pluralis vs. singularis

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Arne H. Wilstrup - 30 Dec 2009 21:28 GMT

A verb in English has frequently added an -s to 3rd person singularis and
nothing in the plural. I have, however, observed a sentence in which the -s
doesn't seem to exist, so I should very much like to know why.

Here is the sentence:

"...the process through which a child or other novice acquires the
knowledge, orientations, and practices that enable him or her to participate
effectively and appropriately in the social life of a particular community."

Why no -s after the word "enable". As I see it 'enable' refers to 'the
process..." and "through which..." just explains the process and is not the
main subject - process is (I think) - what do I miss here?

Reply to this Message

Athel Cornish-Bowden - 30 Dec 2009 21:39 GMT

> A verb in English has frequently added an -s to 3rd person singularis
> and nothing in the plural. I have, however, observed a sentence in
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> process..." and "through which..." just explains the process and is not
> the main subject - process is (I think) - what do I miss here?

You"ve misidentified the subject of "enable", which is "that". This is
plural because its antecedent is "the knowledge, orientations, and
practices". The subject is not "the process"; if it were "the
knowledge, orientations, and practices" would be dangling in the middle
of the sentence with no function. In any case, your "sentence" is not
a sentence because it has no main verb. Probably one is hidden in the
opening ellipsis.

Signature

athel

Reply to this Message

Arne H. Wilstrup - 30 Dec 2009 23:34 GMT

>> A verb in English has frequently added an -s to 3rd person singularis and
>> nothing in the plural. I have, however, observed a sentence in which
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> because it has no main verb. Probably one is hidden in the opening
> ellipsis.

I used a quotation mark to indicate that it was only the "missing" -s I was
talking about, not the whole discussion in the text. I thought that it
would not have made the understanding better. However, since you imply this
(At least this is what I think) I shall give you the whole sentence below:

"Garret and Baquedano-Lopez(2002) defined socialization as "the process
through which a child or other novice acquires the knowledge, orientations,
and practices that enable him or her to participate effectively and
appropriately in the social life of a particular community" (p.339) and
stated that this process is realized primarily through the use of language."

I don't see how the whole sentence mentioned above would have contributed
better to the understanding of the grammatical issue written previously. Do
you agree?

By the way: Thank you for your contribution in order to explain why the
sentence is as it is. I am striving to become better in my understanding of
the English language, so everything helps.

Reply to this Message

Athel Cornish-Bowden - 31 Dec 2009 06:41 GMT

>>> A verb in English has frequently added an -s to 3rd person singularis
>>> and nothing in the plural. I have, however, observed a sentence in
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
> I used a quotation mark to indicate that it was only the "missing" -s I
> was talking about,

So? Who said anything about the quotation marks?

> not the whole discussion in the text. I thought that it would not have
> made the understanding better. However, since you imply this

It's not clear to me why you think I imply anything along the confused
lines you suggest.

> (At least this is what I think) I shall give you the whole sentence below:
>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> contributed better to the understanding of the grammatical issue
> written previously. Do you agree?

No, of course not. You an't discuss the grammatical structure of a
sentence that lacks a main verb.

> By the way: Thank you for your contribution in order to explain why the
> sentence is as it is. I am striving to become better in my
> understanding of the English language, so everything helps.

While you're striving you may likeke to note that "pluralis" and
"singularis" are not English words (though it wasn't difficult to guess
what you meant by them).

Signature

athel

Reply to this Message

John Varela - 31 Dec 2009 16:19 GMT

> I shall give you the whole sentence below:
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> appropriately in the social life of a particular community" (p.339) and
> stated that this process is realized primarily through the use of language."

The answer to your question is simple: that within the qoutation
marks is a sentence fragment, as Athel indicated.

Suppose your original were: 'Garret and Baquedano-Lopez defined
futbol as "a popular sport"'. Would you expect to find a verb in
the quotation from them?

The words quoted from G and B-L were doubtless originally preceded
by a subject and verb, perhaps something like "We define
socialization as..."

Signature

John Varela
Trade NEWlamps for OLDlamps for email

Reply to this Message

Leslie Danks - 30 Dec 2009 21:40 GMT

> A verb in English has frequently added an -s to 3rd person singularis
> and nothing in the plural. I have, however, observed a sentence in which
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> process..." and "through which..." just explains the process and is not
> the main subject - process is (I think) - what do I miss here?

"Process" is the subject of the verb "acquires". The subject of "enable"
is "the knowledge, orientations and practices", which is, of course,
plural.

Signature

Les (BrE)

Reply to this Message

Arne H. Wilstrup - 30 Dec 2009 21:38 GMT

>> A verb in English has frequently added an -s to 3rd person singularis
>> and nothing in the plural. I have, however, observed a sentence in which
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> is "the knowledge, orientations and practices", which is, of course,
> plural.

Thank you!

Reply to this Message

Athel Cornish-Bowden - 31 Dec 2009 06:43 GMT

>>> A verb in English has frequently added an -s to 3rd person singularis
>>> and nothing in the plural. I have, however, observed a sentence in which
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>>
>> "Process" is the subject of the verb "acquires".

Hmm. "The process ... acquires"? I fear you'll get Arne even more
confused than he already is.

>> The subject of "enable"
>> is "the knowledge, orientations and practices", which is, of course,
>> plural.
>
> Thank you!

Yes, you already did.

Signature

athel

Reply to this Message

Leslie Danks - 31 Dec 2009 09:20 GMT

>>>> A verb in English has frequently added an -s to 3rd person singularis
>>>> and nothing in the plural. I have, however, observed a sentence in
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> Hmm. "The process ... acquires"? I fear you'll get Arne even more
> confused than he already is.

You're right of course. Sorry, Arne! I should have written "a child or
other novice" is the subject of "acquires".

>>> The subject of "enable"
>>> is "the knowledge, orientations and practices", which is, of course,
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Yes, you already did.

Signature

Les (BrE)

Reply to this Message

mm - 31 Dec 2009 08:22 GMT

>>> A verb in English has frequently added an -s to 3rd person singularis
>>> and nothing in the plural. I have, however, observed a sentence in which
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
>Thank you!

YOu're polite and that's nice, but just in case, "child or other
novice" is the subject of "acquires". And Athel's descripion of the
other clause was correct.

Signature

Posters should say where they live, and for which area
they are asking questions. I was born and then lived in
Western Pa. 10 years
Indianapolis 7 years
Chicago 6 years
Brooklyn, NY 12 years
Baltimore 26 years

Reply to this Message

Discussion Groups / English Usage / December 2009

pluralis vs. singularis