different between singulative vs nullar

English

Etymology

From French singulatif, from Latin singillatim (“singly", "one by one”), from singulus (“single", "separate”), from Proto-Italic *sem-g-lo-, a diminutive form derived from Proto-Indo-European *sem- (“one, together”).

Adjective

singulative (not comparable)

1. (grammar) Of or pertaining to a grammatical form or construction that expresses the individuation of a single referent from a mass noun.

   English doesn't have a singulative number in general, but many uncountable nouns have usual singulative constructions.

Noun

singulative (plural singulatives)

1. (grammar) A singulative form or construction.

   The singulative of "cattle" is "a head of cattle".

   The singulative of "scissors" is "a pair of scissors".

Related terms

• singular

Translations

See also

• collective noun
• dual
• mass noun
• paucal
• plural
• trial

English

Etymology

null +? -ar

Adjective

nullar (not comparable)

1. (grammar) Pertaining to a language form referring to none of something; compare singular used for one and plural for more than one.

Usage notes

It is generally believed that no natural language uses true nullar number except when the noun is omitted; thus no noun ever takes on a nullar form.

Related terms

• dual
• paucal
• plural
• singular
• singulative
• trial

Norwegian Nynorsk

Noun

nullar m

1. indefinite plural of null

Verb

nullar

1. present tense of nulla and nulle