How much is the airplane's weight?
- Thread starter hirashin
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- 12 Oct 2013
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You can say, "How much weight did you lose?" or "How much weight will this truck hold".
So the construction "how much weight" is fine.
But for some reason "How much is the airplane's weight" doesn't sound right, wherereas "What is the weight" or "How much does it weigh" does sound proper and correct.
I think it has to do with weight being an abstract noun, but when you put "the + weight" it ceases to become abstract and instead becomes concrete.
So the construction "how much weight" is fine.
But for some reason "How much is the airplane's weight" doesn't sound right, wherereas "What is the weight" or "How much does it weigh" does sound proper and correct.
I think it has to do with weight being an abstract noun, but when you put "the + weight" it ceases to become abstract and instead becomes concrete.
- 6 Mar 2003
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I'm not sure if (C) is really invalid or not grammatically but I agree with Majestic that it's not used this way and it sounds wrong.
However in certain contexts it sounds perfectly fine. Like when I go scuba diving, the dive master frequently says "How much weight do you need?" But as you can see it's similar to the orange juice example because "weight" itself is the thing we're talking about.
- 12 Oct 2013
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Sorry Hirashin, I mucked up explanation. Apologies for the confusion. Anyway, I'm trying to find a simple explanation to the reason why c) is invalid:
(c) How much weight is the airplane?
It's wrong for almost the same reason that (b) sounds funny. It has to do with the use of the abstract noun.
How + adjective + is the airplane? (heavy, full, fast, big, etc...) Is a normal, correct construction.
How much + abstract noun + does the airplane have? (power, energy) Is also a normal construction
We don't normally say "How much weight does the airplane have?", but it is a valid construction, albeit very unusual. Normally we say "How heavy is the airplane?".
Similarly, we don't normally say "How much height does the airplane have?", but it is a valid construction. Normally we say "How tall is the airplane?".
But we would never say "How much weight is the airplane?" because the abstract noun clashes with the How much and the verb is in that construction. As above, you would need to change it to: "How much weight does the airplane have?", because weight is a quality that the airplane has, and not a quality that the airplane is.
I hope this is a more satisfying answer. My previous one was very sloppy.
(c) How much weight is the airplane?
It's wrong for almost the same reason that (b) sounds funny. It has to do with the use of the abstract noun.
How + adjective + is the airplane? (heavy, full, fast, big, etc...) Is a normal, correct construction.
How much + abstract noun + does the airplane have? (power, energy) Is also a normal construction
We don't normally say "How much weight does the airplane have?", but it is a valid construction, albeit very unusual. Normally we say "How heavy is the airplane?".
Similarly, we don't normally say "How much height does the airplane have?", but it is a valid construction. Normally we say "How tall is the airplane?".
But we would never say "How much weight is the airplane?" because the abstract noun clashes with the How much and the verb is in that construction. As above, you would need to change it to: "How much weight does the airplane have?", because weight is a quality that the airplane has, and not a quality that the airplane is.
I hope this is a more satisfying answer. My previous one was very sloppy.
- 8 Apr 2004
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Thank you for your help, mdchachi and Majestic.
I think I understand.
Do you say "How full is the airplane?" How do you respond to it?
Would "It's half full." or "It's 80 percent full." be an answer to it?
Hirashin
I think I understand.
Do you say "How full is the airplane?" How do you respond to it?
Would "It's half full." or "It's 80 percent full." be an answer to it?
Hirashin
- 6 Mar 2003
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Yes those are both good, natural answers but I'd probably add an "about" because I don't exactly how full it is.
It's about half full.
It's about 80% full.
It's almost full.
It's almost empty.
- 8 Apr 2004
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- #9
Thanks for the help, mdchachi.
I don't understand this part of your sentence:
Can you omit the main verb here?
Hirashin
I don't understand this part of your sentence:
Can you omit the main verb here?
Hirashin
- 6 Mar 2003
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No, it was part of the preceding line.
I said I would probably say "it's about 80% full" rather than "it's 80% full" because if you say it's "it's 80% full" it sounds like an exact number instead of an estimation. Does that make sense?
I said I would probably say "it's about 80% full" rather than "it's 80% full" because if you say it's "it's 80% full" it sounds like an exact number instead of an estimation. Does that make sense?
- 8 Apr 2004
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- #11
mdchachi, I'm afraid I still don't get it.
"I don't know exactly how full it is" would make sense to me. Am I mistaken?
Hirashin
It seems to me that you have omitted the main verb after "don't". Isn't "exactly" a verb, is it?
"I don't know exactly how full it is" would make sense to me. Am I mistaken?
Hirashin
- 6 Mar 2003
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Yes you're correct. I didn't catch my own mistake.
