people
part of speech
noun (person, people; «peoples» = nations; formal: persons)
meaning for a pupil
1) People means more than one person: men, women and children. tree →
2) People means persons in general, everyone. tree →
3) A people (peoples) is a nation or a group with its own language and ways. tree →
4) (casual) «People» can mean your family or friends: «my people», «good people»; «peeps» is slang for people or friends. tree →
5) (rude) «Some people!» complains about someone without naming them; «people like you» can be an insult. tree →
6) (formal) Notices and exams say «persons», «individuals», «occupants», «attendees», «passengers» and «members of the public». tree →
sense in the lessons
In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: It often means the nation of Israel, or other nations as "peoples". It can also mean the whole community gathered together. Interpretation: Jewish tradition sees Israel as God's chosen people, bound to Him by the covenant at Sinai. The "peoples" are the other nations of the world. In the primary lessons: persons counted on a bus, at a party, in a family or a group; in social studies, the peoples of the world; phrases «a lot of people», «most people», «young people», «people say», «people person»; in casual talk «peeps», «my people», «loads of people», «like 30 people»; in rough talk «some people, honestly», «people like you never pay»; in the exam voice «persons», «occupants», «a maximum of 40 persons», «individuals in attendance»
examples
- Let peoples serve thee, and nations bow down to thee. (Torah GEN.27.29, JPS 1917) tree →
- The peoples have heard, they tremble; pangs have taken hold on the inhabitants of Philistia. (Torah EXO.15.14, JPS 1917) tree →
- Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the peoples that are round about you; (Torah DEU.6.14, JPS 1917) tree →
- And why do the peoples mutter in vain? (Writings PSA.2.1, JPS 1917) tree →
- He subdueth peoples under us, and nations under our feet. (Writings PSA.47.4, JPS 1917) tree →
- They did not destroy the peoples, as the LORD commanded them; (Writings PSA.106.34, JPS 1917) tree →
- There were 25 people at the party. tree →
- 12 people got off the bus. tree →
- Each person gets 2 slices. tree →
- How many people are there in all? tree →
- Most people sleep at night. tree →
- The bus can carry 40 people. tree →
- Many peoples live in Africa. tree →
- People say the old house is haunted. tree →
- Like 30 people turned up, mad! tree →
- Some people, honestly, he took 3 seats on the bus. tree →
- The lift is licensed to carry a maximum of 8 persons. Determine the number of journeys required for 20 persons. tree →
- My peeps are coming over, we're 6. tree →
- The peoples who tell the stories differ in colour; language, religion, and almost everything else; but they all love a nursery tale. tree →
note
A thing counted; the plural of «person». «each person gets N» gives a rate. Trap: people may be split into groups (adults, children) to add. «People» takes a plural verb: «people are», not «people is». «persons», «individuals» and «occupants» in notices and exams also mean people. «like 30 people» in talk means about 30.
In the corpora
- And Abraham rose up, and bowed down to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.
- And Abraham bowed down before the people of the land.
- Let peoples serve thee, and nations bow down to thee.
- And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a congregation of peoples;
- And Joseph was the governor over the land; he it was that sold to all the people of the land.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «people» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.