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Thread: simple question

  1. #1
    blacknomi is offline Key Member
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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.

  2. #2
    Francois is offline Senior Member
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    We're a foreigner is correct?

    FRC

  3. #3
    blacknomi is offline Key Member
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    I think so.
    That's also a sentence from Reader's Digest. Is that trustful? :P

  4. #4
    blacknomi is offline Key Member
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    I think the singular form is used to indicate a whole concept as a foreigner. :wink:

  5. #5
    Francois is offline Senior Member
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    Never seen this one before.

    FRC

  6. #6
    Casiopea's Avatar
    Casiopea is offline VIP Member
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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

  7. #7
    ARMION Guest

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    The first one IS NOT acceptable....

  8. #8
    blacknomi is offline Key Member
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    Okie dokie. Thanks. :P

  9. #9
    Casiopea's Avatar
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    You're welcome. :D

    By the way, what was the sentence exactly in Reader's Digest? :D

  10. #10
    blacknomi is offline Key Member
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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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