Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[sabrinak]

Hi there!

I have one question to ask one of you guys, who are great helpers all the time.


Please look at this sentence:

There are large doses of caffeine in a cup of mocha.

I wonder how you (a native speaker of English) say this.

Why are plural "doses" used here?

Is it correct way of speaking?


Thank you for your kind help.

[Suzanne]

Great question!

"Caffeine" is a non-count noun. This means it doesn't have a plural form; we don't say "caffeines."

"Large doses" means that there are several servings of caffeine in the mocha. A dose is a measured amount; it's often used for medicine. Example: An adult dose of cough syrup is a tablespoon. A child's dose of cough syrup is a teaspoon.

Also, a dose can be described as "large" or "small" when we don't have the exact measurement. Example: Large doses of antibiotics are given to fight serious infections.

As a native speaker, I wouldn't say "there are large doses of caffeine in a cup of mocha," although I understand exactly what this means, and it wouldn't be considered wrong. I would likely just say, "There's a lot of caffeine in a cup of mocha."

I hope this helps!

[lostin1800]

Hi,

I have a question about the usage of singular and plural nouns.

In the following sentence,
"The perishes were overseen by a churchwarden (there were often two), a constable, an overseer of the poor, and all surveyer of highways",

the subject is plural, so why don't churchwarden, constable and overseer of the poor all agree with the subject to take a plural form?

[CP]

First, the subject is "The parishes" (note spelling) and the verb is "were overseen," so the plural subject and the plural, passive verb do agree.

Next, there are several people by whom the parishes were overseen, and they are listed as one or two church wardens, a constable, an overseer, and a surveyor of highways. They are the object of the preposition "by," and they do not have to agree with the verb or the subject, and they don't have to take the plural form unless they are plural.

The parishes were overrun by mice.

The parishes were overburdened by the pope.

The parishes were overhauled by a committee of do-gooders.
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[lostin1800]

Hello CP. Thanks for your reply, and sorry for the typoes.

I think the following two sentences are different in meaning. Am I right?
1. The parishes were overseen by a churchwarden, a constable, an overseer of the poor, and a surveyer of highways.

2. Each of the parishes was overseen by a churchwarden, a constable, an overseer of the poor, and a surveyer of highways.

I think the author means #2. This section of this book I'm now reading is talking about 19th century local government in England .

[CP]

1. The parishes were overseen by a churchwarden, a constable, an overseer of the poor, and a surveyer of highways. Correct (except spelling of surveyor). The parishes were overseen.

2. Each of the parishes was overseen by a churchwarden, a constable, an overseer of the poor, and a surveyer of highways. Correct (except spelling of surveyor). Each was overseen.
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[lostin1800]

Thank you.