Flashcards on Advanced English Grammar Guide
Advanced English Grammar Guide: Master Key Concepts
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Grammar: Nouns & Countability
42 cards
Card 1
Question: What is the grammatical vs. syntactic behavior of collective nouns like 'team' or 'family' described here?
Answer: Grammatically singular (take singular verb), but syntactically plural (can refer to members and take plural agreement). Plural is often preferred when
Card 2
Question: Give two example sentences showing singular and plural treatment of 'Brazil' as a collective noun.
Answer: Brazil was winning (the whole country as one). Brazil were winning (the representatives/players of the country).
Card 3
Question: When forming plurals of compound nouns with two lexical roots (e.g., 'passer-by'), which element takes the plural marker?
Answer: The plural 's' goes on the main noun (the superordinate element): 1 passer-by → 7 passers-by; 1 sister-in-law → 2 sisters-in-law; 1 forget-me-not → 7
Card 4
Question: How do you pluralize compound nouns where the plural can attach to either part? Give examples from the content.
Answer: Usually 's' goes to the noun that is the head: 1 tooth-brush → 1 tooth-brushes; 1 by-pass → 4 by-passes. For kinship compounds the plural goes on the
Card 5
Question: What's the distinction between 'step-sister' and 'half-sister' as given?
Answer: Step-sister: shares no genetic parents. Half-sister: shares one parent.
Card 6
Question: How is 'glass' treated differently as countable vs. uncountable in the content?
Answer: Countable: a glass/glasses = a drinking glass. Uncountable: glass = the material. 'Glasses' (plural) can also mean spectacles (invariable plural meani
Card 7
Question: How is 'iron' contrasted between countable and uncountable meanings?
Answer: Countable: irons = electric irons (or 'an iron' = device). Invariable plural 'irons' can mean handcuffs. Uncountable: iron = the metal.
Card 8
Question: What nouns are listed as 'only singular' (invariable singulars) and 'only plural' (invariable plurals)?
Answer: Only singular (invariable): money, information, experience. Only plural (invariable): trousers, glasses (meaning spectacles).
Card 9
Question: How can 'experience' be both uncountable and countable according to the notes?
Answer: Uncountable 'experience' = zkušenost/knowledge (a lot of experience). Countable 'experience(s)' = zážitek (her experiences = either events or accumula
Card 10
Question: When should you use 'a' vs 'some' for 'nějaký' in Czech as described?
Answer: 'a' = nějaký (one single unspecified item). 'some' = nějaký (unspecified amount, not necessarily one) used with plural countable or uncountable nouns