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ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > Plural of hair
Plural of hair
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Mietz
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Plural of hair
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Dear colleagues,
I learnt, that the word "hair" doesn �t have a plural with "s".
Now a language guide book a student brought along said, that "hairs" means the hair in the intimate parts. Is that correct? (Without meaning to go into an indecent discussion here...) I �ve never heard that.
Thanks for your help!
Mietz |
21 Sep 2011
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Jayho
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No, it is not correct.
Hair as an uncount noun generally means the hair on your head but can also mean hair elsewhere such as "he has a lot of body hair" (generally meaning a hairy chest and arms).
Hair as a count noun means single strands of hair e.g. �I have a few grey hairs�
Consider the difference between:
�I have grey hair � v �I have a few grey hairs/I found a grey hair�
�They found hair at the crime scene � v �They found a hair/a few hairs at the crime scene �
Does this help explain it?
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21 Sep 2011
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Zora
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I agree with Jayho here. Hair can be plural in certain cases.
When you are referring to strands of hair, you can say "hairs". I have 5 hairs on my left leg. There are a few cat hairs on this jacket. Oh, look, you �ve a hair on your nose!
But if we are referring to hair on your head, then that is uncountable.
John had his hair cut. His family had their hair cut before the wedding. Paul and John�s hair was all messy because of the wind.
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21 Sep 2011
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ldthemagicman
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Dear Mietz, I agree with Sophia, Jayho, and Zora. Les |
21 Sep 2011
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moravc
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I was taught that the hairs = animal fur (or something that resembles animal fur, so the hairs might be bushy)
human hairs = strands of hair (the number of hairs is usually mentioned - two hairs, a few hairs, three hairs, seven hairs)
but:
I have curly hair but my sister has straight hair. My hair is brown. She has got black hair. (no s!)
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21 Sep 2011
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Mietz
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Very interesting. It seems that you don �t seem to know or use the double-meaning really.
Well - thanks for all your answers! 
Mietz
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21 Sep 2011
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