@jespah,
The combing form "-en" is from Old English (Anglo-Saxon) for forming plurals, and is basically a survival: child, children; brother, brethren; sister, sisterns . . . oops!
@jespah,
jespah wrote:
And recognize odd plurals, like children or oxen. We'd say the children are upset and it would look weird to say the children is upset.
But children is a plural noun.
@dlowan,
Of course, and it doesn't seem that anyone says staffs (for a noun; it is, of course, a verb). But it's interesting. We see staff as a plural or at least as always referencing > 1 person yet country also pretty much automatically refers to > 1 person yet we'd say
the country is ...
@jespah,
Ah.....once again, English refuses to make grammarian sense!
@jespah,
Quote:and it doesn't seem that anyone says staffs
Google exact phrase
"the staffs of the three"
About 1,460,000 results
@dlowan,
Quote:Ah.....once again, English refuses to make grammarian sense!
And you think this little exchange between you and Jespah has made sense, dlowan?
Then there is the Ebonics approach: "The staff be upset."
Since ebonics simplifies standard English, it elegantly makes "staff" both singular and plural, at the same time, by using "be." And, to think some white folk have felt superior to such elegant simplicity.
This also reflects quantum physics, since a ray of light can be both a particle and a wave at the same time.
@Foofie,
Quote:This also reflects quantum physics, since a ray of light can be both a particle and a wave at the same time.
That's what we need round here, some blue-sky thinking. Turn it up and shake it, see what drops out.
The staff is upset. The members of the staff are upset.
At least IMHO.
@IRFRANK,
Actually, they appear a little less upset than usual. A number of the upsettest have left.
Or is that HAS left?
Thy rod and thy staff shall comfort me.
@dlowan,
Quote:Actually, they appear a little less upset than usual. A number of the upsettest have left.
Those were language dolts, Wabbit, peevists.
@JTT,
No, they were real people who didn't like things about our workplace that had nothing to do with language.
@Setanta,
Setanta wrote:
Thy rod and thy staff shall comfort me.
I am intrigued by the staff, but I suggest you keep your rod where it is!
As i think about it, staff is certainly singular. The plural is staves.
@roger,
roger wrote:
Groups are singular in America. British? They usually get it backwards.
When staff are concerned, one would never admit to having singular. One solitary person running the entire household?
Positively working class.
@dlowan,
dlowan wrote:
I write British English. I shall slap the computer's face!
And I shall be your second, and hold your pistol until you are ready.
@Setanta,
It wouldn't be comfortable if your rod had a staph infection.
@dlowan,
You weren't talking about the dolts who left the peeves treads then?
@dlowan,
dlowan wrote: A number of the upsettest have left.
Or is that HAS left?
A number of the upsettest left.
in the alternative
The cranks are gone.
done
dusted
<wipes hands on finest linen hand towel>
