English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
POTENTIAL
This country has enormous ~potentials~ for development (nonstandard).
The country has enormous *potential* for development (standard).
This is ~a potential~ I think you should develop (nonstandard).
This is *potential* I think you should develop (standard).
If you say that someone or something has potential, you mean that they have the necessary abilities or qualities to become successful or useful in the future.
The word is a mass noun that should not be attract “s” and that should not be preceded by “a”. It can, however, be followed by a plural noun when it precedes the noun:
Be nice to your potential clients. ✅
GAB
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