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  #1 (permalink)  
Old 04-Oct-2004, 07:18
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Default simple question

Compare:

1)We're a foreigner, we are too shy;we come from a different background.
2)We're foreigners, we are too shy;we come from different backgrounds.

Both are fine and acceptable. I would like to know when and where one will use the sigular form, or the other.
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Old 04-Oct-2004, 07:20
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We're a foreigner is correct?

FRC
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Old 04-Oct-2004, 07:27
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I think so.
That's also a sentence from Reader's Digest. Is that trustful? :P
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Old 04-Oct-2004, 07:30
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I think the singular form is used to indicate a whole concept as a foreigner. :wink:
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Old 04-Oct-2004, 07:39
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Never seen this one before.

FRC
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Old 04-Oct-2004, 12:01
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Default Re: simple question

Quote:
Originally Posted by blacknomi
Compare:

1)We're a foreigner, we are too shy;we come from a different background.
2)We're foreigners, we are too shy;we come from different backgrounds.

Both are fine and acceptable. I would like to know when and where one will use the sigular form, or the other.
I agree with FRC. 1) is incorrect. :(

Try,

I'm a foreigner. (singular noun)
We're foreigners. (plural noun)

Also,

We're a foreign group. (adjective)

All the best, :D
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Old 05-Oct-2004, 06:47
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The first one IS NOT acceptable....
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Old 05-Oct-2004, 06:59
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Okie dokie. Thanks. :P
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Old 05-Oct-2004, 09:27
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You're welcome. :D

By the way, what was the sentence exactly in Reader's Digest? :D
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Old 06-Oct-2004, 07:23
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Dear Cas,

If you have Reader's Digest at hand or you can go to your school library, and take a look at September 2004. I think we have the same version, printed at Hong Kong. Or I'll just post the context later. Class starts within 10, I gotta run now.

:D
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