Is news a plural or singular?
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Oliver Thompson
Works at the International Renewable Energy Agency, Lives in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Hello, I'm an expert in the field of linguistics and language usage. Let's dive into the intriguing question of whether "news" is considered a plural or singular noun in the English language.
Firstly, it's important to understand that the English language is a living, breathing entity that evolves over time. It's influenced by cultural shifts, technological advancements, and the way people communicate. When it comes to the word "news," there's a bit of a linguistic debate that's been going on for quite some time.
The Singular Use of "News"
The word "news" is derived from the plural form of "new," which historically referred to "new things" or "recent events." However, in modern English usage, "news" is often treated as a singular, uncountable noun. This means that it does not have a plural form and is not used with a or an, nor does it take a plural verb. For instance, you would say "The news is good" rather than "The news are good."
The Plural Form in Construction
Despite its singular treatment, "news" is still recognized as a plural noun in terms of its construction. This means that it is understood to encompass multiple pieces of information or events. Merriam-Webster, a reputable dictionary, describes "news" as a noun that is plural but singular in construction. This is why you might hear sentences like "The news are coming in fast," even though grammatically, it's more correct to say "The news is coming in fast."
Contextual Usage
The use of "news" can also depend on the context. In formal writing and in American English, it's more common to treat "news" as singular. However, in British English or in informal contexts, you might find "news" used with a plural verb, especially when emphasizing the individual pieces of information it contains.
Examples and Usage
Let's look at some examples to illustrate the use of "news":
- Singular verb usage: "The news is surprising."
- Plural verb usage (less common, but can be found): "The news are surprising me with their frequency."
Conclusion
In conclusion, while "news" is technically a plural noun because it refers to multiple pieces of information, it is generally used as a singular noun in modern English. This means that it typically takes a singular verb. However, the plural construction is acknowledged and sometimes used, particularly to convey the idea that "news" consists of many individual reports or pieces of information.
Now, let's move on to the translation.
Firstly, it's important to understand that the English language is a living, breathing entity that evolves over time. It's influenced by cultural shifts, technological advancements, and the way people communicate. When it comes to the word "news," there's a bit of a linguistic debate that's been going on for quite some time.
The Singular Use of "News"
The word "news" is derived from the plural form of "new," which historically referred to "new things" or "recent events." However, in modern English usage, "news" is often treated as a singular, uncountable noun. This means that it does not have a plural form and is not used with a or an, nor does it take a plural verb. For instance, you would say "The news is good" rather than "The news are good."
The Plural Form in Construction
Despite its singular treatment, "news" is still recognized as a plural noun in terms of its construction. This means that it is understood to encompass multiple pieces of information or events. Merriam-Webster, a reputable dictionary, describes "news" as a noun that is plural but singular in construction. This is why you might hear sentences like "The news are coming in fast," even though grammatically, it's more correct to say "The news is coming in fast."
Contextual Usage
The use of "news" can also depend on the context. In formal writing and in American English, it's more common to treat "news" as singular. However, in British English or in informal contexts, you might find "news" used with a plural verb, especially when emphasizing the individual pieces of information it contains.
Examples and Usage
Let's look at some examples to illustrate the use of "news":
- Singular verb usage: "The news is surprising."
- Plural verb usage (less common, but can be found): "The news are surprising me with their frequency."
Conclusion
In conclusion, while "news" is technically a plural noun because it refers to multiple pieces of information, it is generally used as a singular noun in modern English. This means that it typically takes a singular verb. However, the plural construction is acknowledged and sometimes used, particularly to convey the idea that "news" consists of many individual reports or pieces of information.
Now, let's move on to the translation.
2024-05-13 07:30:38
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Studied at the University of Cambridge, Lives in Cambridge, UK.
News is the aggregate of all the reports of the day; therefore it's uncountable, singular. Merriam-Webster online describes the word as --noun plural but singular in construction.-- So it takes verbs in singular form: Is there any news?Nov 5, 2012
2023-06-17 22:48:28
Olivia Baker
QuesHub.com delivers expert answers and knowledge to you.
News is the aggregate of all the reports of the day; therefore it's uncountable, singular. Merriam-Webster online describes the word as --noun plural but singular in construction.-- So it takes verbs in singular form: Is there any news?Nov 5, 2012
