ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: Numbers

New2grammar — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 06:30:42 GMT

I agree with you that its usage is casual. It sounds like you would accept cut troops as well.

I wish another expert would join the discussion. Anyone?

Re: Numbers

26TMNTJG2PG — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 06:16:04 GMT

New2grammar
I've heard cut staff.

I am inclined to believe that is used informally to mean to cut down staff strength.

Re: Numbers

26TMNTJG2PG — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 06:11:30 GMT

Liveinjapan
New2, do you mean why the transitive cut needs the preposition down? I think down could be an adverb and cut down is a commonly used phrazal verb. Anyways I can't answer it properly.

"Cut" can be used as an adjective, noun and verb (transitively and intransitively).

Re: Numbers

26TMNTJG2PG — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 06:02:20 GMT

Liveinjapan
I think 'troop cuts' also possible.

Then, your sentence will have to be revised as "Britain announced last year it planned ~~to cut troop numbers~~ a troop cut to two thousand and five hundred but the government delayed the move."

In "troop cuts", 'troop' is used as an attributive (adjective) distinguishing 'cuts' like "power cuts", "pay cuts", "staff cuts", etc.

I list below two dictionary entries for clarification:-

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary -

To cut down--To lessen; to retrench; to curtail; as, to cut down expenses.

Dictionary.com Unabridged

cut down,

Also, cut down on. to lessen; decrease: to cut down on between-meal snacks.

Re: Numbers

New2grammar — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:48:40 GMT

Thanks for trying LiJ. I'm quite sure I've heard it from native speakers. We need another expert to confirm. I'm 100% sure I've heard cut staff.

Re: Numbers

Liveinjapan — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:39:07 GMT

Thanks, 26.

Got it.

I think 'troop cuts' also possible.

New2, do you mean why the transitive cut needs the preposition down? I think down could be an adverb and cut down is a commonly used phrazal verb. Anyways I can't answer it properly.

Re: Numbers

26TMNTJG2PG — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 08:09:00 GMT

New2grammar
I have no problem with your version but my question was whether cut troops is OK.

Actually, for 'cut' to mean 'reduce', it needs to be followed by the preposition 'down'. To cut numbers (without the 'down') is still understandable but not to cut troops.

Re: Numbers

New2grammar — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 07:42:38 GMT

I have no problem with your version but my question was whether cut troops is OK.

Re: Numbers

26TMNTJG2PG — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 07:34:06 GMT

New2grammar
It is also correct to say "cut troops"?

Say "cut down troops".

Re: Numbers

New2grammar — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 07:12:53 GMT

It is also correct to say "cut troops"?

Re: Numbers

26TMNTJG2PG — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 06:59:51 GMT

Yes.

Numbers

Liveinjapan — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 05:06:02 GMT

Britain announced last year it planned to cut troop numbers to two thousand and five hundred but the government delayed the move.

Can "troop numbers" be replaced by "the number of troops"?
Thanks.