I think the use of the singular "staff" to mean "member of staff" or "employee" is so widespread that it's not considered an error. I certainly wouldn't notice or correct it.
How many staff do you employ?
My company has about 35 staff.
We're going to need more staff.
I've got fewer staff than I had at this point last year.
I wonder why sentence 2 "200 full-time staffs" is wrong wheras sentence 3 "200 staffs " is correct.For the benefit of our learners, "staff" also has another (unrelated) meaning: a long stick used for walking, or as a weapon, etc. In that sense, "staff" is a countable noun, hence you may encounter "staffs". However, that has nothing to do with the sense of the word as "employees". Thus:
The company has 200 full-time staff members.
The company has 200 full-time staffs.
The museum has 200 staffs dating back to that period.
Teechar explained that in the text above the example sentences.I wonder why sentence 2, "200 full-time staffs", is wrong whereas sentence 3, "200 staffs", is correct.
Teechar explained that in the text above the example sentences.
I looked up some dictionaries. I regret I could not find the meaning of “long sticks”.#2 refers to 'members of staff'. The word in that sense has no plural form.
#3 refers to long sticks. The word in that sense has the plural form staffs.
See number 2 here: https://www.wordreference.com/definition/staffI looked up some dictionaries. I regret I could not find the meaning of “long sticks”.
Take a look at this too:I looked up some dictionaries. I regret I could not find the meaning of “long sticks”.
We don't "look up dictionaries". We "look up words [in dictionaries]".I lookedupin some dictionaries.I regretUnfortunately, I could not find the meaning of “long sticks”.
Is it correct simply to say " I check/consult a dictionary"?We don't "look up dictionaries". We "look up words [in dictionaries]".
Those are grammatical but, of course, the present tense would be used only if you're talking about a regular occurrence. Those verbs are far more likely to be used in a past tense.Is it correct simply to say " I check/consult a dictionary"?
If "I checked a dictionary" is grammatical, what does it mean though?Those are grammatical but, of course, the present tense would be used only if you're talking about a regular occurrence. Those verbs are far more likely to be used in a past tense.
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