1Likes -
1 Post By Gillnetter
-
allergy Vs. Allergies
Dear English teacher:
I have a question about the word “allergy”: Should it always be used in the plural form? For instance, can I say, “My allergy is getting worst” or should it always be “my allergies are getting worse”? What if I was referring to only one case?
I have heard people say “allergies?”(Always plural) when someone sneezes.
Except when it is used before a noun like, allergy season, food allergy and the like.
Thanks
-
Re: allergy Vs. Allergies

Originally Posted by
High on grammar
Dear English teacher:
I have a question about the word “allergy”: Should it always be used in the plural form? For instance, can I say, “My allergy is getting worst” or should it always be “my allergies are getting worse”? What if I was referring to only one case?
I have heard people say “allergies?”(Always plural) when someone sneezes. I suppose that they are asking if the person sneezing has some allergies. I haven't heard this before but it is likely. I would be just as likely to say, "Do you have an allergy?",or, "allergy?".
Except when it is used before a noun like, allergy season, food allergy and the like.
Thanks
A person can have an allergy just as a person can have a car. A person may have allergies and a person may have many cars.
-
Re: allergy Vs. Allergies
If you have a known specific allergy, you would proabaly refer to it in the singular. "I have a peanut allergy."
People who sneeze a lot usually are sensitive to various environmental factors, so it is usual for them to say they have allergies.
-
Re: allergy Vs. Allergies

Originally Posted by
High on grammar
Dear English teacher:
I have a question about the word “allergy”: Should it always be used in the plural form? For instance, can I say, “My allergy is getting worst” or should it always be “my allergies are getting worse”? What if I was referring to only one case?
I have heard people say “allergies?”(Always plural) when someone sneezes.
Except when it is used before a noun like, allergy season, food allergy and the like.
Thanks
Thanks
Similar Threads
-
By Ju in forum Ask a Teacher
Replies: 4
Last Post: 12-Apr-2011, 10:18
-
By AllergicMo in forum Ask a Teacher
Replies: 2
Last Post: 31-Mar-2011, 11:58
-
By Ju in forum Ask a Teacher
Replies: 1
Last Post: 05-May-2007, 15:43
Posting Permissions
- You may not post new threads
- You may not post replies
- You may not post attachments
- You may not edit your posts
-
Forum Rules

Search Engine Optimization by
vBSEO 3.6.1