At least once in a lifetime, each of us has a question about why in some cases the word "brain" has only a single form, while in others it is used in the plural. In fact, the form of the word depends on the context in which the word "brain" is used and on its meaning. Also, this article will help you find out if you are interested in which is correct: “brains” or “brains”. What syllable should be stressed in the plural of the word "brain"?
Morphological and syntactic properties of the word
The word "brain" is an inanimate masculine noun of the 2nd declension. The plural is "brains". Also, "brains" is used as an independent word that is not used in the singular.
Declination of the words "brain" and "brains" by cases is presented below.
| Case | unit h. | pl. h. |
| Nominative p. | brain | brains |
| Genitive p. | brain | brains |
| Dative | brain | brain |
| Accusative p. | brain | brains |
| Cerative p. | brain | brains |
| Prepositional p. | brain | brains |
How to speak correctly?
Now we will analyze in which cases it is more correct to use the word "brain" in the singular, and in which - in the plural. We will also remember set expressions and phraseological units with this word, find synonyms and antonyms for it. If you used to doubt which word is more correct to use - “brain” or “brains”, then after reading this article, you will no longer make mistakes either in conversation or in text.
Semantic properties of the word "brain"
There are several meanings in which the word "brain" is used in the singular:
- The brain as an organ of the human or animal nervous system - the brain, the spinal cord.
- Synonymous with mind, mind. Often used in the plural, but can also be used in the singular. - Do you have any brains? My brain is on fire!
- System or people responsible for making decisions. - Meet our development team - the brains of our firm.
- Center, the core of something on which the operation of the entire system depends. - The Pentagon is the brains of the United States Department of Defense. The processor is the brain of the computer.
Synonyms, antonyms and phraseological units
Synonyms for the word "brain" - gray matter, intellect, head, mind, mind.
Since the word in this case is more oftenhas the meaning of the subject, it is difficult to find antonyms for it. There are many phraseological units and set expressions in which the words “brain” or “brains” are used:
- The brain is the central organ of the human and animal nervous system in biology.
- Cerebral cortex - in biology, the part of the brain responsible for intelligence and thinking.
- Brain after brain is an outdated expression. In common parlance, this is what they say about a person who has lost the ability to think sensibly.
- Hemispheres of the brain - in biology, there are two parts of the brain: left and right.
- Brain death - in medicine, the physiological death of an organ due to the irreversible destruction of its cells.
- Concussion is a closed organ injury. Same as conmotion.
- The spinal cord is an organ of the central nervous system of animals and humans.
- To take out the brain - to pester with obsessive conversations, criticism.
Semantic properties
Meanings of the word "brains":
- In colloquial terms - mental abilities, mind. Examples: He doesn't have the brains to pull off such a thing! My wife is having a hard time…
- Brains in the meaning of an organ used for food, or a dish from it. Examples: Veal brains in batter. Fresh sheep brains have been brought to our workshop.
Synonyms, antonyms and phraseological units
Synonyms for the first meaning of the word "brain" - intellect, mind. Antonyms - stupidity.
Set expressions associated with the word:
- Set your brains -retrain someone, forcibly impose a different point of view.
- To load brains - to load a person with extraneous information that makes him go into thought.
- Drip on brains - constantly repeat, remind of the same thing.
- Compost brains - inspire something, pester, lie.
- Peck brains - teach, impose a way of thinking, annoy with constant moralizing.
- Powder brains - deceive.
- Brainwashing is the impact on people's minds by different media. Manipulating people with the help of deceit, fooling, putting thoughts beneficial to someone.
- Brains are smoking - fatigue from excessive mental work.
- Brains on one side - about a man with quirks, irrationally thinking.
- Think about something well.
- Move your brains - think, think.
- Brain drain is the emigration from any country of scientists, specialists for political, economic, religious reasons, etc. In this case, the country receives great cultural or economic damage.
Stress in the word
Perhaps, some do not know how to correctly: “brains” or “brains”. In the plural, the word "brain" is stressed on the last syllable. Saying "brains" is wrong in any situation. Maybe our great-grandfathers used such an accent before, but in a civilized world this is not worth doing.
Conclusion
Because how to determine which word would be more correct to use in one ordifferent situation: "brain" or "brains"? The word "brain" is more often used in the scientific and official environment. Brain is a colloquial word. Therefore, in our speech, we often use the second option. And that's okay. About how to correctly say "brains" in the plural, everything is also very clear.
