chłopcy w strojach kąpielowych

[gvergara]

Hi,

The Wiktionary entry for strój kąpelowy shows two pictures: one of a/one kobieta w stroju kąpielowym, and another picture of two chłopcy w strojach kąpielowych. My question is whether it is absolutely necessary to use bathing suit in plural in the latter sentence, at least in my mother language that agreement sounds really odd; that, of course, means nothing, but my brain wold not exepct that kind of agreement and would spontaneously say chłopcy w stroju kąpielowym.

As usual, many thanks in advance,

G.

 

[zaffy]

chłopcy w stroju kąpielowym

It sounds fine to my ears.

 

[gvergara]

It sounds fine to my ears.

And the "plural version" chłopcy w strojach kąpielowych?

 

[zaffy]

It's fine too.

 

[elroy]

My question is whether it is absolutely necessary to use bathing suit in plural in the latter sentence, at least in my mother language that agreement sounds really odd

That’s interesting, because in English it’s the opposite:
boys in bathing suits
boys in a bathing suit (sounds like they’re all wearing a single bathing suit!)

I guess Polish is less picky than Spanish or English and is happy with either one.

 

[zaffy]

That’s interesting, because in English it’s the opposite:

I guess the plural form works better and should be used grammar wise but I have problem using the singular too. Or maybe it's just me. Let's wait what others have to say.

However, "życie" would work in the singular form only.
"W naszym życiu" = In our life. I can't imagine using the plural form and saying "W naszych życiach".

"Chłpocy byli na rowerach" - only the plural form works form me.
"Chłpocy byli na rowerze" -

Co powinniśmy wozić w naszym samochodzie? = What should we carry in our car?
Co powinniśmy wozić w naszych samochodach? = What should we carry in our cars?

 

[zaffy]

Sara637 also has no problem with the singular form

"W stroju sportowym"

 

[Drakonica]

In some sentences, the singular is possible:
- Zabierzcie strój kąpielowy.
But the safer and universally correct is the plural:
- Zabierzcie stroje kąpielowe.
- Chłopcy w strojach kąpielowych.

@zaffy ​

I think these examples are incorrect. Internet posts often contain incorrect phrases.
Sara637 has no problem with omitting multiple commas, too.

 

[Henares]

To me, “chłopcy w stroju kąpielowym” doesn’t sound good. It’s highly colloquial at best.

 

[gvergara]

To me, “chłopcy w stroju kąpielowym” doesn’t sound good.

Is this, in your perception, plainly incorrect, or does it suggest that one pair of shorts is being worn by two boys at the same time?

 

[Drakonica]

Is this, in your perception, plainly incorrect, or does it suggest that one pair of shorts is being worn by two boys at the same time?

It's what I imagine hearing that, but it doesn't make sense. But maybe they are dwarfs?

 

[jasio]

These examples clearly refer to distinct scenarios.

Co powinniśmy wozić w naszym samochodzie? = What should we carry in our car?

We (like me and my wife) share a car.

Co powinniśmy wozić w naszych samochodach? = What should we carry in our cars?

Each one of us (like me and my colleague) has his own car

 

[zaffy]

Yes, that's the idea behind those two, but people use either form.

Does "serwer w naszym domu" refer to a house shared by all the readers?

 

[zaffy]

"Co sprawdzić na naszym samochodzie po zimie?" (What to check our car for after winter)

Co sprawdzić w naszym samochodzie po zimie?

 

[jasio]

This kind of phrasing is used by the media indeed. Perhaps because "moim" would clearly refer to the author's house or car, while "twoim" would be too direct. And, for a reason, they often avoid omitting the pronoun, though without it the phrase would still be correct and convey the message. I think that the purpose is to build a short of relation with the reader.

But I do not think that this kind of usage would be correct in other contexts.