Why has “pence” been used in this sentence, not “pences”?












4
















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







share|improve this question




















  • 1





    What is the source of the quote please?

    – James K
    9 hours ago











  • 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
    2 hours ago











  • 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
    1 hour ago
















4
















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







share|improve this question




















  • 1





    What is the source of the quote please?

    – James K
    9 hours ago











  • 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
    2 hours ago











  • 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
    1 hour ago














4












4








4









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







share|improve this question

















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






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 9 hours ago









J.R.♦

100k8129248




100k8129248










asked 10 hours ago









FringetosFringetos

2227




2227








  • 1





    What is the source of the quote please?

    – James K
    9 hours ago











  • 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
    2 hours ago











  • 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
    1 hour ago














  • 1





    What is the source of the quote please?

    – James K
    9 hours ago











  • 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
    2 hours ago











  • 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
    1 hour ago








1




1





What is the source of the quote please?

– James K
9 hours ago





What is the source of the quote please?

– James K
9 hours ago













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
2 hours ago





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
2 hours ago













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
1 hour ago





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
1 hour ago










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

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22














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.






share|improve this answer





















  • 3





    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
    8 hours ago






  • 2





    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
    8 hours ago






  • 5





    @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
    7 hours ago






  • 5





    @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
    7 hours ago






  • 2





    Hang on, @MichaelKay: we can't reasonably tell Michael Harvey that he didn't hear what he said he heard; just that we never heard it.

    – Colin Fine
    7 hours ago











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1 Answer
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22














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.






share|improve this answer





















  • 3





    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
    8 hours ago






  • 2





    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
    8 hours ago






  • 5





    @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
    7 hours ago






  • 5





    @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
    7 hours ago






  • 2





    Hang on, @MichaelKay: we can't reasonably tell Michael Harvey that he didn't hear what he said he heard; just that we never heard it.

    – Colin Fine
    7 hours ago
















22














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.






share|improve this answer





















  • 3





    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
    8 hours ago






  • 2





    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
    8 hours ago






  • 5





    @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
    7 hours ago






  • 5





    @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
    7 hours ago






  • 2





    Hang on, @MichaelKay: we can't reasonably tell Michael Harvey that he didn't hear what he said he heard; just that we never heard it.

    – Colin Fine
    7 hours ago














22












22








22







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.






share|improve this answer















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.







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited 10 hours ago

























answered 10 hours ago









Colin FineColin Fine

31.2k24360




31.2k24360








  • 3





    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
    8 hours ago






  • 2





    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
    8 hours ago






  • 5





    @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
    7 hours ago






  • 5





    @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
    7 hours ago






  • 2





    Hang on, @MichaelKay: we can't reasonably tell Michael Harvey that he didn't hear what he said he heard; just that we never heard it.

    – Colin Fine
    7 hours ago














  • 3





    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
    8 hours ago






  • 2





    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
    8 hours ago






  • 5





    @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
    7 hours ago






  • 5





    @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
    7 hours ago






  • 2





    Hang on, @MichaelKay: we can't reasonably tell Michael Harvey that he didn't hear what he said he heard; just that we never heard it.

    – Colin Fine
    7 hours ago








3




3





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
8 hours ago





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
8 hours ago




2




2





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
8 hours ago





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
8 hours ago




5




5





@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
7 hours ago





@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
7 hours ago




5




5





@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
7 hours ago





@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
7 hours ago




2




2





Hang on, @MichaelKay: we can't reasonably tell Michael Harvey that he didn't hear what he said he heard; just that we never heard it.

– Colin Fine
7 hours ago





Hang on, @MichaelKay: we can't reasonably tell Michael Harvey that he didn't hear what he said he heard; just that we never heard it.

– Colin Fine
7 hours ago


















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