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#2 (permalink) Mon Aug 14, 2006 5:49 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 :D |
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Pamela I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 1271 Location: RF
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#3 (permalink) Mon Aug 14, 2006 6:25 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. . _________________ "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8316 Location: USA
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#4 (permalink) Mon Aug 14, 2006 12:06 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 I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 13 Aug 2006 Posts: 372
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#5 (permalink) Mon Aug 14, 2006 12:36 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 _________________ "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8316 Location: USA
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#6 (permalink) Mon Aug 14, 2006 12:41 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 I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 13 Aug 2006 Posts: 372
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#7 (permalink) Mon Aug 14, 2006 12:50 pm Words 'shave', 'swim', wash', 'drink' in plural form |
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Thanks very much, Tung Quoc. :D
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. :shock:
Using "have a swim" is more probable as a plural:
"Even though I've already had two swims this afternoon, I think I'll have another."
Amy _________________ "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8316 Location: USA
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#8 (permalink) Mon Aug 14, 2006 12:58 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. :shock: "
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 I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 13 Aug 2006 Posts: 372
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#9 (permalink) Mon Aug 14, 2006 13:09 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 _________________ "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8316 Location: USA
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| What does "it" refer to? | Adjective order |