A angelene001 Member Joined Mar 21, 2012 Member Type Interested in Language Native Language Polish Home Country Poland Current Location Poland Mar 21, 2013 #1 Can I use a singular noun here: Giraffes have got a long neck.
Raymott VIP Member Joined Jun 29, 2008 Member Type Academic Native Language English Home Country Australia Current Location Australia Mar 21, 2013 #2 angelene001 said: Can I use a singular noun here: Giraffes have got a long neck. Click to expand... Yes, at least in AusE you can.
angelene001 said: Can I use a singular noun here: Giraffes have got a long neck. Click to expand... Yes, at least in AusE you can.
bhaisahab Moderator Staff member Joined Apr 12, 2008 Member Type Retired English Teacher Native Language British English Home Country England Current Location Ireland Mar 21, 2013 #3 I'd say "Giraffes have long necks". "Giraffes have got a long neck" sounds to me like something a three-year-old child would say.
I'd say "Giraffes have long necks". "Giraffes have got a long neck" sounds to me like something a three-year-old child would say.
Raymott VIP Member Joined Jun 29, 2008 Member Type Academic Native Language English Home Country Australia Current Location Australia Mar 21, 2013 #4 bhaisahab said: I'd say "Giraffes have long necks". "Giraffes have got a long neck" sounds to me like something a three-year-old child would say. Click to expand... Maybe, a three-year-old or an Aussie. ;-) "Giraffes have" in this context means "The Giraffe has ..." ie. the giraffe as a species. "Dogs generally have a longer and wider nose than cats." Sounds OK to me.
bhaisahab said: I'd say "Giraffes have long necks". "Giraffes have got a long neck" sounds to me like something a three-year-old child would say. Click to expand... Maybe, a three-year-old or an Aussie. ;-) "Giraffes have" in this context means "The Giraffe has ..." ie. the giraffe as a species. "Dogs generally have a longer and wider nose than cats." Sounds OK to me.
T Tdol No Longer With Us (RIP) Staff member Joined Nov 13, 2002 Native Language British English Home Country UK Current Location Japan Mar 21, 2013 #5 Raymott said: Yes, at least in AusE you can. Click to expand... I'd say that you can in BrE too- it's not incorrect, and I'd probably go for a higher age limit that Bhai.
Raymott said: Yes, at least in AusE you can. Click to expand... I'd say that you can in BrE too- it's not incorrect, and I'd probably go for a higher age limit that Bhai.