In sentences like "Two questions are what I wanted to ask", should I treat the subject, "Two questions", as singular or plural?
It seems more natural to treat it as plural. But when I reverse the subjects I'll need to use the singular form instead : "What I wanted to ask is two questions" and this doesn't look very natural.
Does the same apply to chronological sentences like "5 months is/are what I have left to finish this project of mine"?
asked Oct 7, 2013 at 15:01
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2While correct, "I wanted to ask two questions" and "I have 5 months left" are more common constructs (also you need to include "have" in the second one.)– ZibbobzOct 7, 2013 at 15:08
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Clauses are singular by default, and the verb agrees with the subject. QED. So you're right to follow what sounds right. If it sounds good, it is good.– John LawlerOct 7, 2013 at 15:09
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1@alkenrinnstet: I can't see why you think they're different. If I order three pints of beer in a pub, and the barman only brings me two, I'll say "Three beers is what I asked for." It's difficult to find a credible real-world context for OP's version (for most purposes, it just looks like something only a non-native speaker would say). But I suppose if you were at a meeting where the general principle was "each attendee may only ask one question", you might just about be able to say "Two questions is what I wanted to ask - but in the circumstances, I'll ask Why only one?"– FumbleFingersOct 7, 2013 at 16:16
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1Why are answers being provided as comments? I understood this was inappropriate.– GreaseMonkeyOct 7, 2013 at 16:18
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1@Mark Thorin: Each thread should address only one question.– Edwin AshworthOct 7, 2013 at 17:22
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1 Answer
I feel "two questions" as a whole (an unity, not as separate parts).
I would say "Two beers and some chips is what I ordered".
or "One hundred soldiers and two canons was just what the captain had to defend the fort".
