I am an inexperienced teacher of a group of Mexican adults (false beginners). One of my students asked a question which left me without an answer. I would much appreciate any kind of response which might be suitable for a Spanish speaker.
In English we say: I am Mexican, We are Mexican NOT We are Mexicans
Likewise: I am English, We are English NOT We are Englishes etc.
However, unlike nationalities, Occupations do take an –s in the plural form.
Eg. I am an Engineer, We are engineers NOT we are engineer.
In Spanish all these words are adjectives (Mexicano/a,Inglés/a, Ingeniero/a) and as a consequence they all take a plural form by adding –s. How do I explain such a difference and when to add –s and when not to?
Thanks in advance for your help
Mark Buckingham
Plurals - Occupations & Nationalities
Moderators: Dimitris, maneki neko2, Lorikeet, Enrico Palazzo, superpeach, cecil2, Mr. Kalgukshi2
Re: Plurals - Occupations & Nationalities
Dear Mark,
You posted:
"In Spanish all these words are adjectives (Mexicano/a,Inglés/a, Ingeniero/a)..." the parts of speech in Spanish are not different from English, so "ingeniero" is a noun. Nouns, both in English are Spanish take a plural form by adding –s.
Mexicano - adjetivo - no plural
Arquitecto - sustantivo (noun) si plural.
Hope this helps.
Otherwise, please let me know.
Good luck!!!
Zirta
You posted:
"In Spanish all these words are adjectives (Mexicano/a,Inglés/a, Ingeniero/a)..." the parts of speech in Spanish are not different from English, so "ingeniero" is a noun. Nouns, both in English are Spanish take a plural form by adding –s.
Mexicano - adjetivo - no plural
Arquitecto - sustantivo (noun) si plural.
Hope this helps.
Otherwise, please let me know.
Good luck!!!
Zirta
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LarryLatham
- Posts: 1195
- Joined: Thu Jan 16, 2003 6:33 pm
- Location: Aguanga, California (near San Diego)
Zirta is quite correct, Mark,
But just to look again at your original sentences:
1. I am Mexican. We are Mexican. We are Mexicans.
2. I am an Engineer. We are Engineers.
In the first group, I am Mexican contains a predicate adjective after the verb. Adjectives, by way of reminder, do not take plural forms, and hence there is no "-s" in the second sentence in the group. However, the word Mexican can also be taken to be a noun. If that were the case, the first sentence would be I am a Mexican. If the person using it takes it that way, then it is quite proper to add the "-s" at the end in plural forms. So the third sentence in the group is also correct.
In the second group, there is no confusion. There is clearly a predicate noun after the verb. So, of course, the plural form "engineers" is proper.
Hope this helps.
Larry Latham
But just to look again at your original sentences:
1. I am Mexican. We are Mexican. We are Mexicans.
2. I am an Engineer. We are Engineers.
In the first group, I am Mexican contains a predicate adjective after the verb. Adjectives, by way of reminder, do not take plural forms, and hence there is no "-s" in the second sentence in the group. However, the word Mexican can also be taken to be a noun. If that were the case, the first sentence would be I am a Mexican. If the person using it takes it that way, then it is quite proper to add the "-s" at the end in plural forms. So the third sentence in the group is also correct.
In the second group, there is no confusion. There is clearly a predicate noun after the verb. So, of course, the plural form "engineers" is proper.
Hope this helps.
Larry Latham