family duties

[herbivorie]

This is a reply to a question asking why one’s language skills are good.

I can focus on studying, because I’m not married and I don’t have many family duties.
(Should I say “much family duty”? Dictionaries say “duty” can used both as a countable noun and as an uncountable noun.)

Also, this person lives alone, but he often sends money and gifts to his father and mother who live far from him.
Do you call sending money/gifts family duies? What are exactly family duties?

 

[SoothingDave]

"Many duties" is correct. We would not say "much duty."

Duties are things you are obligated to do. In a family, this may be anything from going to the store to buy groceries for your elderly mother to going to work at an early age to help pay for bills.

 

[herbivorie]

"Many duties" is correct. We would not say "much duty."

Duties are things you are obligated to do. In a family, this may be anything from going to the store to buy groceries for your elderly mother to going to work at an early age to help pay for bills.

I see. Thank you for answering the question.
So... sending money or gifts to your family members who don't live with you is one of your family duties, isn't it?

 

[SoothingDave]

I see. Thank you for answering the question.
So... sending money or gifts to your family members who don't live with you is one of your family duties, isn't it?

It sounds like it.

 

[lotus888]

More common:

I can focus on studying, because I’m not married and I don’t have many family responsibilities.



--lotus