Grammatical category of number – GC which presents a specific linguistic reflection of the quantative relations between homogeneous objects of reality conceptualized by human mind.
The category of number is expressed by the opposition of the plural form of the noun to the singular form of the noun. The strong member of this binary opposition is the plural, its productive formal marker is presented by several phonetically and historically conditioned allomorphs such as [z] in dog — dogs, [s] clock — clocks,[iz] box — boxes, [0/] bison, sheep, [en]oxen, [ae] antennae, [ai] radii, alumnus— alumni.There are quite a few doublets among the PL forms which differ either lexically (penny – pennies(coins), pence (a sum of money) : genius – geniuses (men of genius), genii (spirits) or stylistically, as in brother – s/ brethren or cow – cows, kine.
Semantically the forms of the PL are not homogeneous. The pragmatic meaning of PL is presented by a number of syntagmatic variants:
- Discrete plurality (books, houses)
- Indiscrete PL (hours, miles)
- Partitive PL (spectacles, trousers)
- Variety Pl (wines, fruits, teas, cheeses)
- Space PL (snows, sands, watwrs)
- Family or clan PL (the Smiths)
These meanings are the result of the interaction b-ween the general paradigmatic meaning and the semantics of the noun. Some pl forms may acquire a new lexical meaning and become Lexicalized (colours, customs, arms, quarters, minutes)
The Sg form of the N which is the weak member of the opposition has a wide and extensive meaning which is best defined as “non-plurality” and includes such meanings as:
- Singularity (A minute of ur attention, please)
- Uncountability (be different as chalk and cheese)
- Generalization (A child can understand this)
From the (‘) jf view of their number characteristics the Eng N fall into 2 classes” countable & un~. This feature determines the choice of the article,the quantitative pronoun & form of the predicate. Uncountable nouns are further subdivided in 2 groups Sg Tantum & PL Tantum.
Singularia tantum includes:
1. names of abstract notions {peace, love, joy, courage, friendship, etc.)
2. names of mass-materials {water, snow, steel, hair, bread, butter, sugar, etc.)
3. names of some collective inanimate objects (foliage, machienery)
4. Names of sciences and professional activity {chemistry, architecture, mathematics)
5. Nouns of heterogeneous semantics (hair, advice, knowledge, money. Information, news)
In the sphere of the plural, likewise, we must recognise the common plural form as the regular feature of countability, and the absolute plural form peculiar to the uncountable subclass of pluralia tantum nouns. The absolute plural, as different from the common plural, cannot directly combine with numerals, and only occasionally does it combine with discrete quantifiers (many, few, etc.).
Pluralia tantum includes:
1. nouns which denote objects consisting of two halves (trousers, scissors, tongs, spectacles, etc.),
2. N denoting results of repeated actions (savings, belongings)
3. N of multitude (police, cattle, poultry)
4. N of various semantics (clothes, oats, outskirts)
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