Trabalenguas = singular o plural?

[chileno]

Originally Posted by sosia

You can say or "las elefantas" or "los elefantes hembra", but both at the same time doesn't match

Right! :-))

I said it gave me a headache. It was true!

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

And invariable adjectives, in the case of animals, become necessary because there are no "sapas", "ranos" or "ratonas", but "sapos hembra", "ranas macho" and "ratones hembra"...


As for the compounds with a plural, it's easy to identify their structure ("verb + substantive in plural") and a specific "purpose".

el/los cortaúñas (nail clipper) --> it clips many nails, not only one
el/los portafolios (briefcase)--> keeps many documents inside, not just one
el/los trabalenguas (tongue twister) --> supposed to twist more than one tongue
el/los cascanueces (nut cracker), el/los guardabosques (forest ranger), el/los pelapapas (potato peeler), etc.

[laepelba]

FABULOUS, Angelica!! Thank you SO much for sharing your first post with my simple little question about trabalenguas. Gracias!

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

My pleasure... I enjoy languages.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

And invariable adjectives, in the case of animals, become necessary because there are no "sapas", "ranos" or "ratonas", but "sapos hembra", "ranas macho" and "ratones hembra"...


As for the compounds with a plural, it's easy to identify their structure ("verb + substantive in plural") and a specific "purpose".

el/los cortaúñas (nail clipper) --> it clips many nails, not only one
el/los portafolios (briefcase)--> keeps many documents inside, not just one
el/los trabalenguas (tongue twister) --> supposed to twist more than one tongue
el/los cascanueces (nut cracker), el/los guardabosques (forest ranger), el/los pelapapas (potato peeler), etc.

You are so right. I had forgotten about all that.

And it is so logical! :-)

Thanks Angelica.

Hernan.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Stretching logic to the limits may lead to very absurd conclusions, but it often gives out simple rules to apply (not an infallible method though).

[chileno]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

Stretching logic to the limits may lead to very absurd conclusions, but it often gives out simple rules to apply (not an infallible method though).

And it helps. I swear!