Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Mar 17, 2005 17:05
19 yrs ago
German term
Canada
Daune(n)
German to English
Other
Other
In the German text the word is used both in singular and plural form.I'm confused about the English use of the singular/plural here. Is it 'a down' and 'downs', or is 'down' both singular and plural. Can you say 'a down' at all or would it be something like 'a fluff of down'?
Any help would be much appreciated.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +1 | down |
Karin Walker (X)
|
| 4 +3 | down |
JeffFish (X)
|
| 4 | down feather(s) |
NGK
|
Proposed translations
+1
5 mins
Selected
down
I'll attempt to explain my take on this. I believe that in German, when used in the plural (Daunen) it very frequently refers to the filling of a jacket, duvet, pillow etc. (Daunenjacke, Daunenkissen etc.). Yet when it's not used as part of a composite noun, you'd see the singular version (100% Daune). The singular also refers to the single 'feather' (see below link). In English, however, you'd never say 'downs' (IMO). The corresponding word for the single 'Daune' would be 'down feather'. But it really is just fluff, like you say.
Reference:
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks, Karin. Your explanation was quite helpful."
3 mins
down feather(s)
For the singular, I would say down feather.
+3
1 min
down
just down, no indefinite article. Collective noun, like garbage
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Note added at 2 mins (2005-03-17 17:07:31 GMT)
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down is both singular and plural
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Note added at 17 mins (2005-03-17 17:22:25 GMT)
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oh yeah, uncountable noun. Collective noun is like \"rubbish bin\" or \"road toll-taker\". Thanks, Andrew
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Note added at 2 mins (2005-03-17 17:07:31 GMT)
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down is both singular and plural
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Note added at 17 mins (2005-03-17 17:22:25 GMT)
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oh yeah, uncountable noun. Collective noun is like \"rubbish bin\" or \"road toll-taker\". Thanks, Andrew
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Lancashireman
: an 'uncountable noun' http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_quantity1.htm
3 mins
|
| agree |
vanessak
35 mins
|
| agree |
writeaway
39 mins
|
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