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 Mon Aug 14, 2006 6:49 am Words 'shave', 'swim', wash', 'drink' in plural form |
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Hi Van,
No, you cannot say to have a shave and so on in plural form but to have drinks and to have a drink have quite different meanings.
To shave=to have a shave
to drink=to have a drink
NB.these expressions are of semi-conversion  |
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Pamela
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| Mon Aug 14, 2006 7:25 am Words 'shave', 'swim', wash', 'drink' in plural form |
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Hi Pamela
What leads you to believe that you're answering questions from Van? 
It is possible to make expressions such as "have a shave" plural, but it would be unusual in many cases. If I were to do it, I'd replace the word a and add an s to the final word:
He had such a heavy beard that he often had to have several shaves during the course of a day. (I consider this sentence to be unusual and it would usually be worded some other.)
However, have a drink is easily made plural and it's quite normal:
He had a few drinks after work.
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Yankee
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| Mon Aug 14, 2006 13:06 pm Words 'shave', 'swim', wash', 'drink' in plural form |
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Dear teachers,
I'll have a wash before dinner.
=I'll have a bath before dinner. ?
Best regards
Quoc
P.S: Could u give me an example with "wash" and "swim" in plural? |
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tung quoc
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| Mon Aug 14, 2006 13:36 pm Words 'shave', 'swim', wash', 'drink' in plural form |
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| tung quoc wrote: | | P.S: Could u give me an example with "wash" and "swim" in plural? |
If I answer your question, will you promise to stop writing the word you without the first two letters?
Amy
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| Mon Aug 14, 2006 13:41 pm Words 'shave', 'swim', wash', 'drink' in plural form |
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Dear teacher,
I'm sorry for that. Next time, I'll write "you".
Best regards.
Tung Quoc |
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tung quoc
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Yankee
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| Mon Aug 14, 2006 13:58 pm Words 'shave', 'swim', wash', 'drink' in plural form |
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Dear teacher,
I don't understand:
"
It would be quite unlikely that you would need to use "have a wash" in the plural. I don't even use that expression in the singular.  "
That means:
a. "have a wash" is never used in singular?
or:"have a wash" is never used in plural?
Could you tell me an example where "have a wash" is used in plural?
b. "Have a wash" and "have a bath" have the same meaning?
When I say: I'll have a wash.
That means I only wash a hand... or I wash all my body?
Best regards
Tung Quoc |
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tung quoc
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| Mon Aug 14, 2006 14:09 pm Words 'shave', 'swim', wash', 'drink' in plural form |
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Hi Tung Quoc
I don't use the expression "have a wash" at all. So, I can't give you an example using either "wash" or "washes" because both expressions sound strange to me.
I would say either "take a bath" or "have a bath".
Amy
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