Tagged Questions
0
votes
2answers
85 views
Plural or singular verb for collective term
Should the verb, in the following sentence, be singular or plural?
A series of samples was produced.
In a related question I found a reference. However the text in that reference seems to ...
2
votes
2answers
159 views
Not only X but also Y are (is?)
At first glance, sentence 1 below seems more correct because there are two subjects. However, something seems more natural about sentence 2. Maybe there is something abbreviated, elliptical, or ...
-4
votes
1answer
94 views
“One blue ball and one red ball is” or “are”? [duplicate]
Which is correct?
One blue ball and one red ball is preferred.
One blue ball and one red ball are preferred.
-5
votes
1answer
52 views
How to reverse sentence so that their subjects and verbs agree? [closed]
How do you reverse the following sentence so that the subject agree with their verb............?
The president as well as his assistant have declined every comment.
The government’s reason ...
0
votes
0answers
25 views
“The breast, along with the muscles [is/are]”? [duplicate]
The breast, along with the muscles [is/are] of normal size and shape.
Should the verb be is or should the verb be are?
-1
votes
0answers
39 views
Should I use “has” or “have” to describe what a company [has/have] done [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Are collective nouns always plural, or are certain ones singular?
I am writing a company profile, and am struggling with the language style. Which of these is better?
...
1
vote
1answer
157 views
“The number of residents has grown” vs. “the number of residents have grown” [duplicate]
Duplicate:
“A number of students” vs. “the number of students”
“Number of attempts per question is unlimited” or “are limited”?
“A number of questions has been asked” or “have been asked”?
...
5
votes
3answers
88 views
Verb agreement in “Where is the Messiah and his Kingdom?”
Where is the Messiah and his Kingdom?
I think it should be "Where are the Messiah and his kingdom"; it just sounds better!
But my friends and even a teacher claim that "is" would be correct.
0
votes
2answers
192 views
Is the sentence “My pain look like my pride” grammatically correct?
I am a native Spanish speaker but I have been speaking English for more than ten years.
That sentence is part of the lyrics of a song. I get the feeling that it should be "My pain looks like my ...
3
votes
1answer
53 views
switch genders or gender?
Recently I read an article on Wired.com "Apple Hires Hacker Who Helped Save Windows From Security Hell", http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2012/12/apple-hires-hacker/
Here is a sentence I'm kind ...
3
votes
1answer
589 views
When should we use proximity rule in “either/or”, and “neither/nor”?
According to this link, if at least one of the nouns involved is plural then it should take the plural form of the verb. Otherwise, it should take the singular form of the verb. But in the last part ...
5
votes
1answer
349 views
plural noun/singular verb and vice versa [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
None as plural indefinite pronoun
In my work I am often exposed to sentences written by nonnative speakers of English.
I often come across sentences with a singular noun ...
6
votes
1answer
163 views
“What questions [is/are] your data team hoping to answer?”
Over at stats.stackexchange we are having a minor kerfuffle over whether a title is using incorrect grammar. It has been edited and re-edited several times. It would be great to get some arbitration ...
6
votes
1answer
122 views
The verb agreement for “one” when used as a subject
The first sentence in "Blake" in The Sacred Wood by T. S. Eliot is
If one follow Blake’s mind through the several stages of his poetic
development it is impossible to regard him as a naïf, a ...
3
votes
1answer
176 views
“Years of experience that keeps us safe.” vs “Years of experience that keep us safe.”
If you've ever seen Mythbusters, you know that all episodes contain at least one safety disclaimer. Having recently rewatched several episodes, I've noticed that some disclaimers have Adam saying, ...
0
votes
1answer
77 views
“Number of attempts per question is unlimited” or “are limited”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“A number of students” vs. “the number of students”
I want to know whether the following construct is correct:
Number of Attempts per ...
3
votes
4answers
298 views
Consistency of “There is the same number of elements in… as there are in…”
I'm proofreading this in a friend's paper:
There is the same number of elements in the set of odd numbers as there are in the even numbers.
The same number is singular and it's the thing being ...
-2
votes
2answers
161 views
Silly questions, like X is/are a complete waste of time?
I'm stumped with this one. Given the question, "What did you learn from doing this task?", which of the following answers is correct?
That silly questions, like "What did you learn from doing ...
14
votes
3answers
486 views
What are wrong with this phrase?
Is the phrase
what are wrong with XY and ZZ
correct English? I stumbled upon it in a question on movies.SE: What are wrong with the bleach and the fish in the Machinist?, and instantly thought ...
2
votes
1answer
2k views
“has” vs “have” usage after enumerating two subjects, the first one in plural [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Singular or plural following a list
I'm inclined towards the 2nd sentence, because 1) the first subject is plural and 2) there are two subjects.
Sub-question: but what ...
0
votes
3answers
315 views
The first and most well-known example is/are the reserves in the United States [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
[Singular] Is/Are [Plural]?
Should the verb be is or are? I would say 'are', but a colleague says 'is'.
3
votes
7answers
244 views
Here's — Plurality Question
A phrase I came across tonight was "Here's the good news and the bad news." Trouble is, "Here's" means "Here is", and "is" is meant for one thing, not two things. I'm describing two things. However, ...
4
votes
2answers
3k views
“The contents are” or “the contents is”
I have the following sentence:
The contents of those zip files are normally installed from the Setup.
I found I have to use contents instead of content in the sentence. However, do I have to ...
2
votes
5answers
539 views
“A classmate and I was” vs “A classmate and I were”
I'm writing a resume right now targeted towards a specific company. My girlfriend (a classmate) and I were (see, I don't know if that's the right word, hence this question!) the first from our school ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
Plural/singular verb agreement with units
When writing about specific quantities, should the verb reflect a singular or a plural value? Do abbreviations vs. spelled-out words make any difference?
I took 2 ml of water, which was/were then ...
2
votes
3answers
396 views
“The one who wants” vs. “the one who want”
I am getting confused with usage of 's' with verb- consider following 2 sentences-
I am the one who wants to stay with you.
I am the one who want to stay with you.
According to me, first ...
-3
votes
1answer
415 views
Origin of pluralisation of verbs and nouns in English
From this question, I was just wondering why plural nouns use the ending -s, while the exact same ending is used for the third person singular form of verbs.
How did we get into this weird situation? ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
Grammar behind the song title 'The Way I Are'
You might know the song called The Way I Are by Timberland featuring Keri Hilson. I am very confused here. How does The Way I Are make sense?
1
vote
0answers
196 views
Having a singular subject and a plural object - which form to choose for the verb? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicates:
In special cases, can you use “one such family are” vs. “one such family is”?
[Singular] Is/Are [Plural]?
I often encounter sentences like
...
5
votes
2answers
890 views
How does “each” change “are” to “is”?
Relevant: 'Each' with plural or singular verb and What should I use between “triple” vs. “all”?
The answers in the linked question don't quite help me. Specifically, what happens with this case:
...
0
votes
3answers
1k views
“There is” or “there are”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“There are so many” vs. “There is so many”
I know this is correct:
There's no problem.
But what if it was plural, i.e. problems? Would this ...
7
votes
2answers
443 views
Historical usage of “was”/“were” with “you”
I was reading letters from a surgeon to his wife during the Civil War and noticed he used "was" as opposed to "were" on many occasions. Examples:
I truly wish you was here with me.
Was you ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
Is “either you or [third-person]” followed by a singular verb or a plural verb?
Or, put in examples: which of the following is grammatically correct?
Either you or your sister is going to have to do the chores.
Either you or your sister are going to have to do the ...
9
votes
2answers
5k views
Should I use the singular or plural verb in mathematical formulae (“Two and two make/makes four”)?
I remember somebody correcting me once when I said, "Two and two makes four", since the conjunction and would imply the use of a plural verb. They would prefer I said:
Two and two make four.
...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
“Neither Michael nor Albert is correct” or “Neither Michael nor Albert are correct”?
What is the correct sentence?
Neither Michael nor Albert is correct.
Neither Michael nor Albert are correct.
