[Grammar] Sunday, Sundays and Sunday's

[mrmvp]

What is the difference between sentence one and two?

1-I usually go to church on Sundays.

2-I usually go to church on Sunday.

Does the following contraction mean "an apostrophe"?

Sunday's weather is warm and sunny.

 

[jutfrank]

There's no effective difference in meaning, if that's what you're asking.

The plural form in 1 is appropriate if you're thinking of every Sunday. The singular form in 2 is appropriate if you're thinking about Sunday as a day distinct from other days. I suggest you keep things simple and use sentence 1.

The red part in Sunday's weather shows a possessive, not a contraction.

 

[GoesStation]

I do see a significant difference. Sentence one tells us what you usually do on that day of the week. Sentence two tells us that although Sunday is the most common day that you go to church, you also sometimes go on other days.

 

[jutfrank]

I do see a significant difference. Sentence one tells us what you usually do on that day of the week.

Are you sure you meant sentence 1, not 2?

I say sentence 2 is more likely to be telling us what you usually do on that day of the week, and sentence 1 is more likely to be saying when you go to church.

This is not clear cut, I think. Both could be answering either.

Sentence two tells us that although Sunday is the most common day that you go to church, you also sometimes go on other days.

I don't particularly sense that.

I think that without context, all we can really say about the difference is that in one the speaker has a plural idea in mind and in the other a singular idea.

 

[GoesStation]

On a second reading, I'm not so confident.

 

[mrmvp]

Thank you for helping me out. I do appreciate your efforts and the time you allocate to help us.

Does "on Sundays" mean an activity or a thing you do every Sunday, like a routine ? While ""on Sunday" mean in that day you do something seems a bit special such an activity or chores that distinguishes that day from the other days of the week.


What about "in the morning" and "in the mornings"?

I drink coffee in the mornings. Does this mean you drink coffee every morning?

I drink coffee in the morning. Does this sentence mean I drink coffee every morning, not in the evenning or other time of the day?

 

[Tarheel]

I drink coffee in the morning.

Absent context, it means that's when I drink my coffee.

 

[mrmvp]

I drink coffee in the morning.

Absent context, it means that's when I drink my coffee.

I thought it means that drinking coffee is a routine in the morning.

Can you please explain to me the difference between "in the morning" and "in the mornings"?

 

[jutfrank]

Does "on Sundays" mean an activity or a thing you do every Sunday, like a routine ? While ""on Sunday" mean in that day you do something seems a bit special such an activity or chores that distinguishes that day from the other days of the week.


What about "in the morning" and "in the mornings"?

I drink coffee in the mornings. Does this mean you drink coffee every morning?

I drink coffee in the morning. Does this sentence mean I drink coffee every morning, not in the evenning or other time of the day?

I think you've got the basic idea, yes. At least, that's more or less how I understand it.

 

[Tarheel]

I think it means that drinking coffee is a routine in the morning.

Isn't that what I said?

 

[Tarheel]

I drink coffee in the mornings.

Who says that?

 

[mrmvp]

I drink coffee in the mornings.

Who says that?

Me. I study at xxx University. I play video games. Those two sentences about my daily routine. Is " I drink coffee in the mornings ungrammatical?

 

[jutfrank]

This thread is starting to become confused. This is actually quite a confusing question, so can we keep it focused, please?

I thought it means that drinking coffee is a routine in the morning.

Yes.

Can you please explain to me the difference between "in the morning" and "in the mornings"?

I've already tried to do that, and I think you've got the basic idea of what I said.

Me. I study at xxx University. I play video games. Those two sentences about my daily routine.

In this context, I think you should use the singular form because you're thinking about the morning as being one part of a whole day.

Is " I drink coffee in the mornings ungrammatical?

No, of course not. That's the whole point here. What you're asking about is the difference in use/meaning between singular and plural forms of time phrases.

 

[jutfrank]

No. Keep using it that way.

Tarheel, you're contradicting me and confusing the thread. If you want to do that, fine, but please could you justify your advice? I'm trying to keep things clear and as simple as possible.