Spanish plural to singular in English

English translation: Response

09:15 Sep 5, 2018
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / Grammar
Spanish term or phrase: Spanish plural to singular in English
Hi there,

When I translate something like "Asignación de boyas" I use "Bouy assignment" singular and not "Bouys assignment" plural (assignment meaning a type of allocation in this case), I have been unable to find the rule to help me explain this, although the singular sounds more natural to me in English,
like "información de sondeos" / "sounding information" and not "soundings information", my client prefers the plural version, would that be totally incorrect?

Is anyone familiar with an exact rule for these kinds of cases?

Thanks in advance.

Róisín
Roisin Gough
Local time: 13:33
English translation:Response
Explanation:
Because a) adjectives in English are invariable and b) nouns can be turned into adjectives in English

When you write 'Buoy assignment', buoy is a noun with an adjective function

https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/nouns-adjective.htm


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Note added at 5 hrs (2018-09-05 14:57:21 GMT)
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Of course, there are exceptions to any grammatical rule.
Selected response from:

Francois Boye
United States
Local time: 08:33
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +2Response
Francois Boye


Discussion entries: 16





  

Answers


4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Response


Explanation:
Because a) adjectives in English are invariable and b) nouns can be turned into adjectives in English

When you write 'Buoy assignment', buoy is a noun with an adjective function

https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/nouns-adjective.htm


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2018-09-05 14:57:21 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Of course, there are exceptions to any grammatical rule.

Francois Boye
United States
Local time: 08:33
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 28
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Natalia Pedrosa: Very well explained. Cheers!
1 hr
  -> Thanks!

agree  Julio Bereciartu
10 hrs
  -> Thanks!
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