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Though English does not have as many
words functioning as 'classifiers' and 'measure words' as some other
languages (especially Asian languages), it does have them. Some are
optional, others are not.
Some words requiring classifiers:
sheet
or piece of paper >> folha de papel
school of fish >> cardume de peixes
flock of birds >> bando de pássaros
bar of soap / chocolate >> barra de
chocolate
pair of pants / (eye)glasses >> par
de calças/óculos
block of ice / wood >> bloco de
gelo/madeira
herd of cows / horses >>
rebanho/mandada de vacas/cavalos
grain of salt / sugar / rice >> grão
de sal/açúcar
bunch of grapes / bananas >>
cacho/penca de uvas/bananas
pack of cards / cigarettes >> maço
de cartas/cigarros
cup of tea / coffee >> chícara
de chá/café
bale of hay / cotton >> fardo de
feno/algodão
Note that you can say: "Please give
me the (eye)glasses." You can also say: "Please give me the soap
and the lettuce." However, you cannot say: "Please give
me a (eye)glasses" or "a soap" or "a
lettuce," but must add "pair of," "bar of"
and "head of," respectively (as in "a head of
lettuce"). Also, both "a sheet (or piece) of paper"
and "the sheet (or piece) of paper" require the use of
the classifier.
Also note: 'two bars of soap' is
correct; 'two bar of soaps' is incorrect.
Some measure words denoting specific
quantities:
fortnight = two weeks (14 nights)
decade = 10 years
century = 100 years
millennium = 1000 years
dozen = 12
score = 20
fathom = water 6 ft deep
ream = 500 sheets of paper
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