noun. thank you, you are excellent it is very convincing uktous Nouns, Uncountable Nouns, Speaking, Chat, Friendships

	Avangi  +  965371 Sun, 08 Nov 09 06:45 PM Thanks.  It was a very worthwhile exercise. Avangi

	CalifJim  +  967672 Tue, 10 Nov 09 08:58 PM uktous “ The 2009 entry vacancy we currently have is for a position in our investment team. Our 2010 entry holds both investment and accounting vacancies. ” I know you have already discussed this, but let me state, right or wrong, what I think this means. In 2009 we have one entry-level vacancy to fill: a position on the investment team. In 2010 we will have two entry-level vacancies to fill:  a position on the investment team and a position on the accounting team. CJ CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,385 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

	Avangi  +  967719 Tue, 10 Nov 09 09:56 PM Good idea on "entry" = "entry-level."    Could it be idiomatic within the industry? Avangi

	BillJ  suggested by BillJ  +  968343 Wed, 11 Nov 09 11:17 AM Hello Uktous   The answer to your question is in the different meanings of the terms 'entry vacancy' and 'entry'.   'Entry vacancy' means the single vacancy available from the entry. 'Entry' means the entire intake which you would expect to consist of more than one vacancy, as is the case here.     Question 1: 'The 2009 entry vacancy (singular) we currently have is (singular) for a position (singular) .. ' = there is only one vacancy available of the 2009 intake.   If there was more than one vacancy, it would have said, ’‘The 2009 entry vacancies (plural)…..are (plural) for positions (plural)…'   Question 2:  'Our 2010 entry holds both (plural) investment and accounting vacancies' (plural) = there is more than one investment vacancy available and there is more than one accounting vacancy available.    If there was only one position available in each department, it would have said ''Our 2010 entry holds both an investment and an accounting vacancy'.   Hope that helps       BillJ Joined on Sun, Nov 8 2009 New Member 28 Plurals