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The absolute plural is characteristic of the uncountable nouns which denote objects consisting of two halves
(trousers, scissors, tongs, spectacles, etc.), the nouns expressing some sort of collective meaning, i.e. rendering
the idea of indefinite plurality, both concrete and abstract (supplies, outskirts, clothes, parings; tidings,
earnings, contents, politics; police, cattle, poultry, etc.), the nouns denoting some diseases as well as some
abnormal states of the body and mind (measles, rickets, mumps, creeps, hysterics, etc.). As is seen from the
examples, from the point of view of number as such, the absolute plural forms can be divided into set absolute
plural (objects of two halves) and non-set absolute plural (the rest).
The set plural can also be distinguished among the common plural forms, namely, with nouns denoting
fixed sets of objects, such as eyes of the face, legs of the body, legs of the table, wheels of the vehicle, funnels
of the steamboat, windows of the room, etc.
The necessity of expressing definite numbers in cases of uncountable pluralia tantum nouns, as well as in
cases of countable nouns denoting objects in fixed sets, has brought about different suppletive combinations
specific to the plural form of the noun, which exist alongside the suppletive combinations specific to the
singular form of the noun shown above. Here belong collocations with such words as pair, set, group, bunch
and some others. Cf:. a pair of pincers; three pairs of bathing trunks; a few groups of police; two sets of dice;
several cases of measles; etc.
The absolute plural, by way of functional oppositional reduction, can be represented in countable nouns
having the form of the singular, in uncountable nouns having the form of the plural, and also in countable
nouns having the form of the plural.
The first type of reduction, consisting in the use of the absolute plural with countable nouns in the singular
form, concerns collective nouns, which are thereby changed into "nouns of multitude". Cf:.
The family were gathered round the table. The government are unanimous in disapproving the move of the
opposition.
This form of the absolute plural may be called "multitude plural".
The second type of the described oppositional reduction, consisting in the use of the absolute plural with
uncountable nouns in the plural form, concerns cases of stylistical marking of nouns. Thus, the oppositional
reduction results in expressive transposition. Cf:. the sands of the desert; the snows of the Arctic; the waters of
the ocean; the fruits of the toil; etc.
This variety of the absolute plural may be called "descriptive uncountable plural".
The third type of oppositional reduction concerns common countable nouns used in repetition groups. The
acquired implication is indefinitely large quantity intensely presented. The nouns in repetition groups may
themselves be used either in the plural ("featured" form) or in the singular ("unfeatured" form). Cf:.
There were trees and trees all around us. I lit cigarette after cigarette.
This variety of the absolute plural may be called "repetition plural". It can be considered as a peculiar
analytical form in the marginal sphere of the category of number (see Ch. III, § 4).
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