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Mun Hwan
Counting nouns
Hi,
I was talking to my friend about a trip to Tartu and asked her: how can I buy a ticket to Tartu? If I were to ask this question on behalf of several people, should I say: How can you buy tickets to Tartu?
I have a trouble determining a singular or plural form of a noun at times.
What is the difference among these sentences and which one is to be used when I mean a general fact that "writer writes book" (In my native tongue, we do not specify the noun's plurality unless it is essential.
1)Writers write books.
2)Writers write a book.
3) A writer writes a book.
4) A writer writes books.
Jun 26, 2015 7:25 PM
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Answers · 2
Yeah, for a group you'd say "how can you buy tickets". And for the bottom question, 1 and 4 would work if you're talking generally.
July 2, 2015
I believe you are correct, you would say 'how can I buy tickets to Tartu'?
This would be plural because you intend to purchase more than one ticket since there are multiple people. When you say 'how can I buy a ticket' it implies that you only need one (a) ticket for yourself or another person.
For the last part:
1) multiple writers write multiple books
2) multiple writers write one book
3) one writer writes one book
4) one writer writes multiple books
The one you would use for a general fact would be #1 because it sugests that all writers write books and since there are multiple books that have been and are still being written, it is plural too. I hope that answered your question!
June 26, 2015
