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Message |
KB Lee
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 9:30 am
Post subject: question |
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I am confused with parent and parents. My friend tried to explain the
difference, but I still can't get it.
As you know parent means father and mother. Then doesn't parents mean
fathers and mothers?
Please anyone tell me the difference of parent and parents, and the examples
of the word.
Thank you.
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Pat Durkin
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 7:28 pm
Post subject: Re: question |
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"KB Lee" <hehe@he.he> wrote in message news:2t11f3F1oa4rrU1@uni-berlin.de...
| Quote: | I am confused with parent and parents. My friend tried to explain the
difference, but I still can't get it.
As you know parent means father and mother.
|
"Parent" is a singular noun. It has no gender, and can refer to either a
father or a mother
| Quote: | Then doesn't parents mean
fathers and mothers?
|
Yes. (It need not refer to couples, (pairs). There may be a mixed group of
many fathers and only a few mothers. The word "parents" can refer to them
all.")
| Quote: |
Please anyone tell me the difference of parent and parents, and the
examples
of the word.
|
A teacher sends a note home with a child. It must be signed by a *parent.
That would be either a father or a mother who must sign.
A teacher sends a note home with a child. It must be signed by both
*parents. That would be both a father and a mother who must sign. (This
would be an unusual request, since it would assume that all the children
live in homes with both parents. Usually only one parent's signature is
needed to authorize student trips, or to acknowledge that an adult in the
home has examined the child student's report card.)
Stand-ins for mother and/or father can be guardians or grandparents, or
even, in this modern age, two fathers or two mothers.
The word "parent" can also be a verb, and has the usual verb forms:
parenting, parented.
With a different stress, "parental" ( stress on the second syllable), a good
adjective can be formed.
Parental interest in a child's activities is vital to the self-esteem of the
child. |
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meirman
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 3:23 am
Post subject: Re: question |
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In alt.english.usage on Tue, 12 Oct 2004 12:30:41 +0900 "KB Lee"
<hehe@he.he> posted:
| Quote: | I am confused with parent and parents. My friend tried to explain the
difference, but I still can't get it.
As you know parent means father and mother. Then doesn't parents mean
fathers and mothers?
Please anyone tell me the difference of parent and parents, and the examples
of the word.
Thank you.
Parent means father OR mother. Parents usually means both, as in "my |
parents", but it could refer to any number of parents greater than
one. There are billions of parents in the world. Or "There were 20
parents at the PTA meeting."
s/ meirman If you are emailing me please
say if you are posting the same response.
Born west of Pittsburgh Pa. 10 years
Indianapolis, 7 years
Chicago, 6 years
Brooklyn NY 12 years
now in Baltimore 20 years
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meirman
Guest
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| Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2004 2:08 pm
Post subject: Re: question |
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In alt.english.usage on Tue, 12 Oct 2004 13:28:38 GMT "Pat Durkin"
<durkinpa@peoplepc.com> posted:
| Quote: |
"KB Lee" <hehe@he.he> wrote in message news:2t11f3F1oa4rrU1@uni-berlin.de...
I am confused with parent and parents. My friend tried to explain the
difference, but I still can't get it.
As you know parent means father and mother.
"Parent" is a singular noun. It has no gender, and can refer to either a
father or a mother
Then doesn't parents mean
fathers and mothers?
Yes. (It need not refer to couples, (pairs). There may be a mixed group of
many fathers and only a few mothers. The word "parents" can refer to them
all.")
Please anyone tell me the difference of parent and parents, and the
examples
of the word.
A teacher sends a note home with a child. It must be signed by a *parent.
That would be either a father or a mother who must sign.
A teacher sends a note home with a child. It must be signed by both
*parents. That would be both a father and a mother who must sign. (This
would be an unusual request, since it would assume that all the children
live in homes with both parents.
|
It's also assumed that in a home with both parents, each one has the
power to authorize or acknowledge something, and that the parents talk
to each other. Sort of like either person being able to withdraw
money from a joint banking account.
| Quote: | Usually only one parent's signature is
needed to authorize student trips, or to acknowledge that an adult in the
home has examined the child student's report card.)
|
....
s/ meirman If you are emailing me please
say if you are posting the same response.
Born west of Pittsburgh Pa. 10 years
Indianapolis, 7 years
Chicago, 6 years
Brooklyn NY 12 years
now in Baltimore 20 years |
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