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Old May 03, 2010, 11:17 AM
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irmamar irmamar is offline
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Means

"...you have discovered a means for instructing animals..."

I understand that "means" means (valga la redundancia ) "medio, manera", but I'd like to know if it takes a plural form as if it were singular when it has this meaning, since in this sentence "a" is before "means".

I'm not sure if I'm able to explain what I mean . Thanks.
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Old May 03, 2010, 11:25 AM
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Perikles Perikles is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by irmamar View Post

I understand that "means" means (valga la redundancia ) "medio, manera", but I'd like to know if it takes a plural form as if it were singular when it has this meaning, since in this sentence "a" is before "means".
In this sense, it is always a plural used in the singular sense. I think it comes from Fr. moyens.

A means of doing something.

It also means resources. money etc, so you can say I have the means to live a life of luxury.
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Old May 03, 2010, 11:26 AM
hermit hermit is offline
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Yes, plural form, representing singular concept "method" in this context.
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Last edited by hermit; May 03, 2010 at 11:28 AM.
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Old May 03, 2010, 11:37 AM
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irmamar irmamar is offline
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Yes, I knew your example (although I thought it was plural: los medios, since you don't distinguish between el/los), but I had never seen that plural word in a singular construction (or I had never realised that "the" was singular). Thanks
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