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Slowmotion
Joined: 15 Aug 2009
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 Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 5:11 pm Post subject: Kind and kinds (agreement) |
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In our textbook,it says
"This is the kind of school that was around hundreds of years ago."
then the next sentence example it gives is:
"Well, I don't know what kind of schools there were that long ago."
The book doesn't explain why the second is not plural. So I did a google search and one site said:
| Quote: |
When using kind of or sort of always use a singular object of the preposition of. If the object is plural, then use kinds of or sorts of.
Examples: What kind of salad is this?
(Kind and salad are both singular.)
There are all sorts of fruits in this salad.
(Sorts and fruits are both plural.) |
I'm confused. Can someone clarify this for me? |
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Slowmotion
Joined: 15 Aug 2009
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| Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 3:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Anyone? |
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RMNC
Joined: 21 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 4:14 pm Post subject: |
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| It becomes more about emphasis when you are choosing between kind or kinds. When using "kind" you would be emphasizing that there was only one type of school you were referring to (i.e. a boarding school). With "kinds" you would emphasize that there was multiple types of schools, meaning the plural. |
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The Cosmic Hum
Joined: 09 May 2003
Location: Sonic Space
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| Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 5:55 pm Post subject: Re: Kind and kinds (agreement) |
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| Slowmotion wrote: |
In our textbook,it says
"This is the kind of school that was around hundreds of years ago."
then the next sentence example it gives is:
"Well, I don't know what kind of schools there were that long ago."
The book doesn't explain why the second is not plural. So I did a google search and one site said:
| Quote: |
When using kind of or sort of always use a singular object of the preposition of. If the object is plural, then use kinds of or sorts of.
Examples: What kind of salad is this?
(Kind and salad are both singular.)
There are all sorts of fruits in this salad.
(Sorts and fruits are both plural.) |
I'm confused. Can someone clarify this for me? |
To start with...the example of fruits...is not a great example.
...dialectal variations do occur...and many would consider fruit to be a non-count noun...and therefore remain in the singular form.
As for the rest...RMNC is giving good insights to your question.
This is a multiple variation type of usage...having to do with singular/plural...as well as count/ non-count.
The different combinations will lead to different usages. |
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some waygug-in
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 10:43 am Post subject: Re: Kind and kinds (agreement) |
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| Slowmotion wrote: |
In our textbook,it says
"This is the kind of school that was around hundreds of years ago."
then the next sentence example it gives is:
"Well, I don't know what kind of schools there were that long ago."
The book doesn't explain why the second is not plural. So I did a google search and one site said:
| Quote: |
When using kind of or sort of always use a singular object of the preposition of. If the object is plural, then use kinds of or sorts of.
Examples: What kind of salad is this?
(Kind and salad are both singular.)
There are all sorts of fruits in this salad.
(Sorts and fruits are both plural.) |
I'm confused. Can someone clarify this for me? |
This is just my take on it, so for what it's worth....*_^
I think in the second sentence, the speaker is saying that there was only 1 kind of school at that time, but many of them. |
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Reise-ohne-Ende
Joined: 07 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 11:25 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah I agree with the others. It's like the distinction between 'fish' and 'fishes'.
"There are a lot of fish." = many individual fishy bodies swimming around.
"There are a lot of fishes." = many different species.
So:
"The kind of schools" = many schools, only one kind though.
"The kinds of schools" = different kinds of schools |
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