What noun form should I use for temperature in this sentence?

[October wind]

1. The temperature
2. The temperatures
3. Temperature
4. Temperatures

I’m trying to complete the sentence. Which of the four noun forms would you most likely use?

( ) in big cities remain high even at night because tall buildings block the wind.

 

[5jj]

What book, title and author, did you take this question from?

 

[October wind]

I am the writer. It’s not a quote.

 

[Tarheel]

I would use "Temperatures" if I was going to say that. (I wouldn't.)

 

[jutfrank]

( ) in big cities remain high even at night because tall buildings block the wind.

The verb 'remain' is conjugated such that only a plural subject is grammatical. If you wrote the sentence, you must know this, right?

 

[jutfrank]

By the way, teacherjapan, your native language is listed as Javanese. Would you amend that, please?

 

[Tarheel]

By the way, teacherjapan, your native language is listed as Javanese. Would you amend that, please?

That's the first time anybody else has noticed that.

 

[Tarheel]

Please note that "How to use temperature?" is not a question.

 

[October wind]

Let me rewrite it. I wonder which noun form I should use when I am talking about a general statement like this.
________________ in big cities remain(or remains) high even at night because tall buildings block the wind.

 

[emsr2d2]

Let me rewrite it. I wonder which noun form I should use when I am talking about a general statement like this.
_____________ in big cities remain(or remains) high even at night because tall buildings block the wind.

You're going to have to write it again and decide between "remain" and "remains". There isn't one answer that works with both.

 

[Tarheel]

@teacherjapan Did you ignore post #4?

 

[October wind]

You're going to have to write it again and decide between "remain" and "remains". There isn't one answer that works with both.

I’m asking this question because I have a problem deciding which noun form I should use when I talk about something like this. I’m wondering whether I should use the plural form of “temperature” or the singular form, and whether I should add “the” or not. My first thought was “temperatures: plural and without the” because I am talking about something general. But I just wanted to make sure whether my interpretation is correct.

 

[October wind]

@teacherjapan Did you ignore post #4?

I didn’t. I just didn’t know how to change the title. If you know how to (which button should I click?), please let me know.

 

[jutfrank]

I think this is a complex question because whether you use a singular/plural and whether you use a definite/indefinite noun phrase are to some degree related.

1) The temperature ...

You're referring to one specific temperature for each city. You have in mnd a particular reading, such as 23 degrees, for example.

2) The temperatures ...

You're likely referring to multiple specific temperature readings within one city.

3) Temperature ...

You're referring to a more generalised concept rather than a specific measurement.

4) Temperatures ...

You're referring to multiple specific readings, as with 2), but you're treating the subject less specifically.

I don't know how helpful this answer is. I would use version 4.

 

[October wind]

Thank you so much, jutfrank, for your clear explanation. That explains perfectly what exactly I was puzzled about.

 

[emsr2d2]

I didn’t. I just didn’t know how to change the title. If you know how to (which button should I click?), please let me know.

You can edit titles/posts for only 24 hours after posting them so unfortunately the time limit has run out for this one. During those 24 hours, you simply click the "Edit" button at the bottom of your post, make the relevant changes and click Save.
What would you like your title changed to? I can do it for you.

 

[October wind]

You can edit titles/posts for only 24 hours after posting them so unfortunately the time limit has run out for this one. During those 24 hours, you simply click the "Edit" button at the bottom of your post, make the relevant changes and click Save.
What would you like your title changed to? I can do it for you.

Thank you. “What noun form should I use for temperature in this sentence?” sounds good to me.

 

[tedmc]

I think 4 is most natural and likely to be used in conversation.