Why has “pence” been used in this sentence, not “pences”?Why 'the' is required in these sentences?Why does this sentence use “away from”?Is “before” used correctly in this sentence?Differences “that” and “this” used to refer to something/somebody that has already been mentionedHow “shall” has been used?Why is “do” needed in this sentence?Why the prep 'in' used in this sentence?it has been known thatWhy is “on the season” used in this sentence?Why 'anything' used instead of 'something' in this sentence?
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Why has “pence” been used in this sentence, not “pences”?
Why 'the' is required in these sentences?Why does this sentence use “away from”?Is “before” used correctly in this sentence?Differences “that” and “this” used to refer to something/somebody that has already been mentionedHow “shall” has been used?Why is “do” needed in this sentence?Why the prep 'in' used in this sentence?it has been known thatWhy is “on the season” used in this sentence?Why 'anything' used instead of 'something' in this sentence?
You can then open the chest, and take from it as many pence as you please, they are only copper pence, but if you would rather have silver money, you must go into the second chamber.
Source: The Tinder Box by Hans Christian Anderson
Is that boldface correct grammatically?
Why is that "pence", not "pences"?
word-choice
edited yesterday
J.R.♦
100k8129248
asked yesterday
FringetosFringetos
23018
add a comment |
You can then open the chest, and take from it as many pence as you please, they are only copper pence, but if you would rather have silver money, you must go into the second chamber.
Source: The Tinder Box by Hans Christian Anderson
Is that boldface correct grammatically?
Why is that "pence", not "pences"?
word-choice
edited yesterday
J.R.♦
100k8129248
asked yesterday
FringetosFringetos
23018
1
What is the source of the quote please?
– James K
yesterday
7
Partially irrelevant pedantry: Andersen's original story was written in Danish and so does not say "pence". The word he used was "skillinger" which is cognate to shilling, though the value of the actual Danish skilling coin that circulated in Andersen's time seems to have been closer to an English penny than to a shilling.
– Henning Makholm
yesterday
3
Exchange rates aside, the skilling was the smallest named unit of currency in circulation, and the context makes it clear that Andersen was not using the word to refer to a particular value, but as a generic word for small common coins. Thus a truer translation to modern English would probably be "pennies" rather than "pence"
– Henning Makholm
yesterday
3
You could have started by looking up pence in a dictionary.
– Carsten S
21 hours ago
add a comment |
You can then open the chest, and take from it as many pence as you please, they are only copper pence, but if you would rather have silver money, you must go into the second chamber.
Source: The Tinder Box by Hans Christian Anderson
Is that boldface correct grammatically?
Why is that "pence", not "pences"?
word-choice
edited yesterday
J.R.♦
100k8129248
asked yesterday
FringetosFringetos
23018
You can then open the chest, and take from it as many pence as you please, they are only copper pence, but if you would rather have silver money, you must go into the second chamber.
Source: The Tinder Box by Hans Christian Anderson
Is that boldface correct grammatically?
Why is that "pence", not "pences"?
word-choice
word-choice
edited yesterday
J.R.♦
100k8129248
asked yesterday
FringetosFringetos
23018
edited yesterday
J.R.♦
100k8129248
asked yesterday
FringetosFringetos
23018
edited yesterday
J.R.♦
100k8129248
edited yesterday
J.R.♦
100k8129248
edited yesterday
J.R.♦
100k8129248
100k8129248
asked yesterday
FringetosFringetos
23018
asked yesterday
FringetosFringetos
23018
asked yesterday
FringetosFringetos
23018
23018
1
What is the source of the quote please?
– James K
yesterday
7
Partially irrelevant pedantry: Andersen's original story was written in Danish and so does not say "pence". The word he used was "skillinger" which is cognate to shilling, though the value of the actual Danish skilling coin that circulated in Andersen's time seems to have been closer to an English penny than to a shilling.
– Henning Makholm
yesterday
3
Exchange rates aside, the skilling was the smallest named unit of currency in circulation, and the context makes it clear that Andersen was not using the word to refer to a particular value, but as a generic word for small common coins. Thus a truer translation to modern English would probably be "pennies" rather than "pence"
– Henning Makholm
yesterday
3
You could have started by looking up pence in a dictionary.
– Carsten S
21 hours ago
add a comment |
1
What is the source of the quote please?
– James K
yesterday
7
Partially irrelevant pedantry: Andersen's original story was written in Danish and so does not say "pence". The word he used was "skillinger" which is cognate to shilling, though the value of the actual Danish skilling coin that circulated in Andersen's time seems to have been closer to an English penny than to a shilling.
– Henning Makholm
yesterday
3
Exchange rates aside, the skilling was the smallest named unit of currency in circulation, and the context makes it clear that Andersen was not using the word to refer to a particular value, but as a generic word for small common coins. Thus a truer translation to modern English would probably be "pennies" rather than "pence"
– Henning Makholm
yesterday
3
You could have started by looking up pence in a dictionary.
– Carsten S
21 hours ago
1
1
What is the source of the quote please?
– James K
yesterday
What is the source of the quote please?
– James K
yesterday
7
7
Partially irrelevant pedantry: Andersen's original story was written in Danish and so does not say "pence". The word he used was "skillinger" which is cognate to shilling, though the value of the actual Danish skilling coin that circulated in Andersen's time seems to have been closer to an English penny than to a shilling.
– Henning Makholm
yesterday
Partially irrelevant pedantry: Andersen's original story was written in Danish and so does not say "pence". The word he used was "skillinger" which is cognate to shilling, though the value of the actual Danish skilling coin that circulated in Andersen's time seems to have been closer to an English penny than to a shilling.
– Henning Makholm
yesterday
3
3
Exchange rates aside, the skilling was the smallest named unit of currency in circulation, and the context makes it clear that Andersen was not using the word to refer to a particular value, but as a generic word for small common coins. Thus a truer translation to modern English would probably be "pennies" rather than "pence"
– Henning Makholm
yesterday
Exchange rates aside, the skilling was the smallest named unit of currency in circulation, and the context makes it clear that Andersen was not using the word to refer to a particular value, but as a generic word for small common coins. Thus a truer translation to modern English would probably be "pennies" rather than "pence"
– Henning Makholm
yesterday
3
3
You could have started by looking up pence in a dictionary.
– Carsten S
21 hours ago
You could have started by looking up pence in a dictionary.
– Carsten S
21 hours ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
Because pence is plural. It is historically a plural of penny, and is still used that way in some contexts in British English.
Specifically, it is normal when referring to value: "one penny, two pence" (though many people say "one p, two p")
It is not currently used when referring to individual coins: most people would say "there is a pile of pennies on the table", not "there is a pile of pence on the table". In that respect, the passage you quote is archaic.
answered yesterday
Colin FineColin Fine
31.4k24560
7
Yes, they did. Example from George Eliot, 1868 (quoted in OED): " A poor pocket-picking scoundrel, who will steal your loose pence while you are listening round the platform."
– Colin Fine
yesterday
6
I believe the term p is specific to the British new pence (i.e. post-decimalization). I thought it was adopted to distinguish it from the pre-decimal penny (whose abbreviation was d), and I don't think it would be used for pennies of another currency.
– Nate Eldredge
yesterday
1
Saying "one p, two p" only started when the UK converted to decimal currency in 1972, probably because during the changeover it was long winded to keep saying "old pence" and "new pence" (the new ones were worth 2.4 times as much as the old ones!)
– alephzero
yesterday
11
@Rupe It's not archaic. It is still often used in British English. You can say "I only have 15 pence" or "I only have 15 p", but you would never say "I only have 15 pennies", unless you meant "I only have 15 one-penny coins" and not "I only have coins worth £0.15" (for example one 10p and one 5p coin).
– alephzero
yesterday
7
@alephzero: that's exactly the point I made in my answer. Those of us who say "penny" rather than "p" do say "pence" for a value, but not referring to coins.
– Colin Fine
yesterday
|
show 6 more comments
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Because pence is plural. It is historically a plural of penny, and is still used that way in some contexts in British English.
Specifically, it is normal when referring to value: "one penny, two pence" (though many people say "one p, two p")
It is not currently used when referring to individual coins: most people would say "there is a pile of pennies on the table", not "there is a pile of pence on the table". In that respect, the passage you quote is archaic.
answered yesterday
Colin FineColin Fine
31.4k24560
7
Yes, they did. Example from George Eliot, 1868 (quoted in OED): " A poor pocket-picking scoundrel, who will steal your loose pence while you are listening round the platform."
– Colin Fine
yesterday
6
I believe the term p is specific to the British new pence (i.e. post-decimalization). I thought it was adopted to distinguish it from the pre-decimal penny (whose abbreviation was d), and I don't think it would be used for pennies of another currency.
– Nate Eldredge
yesterday
1
Saying "one p, two p" only started when the UK converted to decimal currency in 1972, probably because during the changeover it was long winded to keep saying "old pence" and "new pence" (the new ones were worth 2.4 times as much as the old ones!)
– alephzero
yesterday
11
@Rupe It's not archaic. It is still often used in British English. You can say "I only have 15 pence" or "I only have 15 p", but you would never say "I only have 15 pennies", unless you meant "I only have 15 one-penny coins" and not "I only have coins worth £0.15" (for example one 10p and one 5p coin).
– alephzero
yesterday
7
@alephzero: that's exactly the point I made in my answer. Those of us who say "penny" rather than "p" do say "pence" for a value, but not referring to coins.
– Colin Fine
yesterday
|
show 6 more comments
Because pence is plural. It is historically a plural of penny, and is still used that way in some contexts in British English.
Specifically, it is normal when referring to value: "one penny, two pence" (though many people say "one p, two p")
It is not currently used when referring to individual coins: most people would say "there is a pile of pennies on the table", not "there is a pile of pence on the table". In that respect, the passage you quote is archaic.
answered yesterday
Colin FineColin Fine
31.4k24560
7
Yes, they did. Example from George Eliot, 1868 (quoted in OED): " A poor pocket-picking scoundrel, who will steal your loose pence while you are listening round the platform."
– Colin Fine
yesterday
6
I believe the term p is specific to the British new pence (i.e. post-decimalization). I thought it was adopted to distinguish it from the pre-decimal penny (whose abbreviation was d), and I don't think it would be used for pennies of another currency.
– Nate Eldredge
yesterday
1
Saying "one p, two p" only started when the UK converted to decimal currency in 1972, probably because during the changeover it was long winded to keep saying "old pence" and "new pence" (the new ones were worth 2.4 times as much as the old ones!)
– alephzero
yesterday
11
@Rupe It's not archaic. It is still often used in British English. You can say "I only have 15 pence" or "I only have 15 p", but you would never say "I only have 15 pennies", unless you meant "I only have 15 one-penny coins" and not "I only have coins worth £0.15" (for example one 10p and one 5p coin).
– alephzero
yesterday
7
@alephzero: that's exactly the point I made in my answer. Those of us who say "penny" rather than "p" do say "pence" for a value, but not referring to coins.
– Colin Fine
yesterday
|
show 6 more comments
Because pence is plural. It is historically a plural of penny, and is still used that way in some contexts in British English.
Specifically, it is normal when referring to value: "one penny, two pence" (though many people say "one p, two p")
It is not currently used when referring to individual coins: most people would say "there is a pile of pennies on the table", not "there is a pile of pence on the table". In that respect, the passage you quote is archaic.
answered yesterday
Colin FineColin Fine
31.4k24560
Because pence is plural. It is historically a plural of penny, and is still used that way in some contexts in British English.
Specifically, it is normal when referring to value: "one penny, two pence" (though many people say "one p, two p")
It is not currently used when referring to individual coins: most people would say "there is a pile of pennies on the table", not "there is a pile of pence on the table". In that respect, the passage you quote is archaic.
answered yesterday
Colin FineColin Fine
31.4k24560
edited yesterday
answered yesterday
Colin FineColin Fine
31.4k24560
answered yesterday
Colin FineColin Fine
31.4k24560
answered yesterday
Colin FineColin Fine
31.4k24560
31.4k24560
7
Yes, they did. Example from George Eliot, 1868 (quoted in OED): " A poor pocket-picking scoundrel, who will steal your loose pence while you are listening round the platform."
– Colin Fine
yesterday
6
I believe the term p is specific to the British new pence (i.e. post-decimalization). I thought it was adopted to distinguish it from the pre-decimal penny (whose abbreviation was d), and I don't think it would be used for pennies of another currency.
– Nate Eldredge
yesterday
1
Saying "one p, two p" only started when the UK converted to decimal currency in 1972, probably because during the changeover it was long winded to keep saying "old pence" and "new pence" (the new ones were worth 2.4 times as much as the old ones!)
– alephzero
yesterday
11
@Rupe It's not archaic. It is still often used in British English. You can say "I only have 15 pence" or "I only have 15 p", but you would never say "I only have 15 pennies", unless you meant "I only have 15 one-penny coins" and not "I only have coins worth £0.15" (for example one 10p and one 5p coin).
– alephzero
yesterday
7
@alephzero: that's exactly the point I made in my answer. Those of us who say "penny" rather than "p" do say "pence" for a value, but not referring to coins.
– Colin Fine
yesterday
|
show 6 more comments
7
Yes, they did. Example from George Eliot, 1868 (quoted in OED): " A poor pocket-picking scoundrel, who will steal your loose pence while you are listening round the platform."
– Colin Fine
yesterday
6
I believe the term p is specific to the British new pence (i.e. post-decimalization). I thought it was adopted to distinguish it from the pre-decimal penny (whose abbreviation was d), and I don't think it would be used for pennies of another currency.
– Nate Eldredge
yesterday
1
Saying "one p, two p" only started when the UK converted to decimal currency in 1972, probably because during the changeover it was long winded to keep saying "old pence" and "new pence" (the new ones were worth 2.4 times as much as the old ones!)
– alephzero
yesterday
11
@Rupe It's not archaic. It is still often used in British English. You can say "I only have 15 pence" or "I only have 15 p", but you would never say "I only have 15 pennies", unless you meant "I only have 15 one-penny coins" and not "I only have coins worth £0.15" (for example one 10p and one 5p coin).
– alephzero
yesterday
7
@alephzero: that's exactly the point I made in my answer. Those of us who say "penny" rather than "p" do say "pence" for a value, but not referring to coins.
– Colin Fine
yesterday
7
7
Yes, they did. Example from George Eliot, 1868 (quoted in OED): " A poor pocket-picking scoundrel, who will steal your loose pence while you are listening round the platform."
– Colin Fine
yesterday
Yes, they did. Example from George Eliot, 1868 (quoted in OED): " A poor pocket-picking scoundrel, who will steal your loose pence while you are listening round the platform."
– Colin Fine
yesterday
6
6
I believe the term p is specific to the British new pence (i.e. post-decimalization). I thought it was adopted to distinguish it from the pre-decimal penny (whose abbreviation was d), and I don't think it would be used for pennies of another currency.
– Nate Eldredge
yesterday
I believe the term p is specific to the British new pence (i.e. post-decimalization). I thought it was adopted to distinguish it from the pre-decimal penny (whose abbreviation was d), and I don't think it would be used for pennies of another currency.
– Nate Eldredge
yesterday
1
1
Saying "one p, two p" only started when the UK converted to decimal currency in 1972, probably because during the changeover it was long winded to keep saying "old pence" and "new pence" (the new ones were worth 2.4 times as much as the old ones!)
– alephzero
yesterday
Saying "one p, two p" only started when the UK converted to decimal currency in 1972, probably because during the changeover it was long winded to keep saying "old pence" and "new pence" (the new ones were worth 2.4 times as much as the old ones!)
– alephzero
yesterday
11
11
@Rupe It's not archaic. It is still often used in British English. You can say "I only have 15 pence" or "I only have 15 p", but you would never say "I only have 15 pennies", unless you meant "I only have 15 one-penny coins" and not "I only have coins worth £0.15" (for example one 10p and one 5p coin).
– alephzero
yesterday
@Rupe It's not archaic. It is still often used in British English. You can say "I only have 15 pence" or "I only have 15 p", but you would never say "I only have 15 pennies", unless you meant "I only have 15 one-penny coins" and not "I only have coins worth £0.15" (for example one 10p and one 5p coin).
– alephzero
yesterday
7
7
@alephzero: that's exactly the point I made in my answer. Those of us who say "penny" rather than "p" do say "pence" for a value, but not referring to coins.
– Colin Fine
yesterday
@alephzero: that's exactly the point I made in my answer. Those of us who say "penny" rather than "p" do say "pence" for a value, but not referring to coins.
– Colin Fine
yesterday
|
show 6 more comments
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1
What is the source of the quote please?
– James K
yesterday
7
Partially irrelevant pedantry: Andersen's original story was written in Danish and so does not say "pence". The word he used was "skillinger" which is cognate to shilling, though the value of the actual Danish skilling coin that circulated in Andersen's time seems to have been closer to an English penny than to a shilling.
– Henning Makholm
yesterday
3
Exchange rates aside, the skilling was the smallest named unit of currency in circulation, and the context makes it clear that Andersen was not using the word to refer to a particular value, but as a generic word for small common coins. Thus a truer translation to modern English would probably be "pennies" rather than "pence"
– Henning Makholm
yesterday
3
You could have started by looking up pence in a dictionary.
– Carsten S
21 hours ago