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As others have said, there's the pluralization of "peanut[s]" to distinguish between the two. This is a useful feature of English: the adjective-like role of a
by torstenvl 8y ago
As others have said, there's the pluralization of "peanut[s]" to distinguish between the two. This is a useful feature of English: the adjective-like role of a noun in a complex noun phrase is (almost?) always singular.
- Computer engineer
- NOT computers* engineer
- Toothbrush
- NOT teethbrush*
- Foot doctor
- NOT feet* doctor
- Alarm clock
- NOT alarms* clock, even when it supports multiple alarms!
Additionally, there's phrasal intonation. If the intonation and stress decrease throughout the phrase, it's a single item. If the intonation and stress reset for "butter," then it's a new item.
- 'PEA ,Nut but ter
- 'PEA nut 'BUT ter
- sakebomb 8y agoAlexa, please tell me about the... Attorneys general Senators elect Ahhhhhhh!
- ksenzee 8y agoThe difference is that these are phrases with adjectives, not nouns being used adjectivally.
- a1369209993 8y ago"Attorney generals" is a noun phrase (admittedly of questionable adjectivity). "Attorneys general" is a blind idiot translation of a phrase in a language with different grammatical rules (Latin, IIRC).
- gowld 8y ago"Attorney" is a noun. "General" as used here is an adjective. It's unusual in that the adjective follows the noun without a hyphen, but it's common enough, and it's where prepositional phrases are seen, like "Big man on campus" and "powers that be". Did ancient Romans have attorneys general?
- fooker 8y agoProudfeet!