Talk:alienans
Uncountability?[edit]
I do not believe this word is an uncountable. Rather, it is countable and has the same form in both singular and plural. If it were uncountable, it would not take an indefinite article like in the example: "In 'decoy duck,' 'decoy' is an alienans" (counting one alienans). Consider also the following: "In 'counterfeit money' and 'fake diamond,' 'counterfeit' and 'fake' are two alienans." I've just counted them.
- You are very certainly correct. I believe that there are far too many entries that are claimed to be uncountable. Please register and join me in correcting those for which you are very certain. Or please note other or debatable instances on my my talk page, in the tea room, or by placing a tag
{{rfc}}in the entry. DCDuring TALK 18:53, 25 March 2008 (UTC)
- I can't seem to verify "alienantes" in English from Google Books. Equinox ◑ 19:42, 11 October 2016 (UTC)
- One can find "an alienans" as an NP in Books and Scholar, which is evidence of countability. I tried unsuccessfully a few collocations with alienans that should have led to plurals. DCDuring TALK 20:36, 11 October 2016 (UTC)
- I can't seem to verify "alienantes" in English from Google Books. Equinox ◑ 19:42, 11 October 2016 (UTC)
Generalization[edit]
Our definition limits the type of modifier to an adjective. Presumably one could have an alienans phrase or clause that modified a noun or noun phrase as well.
Can one also have a word (or phrase or clause) that analogously modifies other grammatical classes (eg, verbs, adjectives, adverbs)? Can anyone give examples? Would this word include them or is there another word. DCDuring TALK 10:44, 29 November 2009 (UTC)