[Grammar] a dice

[Will17]

Hello!

Can we say "a" dice?

Thank you
W

 

[nyota]

I'd say:

a die
two dice

 

[5jj]

Can we say "a" dice?

Yes, in BrE. There are still some who insist that 'die' is the singular form, 'dice' the plural. Most of those who touch such things, however, play with one dice or two dice.

 

[nyota]

Yes, in BrE. There are still some who insist that 'die' is the singular form, 'dice' the plural. Most of those who touch such things, however, play with one dice or two dice.

This is so comforting. A die sounds so... morbid. Dice seems to come more naturally, I don't know why though.

 

[5jj]

This is so comforting. A die sounds so... morbid. Dice seems to come more naturally, I don't know why though.

I agree. Remember, however, that in such expressions as 'the die is cast' (from the Latin 'alea jacta est') only 'die' is possible.

 

[SoothingDave]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_(manufacturing)

Not all "dies" are morbid!

I am American, and if I heard someone say that they rolled a "dice," I would think them ill-educated. "Dice" is plural.

 

[Barb_D]

Well, I confess that I say "one dice."

 

[freezeframe]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_(manufacturing)

Not all "dies" are morbid!

I am American, and if I heard someone say that they rolled a "dice," I would think them ill-educated. "Dice" is plural.

Ill-educated in die theory and praxis?

 

[JMurray]

I too am a "one dice, two dice" person, along with everyone I've ever played Monopoly or Snakes & Ladders with.

 

[Tdol]

I die/dice but don't feel strongly either way.

 

[bhaisahab]

I die/dice but don't feel strongly either way.

Same here.

 

[JTRiff]

nonteacher

Roll the die
Roll the dice
The dice is cast...?
I think the die is cast refers to stamping metal, not dice

 

[freezeframe]

nonteacher

Roll the die
Roll the dice
The dice is cast...?
I think the die is cast refers to stamping metal, not dice

The dice are cast...

The phrase you're thinking of is "The die is cast", presumably uttered by Caesar upon crossing the Rubicon. The Latin was provided by fivejedjon already: alea iacta est. It means we've crossed the point of no return.

I don't think Caesar was stamping metal while marching on Rome. But if you have some new information, this might be a revolutionary dissertation in History and Classics. :-D