0

'Writing emails is difficult' vs 'Writing emails are difficult'. Which one is correct? And why?

Improve this question
1
  • Would you say "Writing are difficult?"
    – user888379
    Commented Jul 17, 2022 at 13:27

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
3

The subject of the verb is "writing emails". Gerund subjects (or infinitive subjects) are always singular so the verb is also singular.

It may also help to consider that the head of the subject is "writing" and "emails" is a complement to that. Since it is not itself the subject, its number (singular or plural) is irrelevant.

Improve this answer
2
  • This answer is straightforward and clear. It deserves a question of substance. I never noticed gerunds are singular.
    – Yosef Baskin
    Commented Jul 17, 2022 at 14:39
  • 1
    @YosefBaskin Only nouns and pronouns can be plural in English; entire clauses, both finite or nonfinite, can therefore only ever be singular: compare To save those people’s lives ᴡᴀꜱ of paramount importance with Those people’s life savings ᴡᴇʀᴇ forever lost to them. The main verb’s number can determine its governing subject head: Children yelling obscenities in the car really ᴀɴɴᴏʏ me means ᴄʜɪʟᴅʀᴇɴ ᴀɴɴᴏʏ, while Children yelling obscenities in the car really ᴀɴɴᴏʏꜱ me means ʏᴇʟʟɪɴɢ ᴀɴɴᴏʏꜱ—just like For children to yell obscenities in the car really ᴀɴɴᴏʏꜱ me means ᴛᴏ ʏᴇʟʟ ᴀɴɴᴏʏꜱ.
    – tchrist ♦
    Commented Jul 17, 2022 at 16:17

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .