Questions tagged [verb-agreement]
Agreement between a verb and its subject for number and person.
901
questions
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18 views
To be V-ed vs to v-ed [migrated]
I don't understand why I can't use "to be locked up" instead of "to locked up" mentioned in this right sentence "I've often wondered what it would be like to locked up in a house for twelve weeks with ...
0
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0answers
31 views
Tense agreement rule when we refer to a fact that occured in the past, and still holds [duplicate]
I am writing an academic paper. In my literature review section, I refer to past work that mentions some lasting facts. I have composed the following two sentences that mimic my sentences in the paper....
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1answer
89 views
Why is the verb for “pretexts … and necessity … was exposed” used in the singular in this quotation? [closed]
In the following context, a quote from The Three Musketeers, shouldn’t it be were exposed?
The pretexts about the cold and the necessity for the cloak was exposed.
Or is was here referring just ...
1
vote
1answer
28 views
Subject-Verb Agreement + Prepositional Phrase Argument
Having an argument with my SO.
Participant 1 believes this is the correct way to structure the sentence:
I'm learning how to do things in a way that serves me.
Participant 1 thinks that the ...
0
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0answers
41 views
Is the sentence “Do you know how short 7 minutes IS” grammatically incorrect? [duplicate]
In this video at this time code, two of the various cops say "Do you know how short 7 minutes is?" Is that grammatically incorrect, since "7 minutes" is plural? Or is that just informal language? Or ...
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1answer
29 views
Singular or Plural in conjunction with OR condition that could include one or more objects [duplicate]
Which one is accurate?
...when one or two individuals do not have [an ID] or [IDs]
another example:
...this is the case when one or two students [are] or [is] missing
Theoretically, if one ...
0
votes
1answer
48 views
Is “most everyone” singular or plural?
Everyone is always singular. Most can be either singular or plural depending on the subject which it describes. Most of everyone, for example, would be singular since everyone is still the subject. ...
0
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1answer
34 views
Plural or singular verb when plural subject is separated by an “and”? [duplicate]
A similar question is here, in which a comma is used in place of a conjunction like and.
I came across the following quotation of C. S. Lewis which reads,
“What you see and what you hear depends ...
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1answer
20 views
Subject verb for causes/cause
Kindly let me know which one is correct and why ?
A diet high in oil causes more obesity than diet high in sugar.
OR
A diet high in oil cause more obesity than diet high in sugar.
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1answer
81 views
When to use “I” + is
Once I saw this sentence in the movie that:
I is in charge of the classroom !
Why after "I" did they use is ?
Is that a metaphor ?
I want to explain my students but could not.
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0answers
27 views
Subject Verb Agreement
In the email I received from IELTS notifying my results, I think the subject 'results' is not agreeing with the verb 'is' here. Can you please tell me if my understanding is correct.
The text I ...
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0answers
19 views
Usage of as well as [duplicate]
Which one of the following will be correct?
The captain as well as the players are in the ground
The players as well as the captain are in the ground
The players as well as the captain is in the ...
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0answers
44 views
Why don't X and Y make a plural subject in "There is X and Y? [duplicate]
Subjects usually agree with verbs and series of nouns usually make a plural subject as far as I know. Thus in sentences like "A book, two pencils and a pen are lying on the table." we use are and not ...
0
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1answer
43 views
Subject Verb Agreement: “His devotion, passion, and commitment to the work he provides inspire(s)…”
Should the verb be singular, "inspire," or plural, "inspires." I am having trouble determining if the subject is "His," singular, or "Devotion, passion, and commitment," plural. Here is the following ...
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1answer
32 views
Used to or would?
Is it better to say "I would always lose when I played chess with my father" or "I used to always lose when I played chess with my father" ?
Please justify your choice!
Thank you in advance.
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1answer
63 views
“Choosing appropriate architectures” - singular or plural agreement?
Choosing appropriate architectures {are} crucial
or
Choosing appropriate architectures {is} crucial
To my knowledge [choosing something] is a single action, it should be followed by [is]. Please ...
0
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1answer
56 views
Should I use “make” or “makes”? [closed]
Should I use make or makes in the following sentence?
I’m confident that my expertise in this field makes me the candidate best suited for this position.
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1answer
165 views
5 bottles of milk + IS or ARE?
Q 1. Is the subject "5 bottles of milk" countable or uncountable?
Q 2. What kind of verb should I use for "5 bottles of milk", singular or
plural?
Many thanks!
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1answer
69 views
What is grammatically correct? [closed]
Which of these two is correct?I assume that only one of them is correct.
How is John, Sally and Kevin
How are John, Sally and Kevin
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0answers
55 views
Neither you nor I is [duplicate]
I was struck by PM Johnson's 'neither he nor I are' a few days ago,
which seemed to me obviously ungrammatic, and searched this site, where I found this:
Controversy over verb choice in "neither ...
0
votes
1answer
79 views
He drink only five liquids [duplicate]
while reading NYT's review on the Gladwell's last book I stumbled upon a rather strange passage:
In the weeks I spent listening to Malcolm Gladwell’s podcast, I
learned that lobsters have ...
2
votes
1answer
278 views
Can “enemy” be used as a plural noun? (Not as a collective noun)
I’ve been recently told that defeat five enemy or ten enemy are here
is perfectly acceptable in English grammar.
Personally, I’m inclined to believe that only five enemies or five
enemy units are ...
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0answers
46 views
“Than” and “as” as subject - singular or plural?
"Than" and "as" as subjects, objects and complements.
Under this topic title(581), in Michael Swan's Practical English Usage (3rd edition, page 575), he says that "than and as can replace subject in ...
2
votes
3answers
264 views
Collective Noun “jury” with plural phrase, singular or plural? [duplicate]
Curious if this textbook example is correct. According to the textbook, "are" is incorrect and "is" should be used instead. Why is this?
After days of testimony, the jury, including its two ...
0
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1answer
408 views
I saw him play/ playing [duplicate]
Which one is correct? What is the main differences between them?
I saw him play football
Or
I saw him playing
Thanks
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votes
1answer
116 views
Who does “ I” refer to or who do “ I” refer to? [closed]
While framing a question, many teachers are doubtful when they are testing their students' comprehension of a given passage.
For example, read the following paragraph and answer the following ...
2
votes
2answers
108 views
Does “me” take singular verb form?
I have seen a meme which confuses me:
"At 18:
Others: have partners, do drugs etc.
Me: watches tv and sleeps
Is this grammatically correct and does "me" take singular verb form?
I ...
1
vote
1answer
79 views
Can a plural subject be followed by a complement beginning “a…”?
Can anyone kindly explain why this sentence is correct?
Complex musical numbers are a defining characteristic of most Italian
films.
2
votes
0answers
100 views
Sequence of the tense and its sense: “It just said…” [closed]
I happen to read the following conversation in Raymond Murphy's Grammar book.
Ann: It just said on the Radio that it is going to snow
Bill: Oh!, did it?
I would like to change Ann's sentence ...
13
votes
6answers
3k views
“Fewer errors means better products” or “Fewer errors mean better products”?
Does mean(s) modify a singular state of having fewer errors, or the plural errors themselves?
0
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0answers
14 views
The political left is or the political left are? [duplicate]
Does one say "the political left is," or "the political left are?"
0
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2answers
449 views
“The number of students are larger” vs. “The number of students is larger” [duplicate]
What is the correct verb to use, is it is or are?
A) The number of students are larger than before.
B) The number of students is larger than before.
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vote
1answer
27 views
agreement with compound subject, with an intervening prepositional phrase
I am struggling with a sentence, as in a condolence note:
Your kindness and friendship to both my parents [was/were] so special.
If I omit the "to both my parents" bit, then we have a compound ...
1
vote
1answer
101 views
What is the correct expression for the word “dearth”?
Should I say:
There are no dearth of aspirants for this job.
(plural form)
or should I say:
There is no dearth of aspirants for this job.
(singular form)
Which is the correct version?
Just ...
5
votes
5answers
311 views
pronoun agreement in neither nor
Which one is correct?
Neither my friend nor I feel my best in the morning.
Neither my friend nor I feel her best in the morning.
Neither my friend nor I feel our best in the morning.
I ...
0
votes
1answer
63 views
Which Is correct: 2500 calories Is/are enough for the average man? [duplicate]
Which is correct: '2500 calories is enough for your diet' or '2500 calories are enough for your diet'?
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0answers
15 views
When there is a noun phrase with “or” with 1 singular noun and 1 plural noun, should the verb be singular or plural? Example: “UPS or others” [duplicate]
Example Sentence:
Can Amazon stock go down if the UPS or other Amazon shipping partners suddenly jack up their shipping prices?
Is it plural, jack, or singular, jacks? Usually with two singular ...
5
votes
3answers
299 views
“The total number of votes given to each candidate in alphabetical order were as follows:…” or should that be 'was'?
When the spokeswoman declared the results of the second ballot in the UK Tory leadership race, she said:" ...The total number of votes given to each candidate in alphabetical order were as follows:xxx,...
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0answers
15 views
subject-verb agreement with elliptical clause [duplicate]
This is the sentence at issue: "More than one location on the Iberian Peninsula has been suggested".
Should this be "has" or "have"? I think maybe "More than one" is elliptical, expanded as "more ...
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votes
1answer
112 views
Verb number when subject is percent [duplicate]
I have just seen some answers here to the effect that
Ten percent of the pie is mine
is correct.
This seems rather odd to me. Ten percent is a plural subject, so why
should it have a singular ...
-1
votes
1answer
86 views
“Which type of nuts ARE/IS the heathiest?” [duplicate]
It seems that people overwhelmingly prefer to write
Which type of nuts are the healthiest?
to
Which type of nuts is the healthiest?
However, type is singular, so why isn't is the correct ...
0
votes
1answer
2k views
Two things “that are” or “that is” another thing
In the following sentence:
It was tasteful – not boastful – but sent the clear message about the
industry leader and gold standard that is Acme.
Should that bolded word be "is" or "are"?
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votes
1answer
163 views
require or requires? (verb agreement)
Achieving goals like opening a business, buying a home or going on
dream vacation, require a basic method of savings to make it
happen.
My question is is this verb form correct? Or should it be ...
2
votes
1answer
60 views
“doesn't know” vs “don't know” [duplicate]
I saw this sentence in the book 1Q84:
It's not just you that don't know.
However, I am having trouble figuring out why (or whether) this is the correct way to write the sentence, as opposed to:
...
0
votes
1answer
58 views
What is the correct Verb form? [closed]
A group of women seek an appointment.
or
A group of women seeks an appointment.
Which is correct?
0
votes
1answer
1k views
“There exist” vs “there exists” for universal objects in mathematics
When stating the existence of universal objects in mathematics, one often has to write something like:
For every object X there exist an object Y and a map f : Y -> X such that [...] holds.
Here, ...
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0answers
21 views
What grammar rule is this? [duplicate]
I want to know why Wikipedia used "find" instead of "finds". What's the grammar rule behind this sentence?
Hansel and Gretel decide to separate and Revy returns home. Gretel corners Eda, and while ...
2
votes
0answers
35 views
Choose: Six years (seems, seem) too much time to build a house [duplicate]
Choose: Six years (seems, seem) too much time to build a house.
I have this question while solving an exam in English, it appears to be "seems" but the plural noun phrase (six years) leading you to "...
3
votes
2answers
106 views
Noun clause (singular all the time?)
I have asked one grammarian about this and she ended up being unsure of her answer.
Question: is there a possibility that a noun clause is used in a plural manner? For instance:
- Her eyes and nose ...
1
vote
1answer
39 views
Use of singular verb with plural noun for one to one mapping?
I think this sentence is incorrect
The various plots corresponds to different numerical values of parameters.
However, I want to know if there exists a one to one mapping between the parameter value ...
