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Trabalenguas = singular o plural?

 

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  #11  
Old February 09, 2009, 08:54 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sosia View Post
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!
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  #12  
Old February 09, 2009, 05:20 PM
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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.
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Old February 09, 2009, 05:24 PM
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FABULOUS, Angelica!! Thank you SO much for sharing your first post with my simple little question about trabalenguas. Gracias!
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  #14  
Old February 09, 2009, 06:30 PM
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My pleasure... I enjoy languages.
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Old February 10, 2009, 12:09 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar View Post
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.
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  #16  
Old February 10, 2009, 07:50 AM
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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).
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  #17  
Old February 10, 2009, 09:03 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar View Post
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!
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