Singularetantum
A Singularetantum (Latin singularis " in the singular standing " and tantum "only" ) is a noun that is common only in the singular. The plural of Singularetantum is in technical language Singulariatantum; Duden also lists the form Singularetantums. Singulariatantum are almost never used with indefinite articles and are often without the article, because they are implicitly determined.
Examples
- Concrete nouns that denote something innumerable: Noise
- Abstractions: the thirst, the hatred, the reason, the present
- Substantivized Verbinfinitive: thinking, Forgive, Forget
- Nominalized adjectives: the German, the Unforgettable
- Many nouns ending in-heit or sensitivity: dark, health
- Many names of substances: helium, gold
- Organisations: Post
Plural formation by composites
The plural can be expressed in Singulariatantum using compound words, such as leaves, the foliage locations; Snow, snow.
Exceptions
Some words are formally Singulariatantum in the basic meaning, however, have one - often concretizing - secondary meaning, to which there is a plural. Such words are not Singulariatantum.
Examples:
- Beauty - beauty ( beautiful people )
- Stupidity - stupidity ( stupid acts)
Some words form a plural only in a specialized language. Such words are also no Singulariatantum.
- Dust - dust, even dust (different kinds of dust)
- Water - water ( eg, mineral waters )
- Milk - milks, also milks ( milks, such as cow's milk, goat's milk, mare's milk )