questions about word usage - Page 2

MikeNewYork · #11 07-Jul-2004, 21:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonBee

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeNewYork

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonBee

1. Say: "All that stuff is mine." ("Stuff" as a noun is plural.)
2. Sometimes either could be used. (But in the previous sentence we wouldn't say might instead of could.) "It could happen" means there is a possibility that the thing will happen, and in that sentence we could use "might" instead of "could" with "might" indicating a greater likelihood that "it" would happen.
3. "She wouldn't believe" is more indicative of a refusal to believe than "She didn't believe", but the result is the same. :)
4. Use "in a while" to indicate the time that has passed between events and "for a while" to indicate the duration of an event.

:)

Erm...You may want to edit the first line. "Stuff" is singular. :wink:

Technically, yes--perhaps. But nobody says "Is this your stuffs?" or "That's my stuffs", do they? Instead, they say, "That's my stuff." And is "stuff" ever used to refer to just one thing?

Do you know the George Carlin bit where he says that what a house is is a place to keep your stuff? And when you travel somewhere you take a small version of your stuff with you? He was using "stuff" as a plural. Definitely.

:)

I agree that "stuff" is uncountable and has no plural in that context, but as a subject, it takes a singular verb.

Your stuff is falling on the floor.
My stuff is here.

**RonBee** · #12 07-Jul-2004, 22:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeNewYork

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonBee

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeNewYork

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonBee

1. Say: "All that stuff is mine." ("Stuff" as a noun is plural.)
2. Sometimes either could be used. (But in the previous sentence we wouldn't say might instead of could.) "It could happen" means there is a possibility that the thing will happen, and in that sentence we could use "might" instead of "could" with "might" indicating a greater likelihood that "it" would happen.
3. "She wouldn't believe" is more indicative of a refusal to believe than "She didn't believe", but the result is the same. :)
4. Use "in a while" to indicate the time that has passed between events and "for a while" to indicate the duration of an event.

:)

Erm...You may want to edit the first line. "Stuff" is singular. :wink:

Technically, yes--perhaps. But nobody says "Is this your stuffs?" or "That's my stuffs", do they? Instead, they say, "That's my stuff." And is "stuff" ever used to refer to just one thing?

Do you know the George Carlin bit where he says that what a house is is a place to keep your stuff? And when you travel somewhere you take a small version of your stuff with you? He was using "stuff" as a plural. Definitely.

:)

I agree that "stuff" is uncountable and has no plural in that context, but as a subject, it takes a singular verb.

Your stuff is falling on the floor.
My stuff is here.

You are right. Grammatically, "stuff" is singular.

:)

**RonBee** · #13 07-Jul-2004, 22:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeNewYork

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonBee

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeNewYork

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonBee

1. Say: "All that stuff is mine." ("Stuff" as a noun is plural.)
2. Sometimes either could be used. (But in the previous sentence we wouldn't say might instead of could.) "It could happen" means there is a possibility that the thing will happen, and in that sentence we could use "might" instead of "could" with "might" indicating a greater likelihood that "it" would happen.
3. "She wouldn't believe" is more indicative of a refusal to believe than "She didn't believe", but the result is the same. :)
4. Use "in a while" to indicate the time that has passed between events and "for a while" to indicate the duration of an event.

:)

Erm...You may want to edit the first line. "Stuff" is singular. :wink:

Technically, yes--perhaps. But nobody says "Is this your stuffs?" or "That's my stuffs", do they? Instead, they say, "That's my stuff." And is "stuff" ever used to refer to just one thing?

Do you know the George Carlin bit where he says that what a house is is a place to keep your stuff? And when you travel somewhere you take a small version of your stuff with you? He was using "stuff" as a plural. Definitely.

:)

I agree that "stuff" is uncountable and has no plural in that context, but as a subject, it takes a singular verb.

Your stuff is falling on the floor.
My stuff is here.

You are right. Grammatically, "stuff" is singular.

:)

**Tdol** · #14 07-Jul-2004, 23:38

But we do say 'foodstuffs'. At least, we do in the UK.

**Tdol** · #15 07-Jul-2004, 23:38

But we do say 'foodstuffs'. At least, we do in the UK.

**RonBee** · #16 07-Jul-2004, 23:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdol

But we do say 'foodstuffs'. At least, we do in the UK.

Yes, and there is no singular for that.

:)

**RonBee** · #17 07-Jul-2004, 23:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdol

But we do say 'foodstuffs'. At least, we do in the UK.

Yes, and there is no singular for that.

:)

MikeNewYork · #18 08-Jul-2004, 01:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonBee

You are right. Grammatically, "stuff" is singular.

:)

Your point about stuff being multiple things was also correct. :wink:

billy · #19 10-Jul-2004, 03:55

I appreciate your help ! :D

MikeNewYork · #20 10-Jul-2004, 20:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by billy

I appreciate your help ! :D

You're welcome, Billy. We are all happy to help. :D

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