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Sanya
What's the difference between woman doctors and women doctors?
They are woman doctors.
This sentence is chosen from a book. The author writes woman functions as an attributive modifying doctors.
In my humble opinion, this sentence is not correct. Woman doctor is a compound noun, and its plural form should be women doctors. If I am wrong, please correct me. Thank you!
Nov 1, 2012 12:15 PM
Answers · 11
1
I think...but I am no native speaker...
A women doctor is a doctor from women.
A woman doctor is a doctor which is herself a girl.
Doctors is just doctors. Plural of doctor.
November 1, 2012
1
After scouring the internet, I found an equal number of arguments for "woman doctor" as a compound noun, and "woman" as a noun adjunct in the term. I also found an approximately equal number of arguments for "woman doctors" and "women doctors" as the plural. I discovered (to my surprise) that there is no final authority for English grammar and usage, and that some issues in English grammar and usage remain disputed. This appears to be one of them. I think I'd start using the term "female doctors".
November 1, 2012
1
Yes, you are wrong. The plural form of "woman doctor" is "woman doctors".
girlfriend - girlfriends
boyfriend - boyfriends
There you go!
November 1, 2012
Let me put it this way...
What are the plural forms of ''tree surgeon'', ''ball boy'' and ''apple pie''? ;)
November 1, 2012
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Sanya
Language Skills
Chinese (Mandarin), English
Learning Language
English
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