Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
arrangement; instruction; command; request for something
mistreatment
briefing
entry
order
TOEIC practice test: Online word games: Free Noun Adjective Game Answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

Word "men-of-war" - singular or plural?



 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
Has Or Have: Our team at Sony has/have a unique understanding of... | usage of "qualify"
Listening exercises
Message
Author
Word "men-of-war" - singular or plural? #1 (permalink) Tue Jun 03, 2008 18:31 pm   Word "men-of-war" - singular or plural?
 

Hi,

Men-of-war is a form of jellyfish with poisonous parts that are capable of doing serious harm to swimmers who aren't taken to a hospital right away and don't get medical help quickly

=> Which is wrong and why? Should "men-of-war" be understood as kind of jellyfish and therefore be used with singular verbs, or should it be used with plural verbs because of the form "men" (not "man"?

Many thanks
Nessie
_________________
Sad... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. Sad

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...
Nessie
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 1102

Word "men-of-war" - singular or plural? #2 (permalink) Tue Jun 03, 2008 19:33 pm   Word "men-of-war" - singular or plural?
 

singular = man-of-war (Portuguese man-of-war)
plural = men-of-war

"This man-of-war has sharp teeth and straight hair."

"These men-of-war have formed a gang."
_________________
Billie Jean is not my lover. Hee.
Prezbucky
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2527
Location: Nashville, TN (USA)

Learn to use the present simple with the help of this short storyAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!English grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsLearn how to explore English words! Subscribe to free email English course
Word "men-of-war" - singular or plural? #3 (permalink) Wed Jun 04, 2008 5:14 am   Word "men-of-war" - singular or plural?
 

Thanks a lot, Prezbucky. Razz
By the way, have you any idea why they call those jellyfish "men-of-war"? RazzRazz
_________________
Sad... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. Sad

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...
Nessie
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 1102

Word "men-of-war" - singular or plural? #4 (permalink) Wed Jun 04, 2008 5:44 am   Word "men-of-war" - singular or plural?
 

prezbucky wrote:
"This man-of-war has sharp teeth and straight hair."

"These men-of-war have formed a gang."


Er... are you refering to human or jellyfish, Prezbucky?
_________________
Sad... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. Sad

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...
Nessie
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 1102

Word "men-of-war" - singular or plural? #5 (permalink) Wed Jun 04, 2008 13:58 pm   Word "men-of-war" - singular or plural?
 

I was joking about their attributes. hehe
_________________
Billie Jean is not my lover. Hee.
Prezbucky
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2527
Location: Nashville, TN (USA)

Word "men-of-war" - singular or plural? #6 (permalink) Thu Jun 05, 2008 9:29 am   Word "men-of-war" - singular or plural?
 

But... I still don't understand, Prezbucky, is your joke about human or jellyfish? :O:O:O
_________________
Sad... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. Sad

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...
Nessie
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 1102

Display posts from previous:   
Has Or Have: Our team at Sony has/have a unique understanding of... | usage of "qualify"
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms Word "men-of-war" - singular or plural? All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on ESL EFL Forums
"sitting in on classes" as translation for German term 'Hospitation'?user guide vs. user's guideisn't and aren'tUsage of much and many (How much rice do you want?)blunder vs errorcertified retail sales expert as translation for 'Handelsfachwirt'?Sentence correction: My uncle advised me that we shouldn't be arrogant to the...Sentence correction: He was deported from the University for allegedly copied...Expression: "He had been searching for gold..."Expression: "The water gushed out of his mouth."difference in use between "have to" and "must"the usage of in the morning, in the afternoonpronuncation of MondayExpression: "I could hear the music playing.""copy machine" vs "copying machine"the phrase with "no one"Collocating the adjective "complicate".Based on or basing on?Word "men-of-war" - singular or plural?

Discover English-test.net
I really enjoy an atmosphere at this ESL Forum!Meaning of trialingLines from Macbeth: "I have given suck..""Other than be" vs "Other than being"What does "sewing thread" mean?TOEIC verbal preparation: Vocabulary Exercises: English Nouns Adverbs Verbs AdjectivesTOEIC preparation test: Free online word games: Noun Adverb Verb Adjective GameDefine offset, member, confirmation, wallpaper, thus, lawsuitEnglish vocabulary in use: Noun verb worksheetEnglish grammar exercise online: Sorry, Wrong NumberOral English training: Retail Marketing

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Subscribe to FREE email English course
First name E-mail