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I've noticed many people say something like
they live in another dimensions...,
and
in a dimensions of...,
but I am wondering if it's correct to put an “a” or "another" before the word "dimensions".
Can the plural form of "dimensions" in some certain cases be regarded as a singular?
BTW, what's the exact meaning of "dimensions" in such a sentence like "they live in another dimensions"?
dennylv
Posted 2015-12-09T01:33:14.240
Reputation: 4 361
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The singular should be used:
They live in another dimension
or possibly
They live in other dimensions
We live in a four dimensional universe: up/down, left/right, forward/backward, and time, that is our reality (as we know it today). If someone is living in another dimension, it means they are living in a different reality to ours.
The phrase:
...within the dimensions of
Could possibly be used to introduce a frame of reference:
..within the dimensions of Klingon society, it is possible to...
Peter
Posted 2015-12-09T01:33:14.240
Reputation: 63 575
0
For starters, A and An have rules.
A = the following word starts with a consonant.
There is a green dot on my orange.
An = following word starts with a vowel.
There is an orange speck on my apple.
So it would never be an dimension but the indefinite article a dimension.
Now, moving on to your questions: You would never couple dimension with an because of the above. But another, parallel and unknown, etc. would be just fine.
Meaning of Dimension in this context: A completely different reality, operating in its own timeline. Or, a being who operates outside of our four dimensions (length, width, height, time).
lurker
Posted 2015-12-09T01:33:14.240
Reputation: 1 682
I am very sorry that I made a terrible mistake. It's not an "an", but a "a". I've edited my post. – dennylv – 2015-12-09T01:58:36.843
2Where on earth have you seen this? It is quite unacceptable. – StoneyB on hiatus – 2015-12-09T01:39:27.923
No, this isn't a possible use...not sure where you could have seen this. – Alex K – 2015-12-09T01:46:00.557
2You could say that they live in other dimensions, or the phrase "in a dimension", but neither another nor a pairs with dimensions properly. – Jason Patterson – 2015-12-09T02:07:51.443
@StoneyB I watch a TV town hall meeting program(Hannity? I don't quite sure the program's name)，and I bet I heard a guest said “live in another dimensions”. – dennylv – 2015-12-09T03:00:51.533
1@dennylv - Sometimes people speak imprecisely or incorrectly, especially when they're trying to think of what they're going to say while they're saying it. StoneyB, Alex K, and Jason Patterson are entirely correct. It should be a dimension, another dimension, or other dimensions, but another dimensions is just plain wrong. – stangdon – 2015-12-09T14:46:41.527