On 2022-06-28, Helmut Richter <
hr.u...@email.de> wrote:
> Das ist ein distributiver Singular, den es im Englischen nicht gibt.
Grammatiker sehen das differenzierter.
Der distributive Plural ist der Normalfall:
Have you all brought your cameras?
Hand in your papers next Monday.
Der distributive Singular kann aber benutzt werden, um das Einzelne
hervorzuheben. Es besteht dann die Wahl:
The students raised their hand(s).
Some children have understanding fathers/an understanding father.
We all have good appetites/a good appetite.
Pronouns agree with their antecedent(s).
Their noses need/nose needs to be wiped.
The exercise was not good for their back(s).
Der Singular ist manchmal bei Idiomen und Metaphern obligatorisch
oder bevorzugt:
We are keeping an open mind. (?open minds)
They vented their spleen on him. (*their spleens)
They can't put their finger on what's wrong. (*their fingers)
Manchmal wird Mehrdeutigkeit verhindert:
Students were asked to name their favorite sport.
Children must be accompanied by a parent.
Alles nach
Quirk et al., A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language, 1985,
Abschnitt 10.47, Seite 768.
Weiter in de.etc.sprache.misc, bitte.
--
Christian "naddy" Weisgerber
na...@mips.inka.de