[Grammar] Plural and singular after the word "of"

Status
Not open for further replies.

Phil100

New member
Joined
Jun 17, 2013
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Zulu
Home Country
Aaland
Current Location
Aaland
Hi,

I have never quite understood when to use either singular or plural after the word "of" e.g.

Staff with 200 yrs of experience.
Stuffs of nightmare
Illegal cockfight

Why the above not written as experiences, nightmares and cockfights?

Thank you in advance,
Phil
 

Raymott

VIP Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2008
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
English
Home Country
Australia
Current Location
Australia
Hi,

I have never quite understood when to use either singular or plural after the word "of" e.g.

Staff with 200 yrs of experience.
Stuffs of nightmare
Illegal cockfight

Why the above not written as experiences, nightmares and cockfights?

Thank you in advance,
Phil
Whether you use a singular or plural has absolutely nothing to do with the word "of".
If you have one illegal cockfight, that's singular. If you have two illegal cockfights, it's plural - though where's the "of" in that example?
"Stuffs of nightmare/s" is never used. The only possible phrase is "stuff of nightmares" - because it's the stuff nightmares are made of - nothing to do with "of".
With the first phrase, you're dealing with whether "experience" is countable or uncountable.
 

Phil100

New member
Joined
Jun 17, 2013
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Zulu
Home Country
Aaland
Current Location
Aaland
[QUOTE=Raymott;

Thanks.:-D
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top