martins Site Admin
Joined: 16 Dec 2009 Posts: 1481 Location: Geneva, Switzerland
|
Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 8:01 pm Post subject: Number (singular and singulare tantum) |
|
|
The number value depends on the sense. Singulare tantum must be used if the word, in a given sense, does not have a plural, which is normally the case of proper nouns. Singular must be used if the word, in a given sense, may have a plural, which is normally the case of common nouns. If the word, in a given sense, may be used both as a proper noun and as a common noun, it should be represented as "singular" rather than "singulare tantum".
Example:
a) Topology (branch of Mathematics): singulare tantum (there cannot be any plural)
c) topology (the configuration of a communication network): singular (there can be plural: "network topologies", for instance) |
|