Results 1 to 5 of 5

Thread: smoke & fumes

  1. #1
    cwk3003 is offline Newbie
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Posts
    2

    Unhappy smoke & fumes

    I am puzzled with the word 'fumes'. Why 'fumes' is a plural noun ? There are such two sentences like 'Factories produce too much smoke.' and 'Vehicles make too many fumes.' I was asked to explain the reason for using plural with 'fumes'. I have no idea. Could you tell me the reason, please ? Thank you.

  2. #2
    Casiopea's Avatar
    Casiopea is offline VIP Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Posts
    12,971

    Default Re: smoke & fumes

    Welcome, cwk3003.

    fume, a singular noun, refers to a cloud of fine particles suspended in gas.

    fumes, a plural noun, refers to more than one cloud of fine particles suspended in gas.

    For example, cigarette fumes contain toxic gases such as carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, acrolein, hydrogen cyanide, and nitrogen oxides. There are countless more.

    All the best.

  3. #3
    cwk3003 is offline Newbie
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Posts
    2

    Default Re: smoke & fumes

    But why 'smoke' can't be in terms of 'clouds' ?

  4. #4
    riverkid is offline Banned
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    3,064

    Default Re: smoke & fumes

    Quote Originally Posted by cwk3003 View Post
    But why can't 'smoke' [can't] be in terms of 'clouds' ?
    It's not that 'smoke' couldn't be, CWK, it's that it isn't. Certain words have become uncountable in English [for the most part] and they resist [again for the most part] being changed.

    'Chalk', the kind used in a classroom, is a good example. These days they are manufactured just like pens, in individual sticks. These pieces/sticks appear to be countable but we still don't say,

    "Give me a chalk".

  5. #5
    Casiopea's Avatar
    Casiopea is offline VIP Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Posts
    12,971

    Default Re: smoke & fumes

    In addition,

    Fumes are made up of gases. Gases are invisible, whereas the smoke from a cigarette, for example, is produced by burning tobacco.

    All the best.

Similar Threads

  1. smoke your car
    By Kurt in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 11-Dec-2006, 13:03
  2. Smoke gets in your eyes
    By Humble in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 19-Nov-2006, 11:24
  3. [Tdol's Blog] Smoke and mirrors
    By Tdol in forum UsingEnglish.com Content
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 03-Apr-2006, 11:55
  4. smoke and mirrors
    By MW in forum English Idioms and Sayings
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 26-Mar-2006, 15:34
  5. second hand smoke
    By Anonymous in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 13-Dec-2003, 00:32

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Hotchalk

Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.1