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Mon 19 May, 2014 05:05 pm
Could someone tell me do you have an expression like "a lot kinds of things" in English? Because previously I referred to the online corpus (http://corpus.byu.edu/bnc/), where only three examples using "a lot kinds of things" and two of them are not formal resources, I wish some native speakers to show whether that expression is adoptable.
@weiwei,
The expression is unwieldy. It could work as "a lot
of kinds of things". But I get cramps in my tongue just thinking it. "Many kinds of things" would work better.
@neologist,
Thank you so much. However, do native speakers think "a lot kinds of things" is grammatically wrong or right and what is the reason for that?
@weiwei,
The major problem is the singular article 'a' with the singular noun 'lot' and the plural noun 'kinds'. "All kinds of things." implies more variety than "A lot of things.", which implies quantity, a lot (group) of things (taken as a unit)
@weiwei,
What is it supposed to mean?
@weiwei,
I suggest you are confusing "Pidgin English" with standard English. The word "kind" in Pidgin is ubiquitous (all over the place) and is often used as a simple connective.
@neologist,
Thank you so much. I think you have suggested the expression like "a lot kinds of things" is grammatically confusing.
@weiwei,
As was written, it's not just confusing, it is WRONG grammatically.
@weiwei,
Wei we'd say "a lotta kindza things" or "lotsa kindza things"
@dalehileman,
dalehileman wrote:
Wei we'd say "a lotta kindza things" or "lotsa kindza things"
Perhaps they do where you come from, Dale, but such expressions are by no means universal.
@weiwei,
weiwei wrote:
Thank you so much. I think you have suggested the expression like "a lot kinds of things" is grammatically confusing.
In standard English it is WRONG. It could be pidgin, e.g. Inglish or Chinglish or similar, but is definitely not standard English, and no native speaker would say it.
@contrex,
Quote:such expressions are by no means universal
If Con you mean worldwide. Otherwise hereabout they're countrywide if not universal
@weiwei,
If you want to speak well , please read well first. then by default your speaking skill will change.
@weiwei,
weiwei wrote:Could someone tell me
do you have an expression like "a lot kinds of things" in English?
We don 't; maybe: "a lot of different kinds of things"
to indicate numerous heterogeneous and disparate categories.
@weiwei,
Quote:do native speakers think "a lot kinds of things" is grammatically wrong
Yes, it's wrong.
Although "many kinds of things" is okay, and I don't know the reason for that.
@OmSigDAVID,
OmSigDAVID wrote:
weiwei wrote:Could someone tell me
do you have an expression like "a lot kinds of things" in English?
We
don 't; maybe: "a lot of different kinds of things"
to indicate numerous heterogeneous and disparate categories.
I 've heard the young use a colloquial expression of:
"a mixed bag" to indicate different heterogeneous
and disparate categories of things.
@McTag,
Quote:Yes, it's wrong.
Although "many kinds of things" is okay, and I don't know the reason for that.
Perhaps it's because 'a lot' means "to a considerable degree or extent", McTag.
@JTT,
Well, "a lot" can mean "many" too, and I'm sure you can think of a lot of examples of that.
@McTag,
McTag wrote:Well, "a lot" can mean "many" too
Yes, indeed. That 's what it means.
@McTag,
Not in "lots kinds of things".
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