"What follows" with a plural [duplicate]

Question

Would I say:

What follows is the Xs...

What follows are the Xs...

or something else? In my case X is a table.

@FF This is singular or plural [copular] verb after 'what follows' [with a plural complement]. — Edwin Ashworth, May 10, 2020 at 15:34

simon at rcl · Accepted Answer · 2020-05-10 15:25:00Z

3

It depends on whether X is single or plural:

What follows is the/a table containing Chapter headings.

or

What follows are the Chapter headings arranged in a table.

answered May 10, 2020 at 15:25

simon at rcl

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That makes sense to me. Thanks.
– merrybot
May 10, 2020 at 15:25
1

Have you a recognised authority supporting your advice? ELU values answers that are supported, with attributed links. Unsupported answers often come across as, and may merely be, opinion. And opinions differ.
– Edwin Ashworth
May 10, 2020 at 15:31
1

This answer contradicts the answer given to the question linked by FumbleFingers, of which this is a duplicate. What are your reasons for rejecting the argument provided in that answer?
– jsw29
May 10, 2020 at 17:19
a) I don't actually think it is a duplicate - but similar, yes. b) I don't think my answer contradicts that one. The sentences are different. The other question has two cases, only one of which is present in the two examples here. The other question is 'what looks...' vs 'what look...'. It seems to me to be a different question altogether.
– simon at rcl
May 11, 2020 at 12:28

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