Grammar Doubt!?

Question

which of these sentences are correct? if they aren't correct, then what's the actual answer?

1) Your hair is silky today.
2) Your hairs are looking silky today
3) Your hairs is looking silky today
4) Your hairs are silky today
5) Your hair are looking silky today.



actually whenever i read these sentences in my mind, i get really confused between what's right and what's wrong. so can someone tell me how to differentiate them?

Answer 1

Only #1 is grammatically and "common sensically" correct, meaning "the hair on your head", used as a collective noun, and always singular.
(To be grammatically correct #3 is never "hairs IS" but "hairs ARE", and #5 is never "hair ARE" but "hair IS".)

Don't torture yourself with all those other "finer" points.
#2,3,4, and 5 are stretching it a bit, and would have to be used in extremely specific contexts, which, to me, is "splitting hairs" (making petty distinctions that most people are not ever going to find themselves in a position to make).

Only concern yourself with the following distinctions/differentiations and you'll do fine:

The word "hairs" commonly refers to individual strands of hair, as in "I found two hairs (strands) in my soup at the restaurant today";
"hair" is what you have on your head, seen "as an entity, the entire head of hair", as in "I can't do anything with my hair after I wash it!",
and sometimes refers to one single strand of hair "There's a hair in my scrambled eggs!"

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Of the five sentences you have given, only the first one is correct. In English, unlike in some other languages, 'hair' is singular and refers to all of the hair on a person's head. Therefore, sentence numbers 2, 3 and 4 are incorrect. In addition, you need to use a verb that agrees with a singular noun. For example, "Your hair looks..." or "Your hair is..." Therefore, number 5 is incorrect.
If you say "Your hair is silky today", it gives the impression that you have touched the hair. If you have only looked at the hair and not actually touched it, you may want to say "Your hair looks silky today" or "Your hair is looking silky today".

Answer 4

"Your hair is silky today" (sentence No.1) is the only correct sentence. Because the hair is generally used as a collective noun in the singular form. Hence all the remaining sentences are grammatically incorrect !

Answer 5

We normally use hair in the singular unless it is preceded by a number. The very must always match the subject in number; singular subject need a singular verb while plural subjects need a plural verb. Therefore, only the first sentence above is correct.

Answer 6

very simple,just consider following 3 things:
1)its never about one or two hair,so when u speak of hairs-its always hairs[never ever hair] so hairs r always in plural because no creature has a single hair.
2)when it is sure that hair is incorrect & "hairs" r correct ,so it is sure that "is" is incorrect.correct is "are"
3)hairs r never silky,they look or seem like silk,so only "silky" is incorrect,"looking silky" is correct.

therefore #2 sentence is correct,if u have any further doubt ask me

Answer 7

3 and 5 are grammatically incorrect because the subjects and verbs are not in agreement. "Hairs is" should be "Hairs are;" (plural). Like wise, "hair are" should be "hair is;" (singular).

In 2, "hairs are looking..." is correct, referring to each individual hair. Unusual usage, perhaps, but grammatically correct. Same thing with 4.

The sentences may be criticized on grounds of usage and style, but remember that grammar concerns itself with the arrangement of words as parts of speech (nouns, verbs, conjunctions, etc.) And thus, possible it is to have nonsense sentences, but ones that grammatically are fit, if my point you get.

Some folks will trip over "hair" and "hairs," pointing out that "hair" usually means "all" the hair. But let us say you are a biologist who has 5 strands of hair you're testing for reaction to various shampoo formulas. Your supervisor observes them and comments that they all look silky. "Your hairs are looking silky today" is just fine and not only grammatically correct but clear as to meaning in context. The supervisor then looks at YOU, winks, and says, "And your hair is silky today."

Likewise, some totured soul will, no doubt, find fault with hair "looking" as though the strands of hair were all lined up with binoculars like spectators around the rail of a race track. Balderdash! If we were referring to the manner in which the hairs were looking (meaning, the hair/s "see" something) we would write, "hairs looking silkily," an adverb, right?

Here are four texts to consult for more informed opinion:

1. "The (good old) Harbrace College Handbook," which lays out the formal rules of grammar, including examples and exercises. I keep a copy handy because I can NEVER remember when to use "its" or "it's."

2. "Elements of Style" by Strunk and Whyte -a classic since 1918, frequently updated, and regarded as the gold standard in finer English departments everywhere.

3. "Language in Thought and Action," S. I. Hayakawa (yes, THE Senator Haywakawa) which is brimming over with amusing and memorable examples of usage, including this classic: "Remember that, when wanting to fight fire with fire, the fire department usually uses water."

4. Last but not least (and she'd kill me for saying that -read the book to see why) "Woe is I," an amusing contemporary reader by Patricia O'Connor which will probably make you laugh and learn all at once. It will also deflate much of the puffed-up advice and comment which I so wearily note has appeared in response to your query.

And, by the way, the collective noun for hairs is not "hair," but rather, "hank."

OK?

Answer 8

1) Your hair is silky today.
Or, not in your list: Your hair looks/feels silky today.

Answer 9

1. is correct. Hair is a singular noun describing all the hairs on your head so it gets a singular verb (is).

Answer 10

Sentence #3 is correct.