Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[acid888]

sorry could you please let me know when I should put a "s" at the end of a word? That is, should I write:-

1) Profit? or profits?
2) stock option? or stock options?
3) tax filing? or tax filings?
4) for our record? or for our records?
5) tax fund? or tax funds?
5) lots of cars? or lot of cars?
6) boxes of tissues? or box of tissues?

Thank you very much!!

[asterix]

It mostly depends upon whether you mean one or more than one.
Generally speaking you add s or es (as in boxes) if it's more than one.

In your #4.) I think it would usually be said for our records. You might hear for the record, but not, usually, for our record.

[Lorikeet]

Number 5), (lots of cars or a lot of cars) means the same thing.

There are lots of cars at that car dealership.
There are a lot of cars at that car dealership.

He had a lot of interesting experiences on vacation.
He had lots of interesting experiences on vacation.

[acid888]

thank you very much. But I am still confused about why and when I should add an "s" at the end? like:-

1) your costs? or your cost?
2) your tax filings? or your tax filing?
3) annual tax filing? or annual tax filings?
4) The profit? or The profits?

Thank you and if I want to look at the above issue in a grammar book, which topic should it falls under? Many thanks.

[CP]

As Asterix said, it depends upon whether you mean one or more than one.

1) your costs? or your cost?
--If you bought a baseball bat for $10, your cost was $10. If you went on a trip and paid $40 for the ticket, $100 for hotels, $50 for food, and $30 for souvenirs, your costs for the trip totaled $220.

2) your tax filings? or your tax filing?
3) annual tax filing? or annual tax filings?
--I just filed my federal and state tax returns. My California tax filing will get me a small refund, but my federal filing will get me a bigger refund. I keep all my tax filings / tax files in the same place.

4) The profit? or The profits?
--Toyota dealers make a profit on each car sold. The dealer takes the profits and puts some back into the business to expand and improve.
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[acid888]

thank you very much to you all!!