Grammar pedants - help please.
95 watchers
Aug 2022
10:32pm, 5 Aug 2022
21,840 posts
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ChrisHB
I never really learned at school which words ending in -F took -VES in the plural. Do they still, or do people nowadays say dwarfs? I think I would if the occasion arose.
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Aug 2022
10:56pm, 5 Aug 2022
64,793 posts
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GlennR
It is dwarfs. And roofs.
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Aug 2022
10:57pm, 5 Aug 2022
64,794 posts
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GlennR
[JRR Tolkien. Intro to one of the books, perhaps The Hobbit.]
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Aug 2022
10:58pm, 5 Aug 2022
17,265 posts
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Cerrertonia
Knife, wife, calf, leaf and life. Are there any others?
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Aug 2022
11:01pm, 5 Aug 2022
17,266 posts
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Cerrertonia
To answer my own question, yes. Wiktionary has a list of about 100.
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Aug 2022
6:34am, 6 Aug 2022
2,219 posts
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Heinzster
Modern usage of “dwarfs” and “dwarves” When referring to the meanings of the word “dwarf” not related to fantasy, the plural “dwarfs” should be used, especially when referring to people in medical literature: correct People with dwarfism are called dwarfs. unnatural People with dwarfism are called dwarves. |
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Aug 2022
6:35am, 6 Aug 2022
2,220 posts
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Heinzster
This is pulled from a quick Google search, I thought that while Tolkien had dwarves other fantasy writers had dwarfs.
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Aug 2022
8:37am, 6 Aug 2022
21,841 posts
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ChrisHB
They didn't teach (try to teach) me that at school, Heinzster. I'm pretty sure my children don't say 'lifes' but I'll see if I can listen carefully to them when we're all together tomorrow. |
Aug 2022
8:41am, 6 Aug 2022
6,360 posts
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um
From my Tesco app update : "Your driver has nearly arrived" Is this a correct structure, because it sounds odd to me. And if correct, what tense is it? |
Aug 2022
9:52am, 6 Aug 2022
71,844 posts
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Diogenes
Sounds wrong, doesn’t it? Reminds me of a comedy sketch where someone say “I’ve arrived.” It would be better as “your driver will be arriving soon” or “Your driver is nearly there.”
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