Plural: Difference between revisions

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A '''plural''' word is one which by addition of an ending (in [[English]], [[French]], [[Spanish]] and [[Portuguese]] usually ''s'') to a [[noun]], represents more than one of that particular subject.  In most languages it's directly opposed to the grammatical category of '[[singular]]' but some languages have a third category, namely '[[dual]]'.
A '''plural''' [[noun]] is one which by addition of an ending (in [[English]], [[French]], [[Spanish]] and [[Portuguese]] usually ''s'') represents more than one of the referents.  In most languages it is directly opposed to the grammatical category of '[[singular]]' (for 'one') but some languages have a third category, '[[dual]]' (for 'two') and others have even more. Plural is used for any larger number than those.


A singular refers to one referent of a subject, while dual refers to two referents (especially for living creatures).  A plural refers to more than those units of referents.
In most languages the plural of nouns is clearly marked; but in others, such as [[Japanese]], it is unmarked, and nearby  expressions of quantity suffice.  In English some plurals have no markers; for example "sheep" is both singular and plural.


Some singular words do refer to collections, groups, organisations and institutions, but are considered as one entity: collective words and some plural words do refer to one single referent.  For example the word "sheep" refers to both one individual sheep, as well as a [[flock]] of sheep; the amount referenced depends on the context of the word used.
Verbs have different forms according to several criteria, [[number]] being merely one of them.
 
In most languages the plural of words is clearly marked; but in others, such as [[Japanese]], it is unmarked.


[[Category:CZ Live]]
[[Category:CZ Live]]
[[Category:Linguistics Workgroup]]
[[Category:Linguistics Workgroup]]

Revision as of 18:32, 13 October 2007

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A plural noun is one which by addition of an ending (in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese usually s) represents more than one of the referents. In most languages it is directly opposed to the grammatical category of 'singular' (for 'one') but some languages have a third category, 'dual' (for 'two') and others have even more. Plural is used for any larger number than those.

In most languages the plural of nouns is clearly marked; but in others, such as Japanese, it is unmarked, and nearby expressions of quantity suffice. In English some plurals have no markers; for example "sheep" is both singular and plural.

Verbs have different forms according to several criteria, number being merely one of them.

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