I get confused over such statements as: they were out of their mind(s). Do you use the (s) or not?
Confused...
Normally there should be the "s" because "they" is plural, so there are several minds.
In other languages, like French, it is the contrary, that is, each person has ONE mind so there is no "s" in that type of structure.
It's just a matter of perception.
In other languages, like French, it is the contrary, that is, each person has ONE mind so there is no "s" in that type of structure.
It's just a matter of perception.
Actually that was a bad example, given the 'they'. I'll try and dig out another example, the type that really confuses me.
Here's some free input:
You hear of that guy? He must be out of his mind! He's talking about taking the fight to the Imperials! Now, those Imperials must be outta their minds too, but not so much as this guy is out of his mind! Whoo!
You hear of that guy? He must be out of his mind! He's talking about taking the fight to the Imperials! Now, those Imperials must be outta their minds too, but not so much as this guy is out of his mind! Whoo!
From Star Wars Episode I:
SEBULBA veers toward ANAKIN and bangs into his Pod. He crashes
into ANAKIN over and over. The young boy struggles to maintain
control as the steering rods on the two Pods become hooked
together. SEBULBA laughs at ANAKIN.
FODE/BEED (O.S.)
B : That little human being is out
of his mind.
A : Punda tah punda!
(They're neck and neck!)
B : They're side by side!
A : Bongo du bongu!
(Shoulder to shoulder!)
http://home.online.no/~bhundlan/scripts/Star-Wars-Episode-I.txt
SEBULBA veers toward ANAKIN and bangs into his Pod. He crashes
into ANAKIN over and over. The young boy struggles to maintain
control as the steering rods on the two Pods become hooked
together. SEBULBA laughs at ANAKIN.
FODE/BEED (O.S.)
B : That little human being is out
of his mind.
A : Punda tah punda!
(They're neck and neck!)
B : They're side by side!
A : Bongo du bongu!
(Shoulder to shoulder!)
http://home.online.no/~bhundlan/scripts/Star-Wars-Episode-I.txt
Both men are making their debut.
This is where I get confused. Should it be debuts or debut?
This is where I get confused. Should it be debuts or debut?
Victor,
Huh, that one I didn't actually know, because I never had to deal with it. My initial inclination is the "debut," which is supported by more Internet searches on Google, but I don't see how either one is "wrong," and both get your point across.
Just don't worry about it, laugh.
Huh, that one I didn't actually know, because I never had to deal with it. My initial inclination is the "debut," which is supported by more Internet searches on Google, but I don't see how either one is "wrong," and both get your point across.
Just don't worry about it, laugh.
Victor,
But when I originally learned it, I never worried about it. In fact, I didn't really care all that much about the word _debut_.
But when I originally learned it, I never worried about it. In fact, I didn't really care all that much about the word _debut_.