British

[jasonlulu_2000]

Here is from my textbook:" Charlie Chaplin brightened the lives of Americans and British through two world wars and the hard years in between."

Is "British" a noun like "Americans"?

Should it be "the British" instead? Also, can I use "life" instead of "lives" here as life can be uncountable, can't it?

Thanks!

Jason

 

[Rover_KE]

It should be 'the British'.

I wouldn't use 'life'.

 

[teechar]

Can you tell us the name of that book please?

 

[jutfrank]

It's fine as it is. Americans means American people and British means British people. (We don't put an s on the end of British.) There's no need to use a definite article.

Since we're talking about people (countable), then we are talking about their lives (not life).

 

[GoesStation]

It does not look natural to me. When do we use an unqualified "British" to mean "British people"?

 

[jutfrank]

When do we use an unqualified "British" to mean "British people"?

In cases such as this.

The lack of a definite article produces a greater degree of generality. You could use the Americans and the British, but it doesn't sound right to me to use an article before one of the nouns and not the other.

 

[GoesStation]

Here is from my textbook:" Charlie Chaplin brightened the lives of Americans and British through two world wars and the hard years in between."

It does not look natural to me. When do we use an unqualified "British" to mean "British people"?

In cases such as this.

The lack of a definite article produces a greater degree of generality. You could use the Americans and the British, but it doesn't sound right to me to use an article before one of the nouns and not the other.

The usual plural demonym for British people is Britons. I think the original sentence was written by a non-native English speaker.

 

[jutfrank]

The usual plural demonym for British people is Britons. I think the original sentence was written by a non-native English speaker.

Yes, good point. I agree that the use of Britons would make the phrasing less awkward.

Interestingly, it seems to me that the use of the Britons doesn't quite sound right in the way that the Americans or the British does. Do others agree?

 

[GoesStation]

Interestingly, it seems to me that the use of the Britons doesn't quite sound right in the way that the Americans or the British does. Do others agree?

I do. You can say the British or Britons. (Note to learners: this is not my fault. )

 

[emsr2d2]

"Britons" is rarely used these days. I'd accept "brightened the lives of Americans and Brits". We frequently use "Brits" to mean "the British" or "British people".

 

[Rover_KE]

Yes - 'Brits' is fine informally, but I wouldn't expect to find it in a textbook.

By the way, Jason, we're still waiting for the name of yours ... and its author.

 

[jasonlulu_2000]

Hello, there! Thanks for your help! Sorry for my dodgy question!

Now the textbook is called "New Senior English For China Student's Book 3".

I don't know its author. Maybe it comes from some professional textbook writers and it may not come from authentic newspapers or books.

Anyway, you can find it in http://www.tingroom.com/lesson/gzynjyy/81639.html. It appears in the first paragraph.

Once again, sorry for causing a stir.

Jason