If two objects in close proximity create an area of shade which is contiguous, would you call this a shadow or shadows? For example, which of the following sentences are correct, assuming that multiple palm trees create a contiguous shaded area:
The crowd gathered in the palm trees' shadow.
or
The crowd gathered in the palm trees' shadows.
My intuition is that it is the former (assuming the palm trees create one contiguous shaded area). If that's correct, when would you use shadows? When the shaded areas become non-contiguous? When the two objects are grouped separately?
If I'm wrong, what is the rule? Does the numerosity of "shadow" have to follow the numerosity of the objects which create the shade? Consider a case where at first I see a shaded area without knowing what is casting the shade. I would obviously just call it a "shadow." But if I then learn that there are multiple distinct objects creating the shade, would I then have to say "shadows?" That would be awkward.
I'm not interested in the figurative usage of the word "shadows," nor any usage where "shadows" does not mean multiple "dark areas or shapes produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface."
Best Answer
Generally, you can use your discretion in deciding whether to consider a silhouetted space a singular shadow or multiple shadows. You might consider thinking of it like the word "shape," which likewise can apply with different levels of granularity. You could say, "Look at the shape of the palm trees," referring to the shape of the cluster of trees as a whole, or you could say "Look at the shapes of the palm trees." You could even describe a singular object as having multiple shapes or shadows.
It's also worth noting, however, that "shadows" plural can carry a meaning distinct from "shadow" singular, referring to darkness generally. Merriam-Webster provides this definition:
Consider as an example this figurative use in a headline from The New York Times: