means of transport is or are?

How should I use this phrase in a context?

Can I use it both in the singular and in the plural?

e.g
This means of transport is...
These means of transport are...

Thank you,

[MrPedantic]

Hello Sheena

Yes, you can use it as both singular and plural:

1. That means of transport is not recommended.

2. Several means of transport are possible.

Have a good weekend,
MrP

[waterluo]

if the "mean " is used for "way "of tools or transport ,then you should use "means ",and its singular and plural are the same form
if the "mean "would be used as an "explanation ",then you should use its form "meaning "
right ?

Originally Posted by MrPedantic

Hello Sheena
Yes, you can use it as both singular and plural:
1. That means of transport is not recommended.
2. Several means of transport are possible.
Have a good weekend,
MrP

Thank you very much MrPedantic.

I still have a question related to the determinatives I can use with means [with a plural verb]
Can I use :"these/those ,etc. means of transport are " or only "several means of ..."

Have a good weekend, too

Originally Posted by waterluo

if the "mean " is used for "way "of tools or transport ,then you should use "means ",and its singular and plural are the same form
if the "mean "would be used as an "explanation ",then you should use its form "meaning "
right ?

Here are the explanations I found for "mean" in a dictionary:

mean [vb] -meant -meant
mean[adj.] -sefish in a petty way, unkind' low in quality, inferior, etc.
[informal]- ill-tempered
mean[noun] -smth. having a position , quality or condition midway between extremes
means [used with a sg. or pl. verb] - a method, a course of action, or an instrument by which an act can be accomplished or an end achieved
means [used with a pl.verb] - money, property or other wealth, etc.



Regards,

[MrPedantic]

Originally Posted by waterluo

if the "mean " is used for "way "of tools or transport ,then you should use "means ",and its singular and plural are the same form
if the "mean "would be used as an "explanation ",then you should use its form "meaning "
right ?

Hello Waterluo

Yes, that's right: when "means" = "method", it can take a singular verb when it relates to one method (e.g. of transport), and a plural verb when it relates to several methods (again, e.g. of transport).

But for the noun that means "explanation" or "thing signified", you always use "meaning" (e.g. "What's the meaning of of this sentence?").

All the best,

MrP

[MrPedantic]

Originally Posted by sheena55ro

Thank you very much MrPedantic.
I still have a question related to the determinatives I can use with means [with a plural verb]
Can I use :"these/those ,etc. means of transport are " or only "several means of ..."
Have a good weekend, too

Hello Sheena

That's right - you can use the full range of determiners with "means of (transport)", e.g. "these", "those", "that", "one", "a", "the", "some", "several", etc.

See you later,

MrP

Thank you very much for clarifying that ,MrP.



See you