Questions tagged [verb-agreement]
Agreement between a verb and its subject for number and person.
988
questions
0
votes
1answer
84 views
What is the verb agreement for “singular subject OR singular subject THAT”?
I have the following sentence, but I'm not sure if the verb should be conjugated as do or does:
... this means moving away from a convoluted collection of Excel spreadsheets or a cumbersome ...
0
votes
1answer
63 views
Syntactical ambiguity in introductory phrase reference: reference to main verb vs. object
Motivated by A, we outline our proposal for B.
Does "Motivated" refer to outline or proposal? It seems to me that a reader could infer one of two statements:
A motivated us to create this outline, ...
0
votes
3answers
187 views
Why does “there's” work as a contraction for plural items? [duplicate]
While writing recently, I came across a situation where a character said:
There's a lot of chandeliers in here.
When editing, I realized that I wanted to have the sentence sound more formal, and ...
-1
votes
1answer
162 views
The Royal Family live in mansions, or in a mansion.? [closed]
The question was in an English small test. I'm not a native speaker of English and I would like to improve my English. In this test question, we had to fill in the blanks.
Either:
The Royal family ...
1
vote
1answer
55 views
Is vs Are when subjects are -ing [duplicate]
Original sentence:
Even being paid very well, and enjoying great working conditions, is not enough.
Should not it be this?
Even being paid very well, and enjoying great working conditions, are ...
2
votes
1answer
326 views
Should I use a singular or plural verb in “, which VERB/VERBs”?
I have the following sentence, and I have a question about it. I’m wondering if there’s something so simple that I’m just overlooking it or whether there is some super-sophisticated tenet of grammar ...
0
votes
1answer
3k views
After “some”, plural or singular verb? [duplicate]
In these sentences:
"Some (composes/compose) delightful music"
"Some of them (write/writes) wonderful books"
Which form of the verb should I use?
0
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2answers
321 views
Noun1 + Noun2 take/s a plural verb?
I recently attended a grammar class, where the trainer explained:
A singular noun and a singular noun take a plural verb.
However, I feel it should have been
A singular noun and a singular noun ...
0
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1answer
3k views
Does she have/has to go to school? [closed]
Should I use "have" or "has" in this question?
Does she have to go to school?
or
Does she has to go to school?
If I should use "have", then what is the rule which makes me not use "has" here?...
0
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1answer
25 views
Present tense in reported past
My friend said" Your child is beautiful". Can I report this statement as 'My friend told me that my child is beautiful' or '.... my child was beautiful' for the sake of grammer rule ?
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0answers
90 views
Subject Verb Agreement in a Nominative Clause
Okay, so I have two examples of a possible sentence:
1 - "The country's strategic value requires that it maintain a standing army."
2 - "The country's strategic value requires that it maintains a ...
0
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0answers
367 views
X, along with Y and others, “were” or “was”? [duplicate]
There is an earlier exchange on this, but one that does not include "and others" and that uses only the verb "to be." My question:
What if it were "Joan, along with Jake and others" and the verb were ...
2
votes
2answers
400 views
“Memoirs” in book title - singular or plural verb?
I'm editing an article about the Battle of Agincourt. The author quotes his source as follows:
The Memoires de Pierre de Fenin place the battle "between Maisoncelles and Agincourt".
"Memoires" [...
1
vote
1answer
320 views
Subject-verb agreement with more than one gerund in the subject
I have seen a discussion of double gerunds and subject-verb agreement, but not addressing the following specific situtation:
"Reading and studying history HAS or HAVE been formative...": two gerunds ...
0
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1answer
1k views
Using *plural* allow(s) me to [duplicate]
I can not figure out what the correct usage of allow/allows is in this case.
Using plural allow(s) me to...
Would "allow(s)" refer back to the plural and thus be "allow"? or does it refer back to ...
1
vote
1answer
29k views
Is “any of them” used with a singular or plural verb? [closed]
I'm posting this question to settle a debate.
Is the sentence, "If there are three of an unparalleled thing, is any of them truly unparalleled?" correct? The sentence throws me off because the first ...
0
votes
2answers
75 views
Is this verb agreement right?
The design of the green and blue tiles on the wall remind people of the sea, while the curved window frames were inspired by ocean waves.
I can’t understand the form of verb remind.
I thought it ...
0
votes
1answer
142 views
Verb agreement with a phrase set off by “but”
A coworker is writing a sentence like
Sally, but especially Joe, enjoys questions about grammar and usage.
He thinks it should be
Sally, but especially Joe, enjoy questions about grammar and ...
0
votes
1answer
245 views
“More than one person a day is/are killed” [duplicate]
If I wrote a sentence saying "More than one person a day _______ killed by these massacres," would the blank be replaced by is or are?
0
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1answer
225 views
Is “average age” singular subject or plural?
"The average age at which people died of heart disease are decreasing."
Can I use "is" in place of "are" ?
2
votes
2answers
3k views
Is “what has been discussed are…” a grammatically correct sentence?
When concluding an essay, I wrote "what has been discussed are three major advantages of xxx". But I doubt if "what has been discussed is three major advantages of xxx" is more correct?
1
vote
2answers
45k views
“Neither of us are” -vs- “Neither one of us is” [duplicate]
This cartoon was recently posted on Facebook. My sister (who is a retired HS English teacher) says the grammar is wrong and that the correct wording should be: "Neither one of us is." but I disagree.
...
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1answer
201 views
Singular entity, plural name/nickname — verb form?
In writing about the National Archives, I got to wondering about subject-verb agreement. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA, often called simply The National Archives) is one ...
-1
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1answer
73 views
Which one is correct? “Vaccinating children has become…” or “Vaccinating children have become…” [duplicate]
I have a doubt about the following sentence.
"Vaccinating children has become increasingly popular these days."
According to my understanding children is plural so, this sentence suppose to be like ...
3
votes
3answers
2k views
Is “any of (plural noun)” used with a singular or plural verb? [duplicate]
Does one say, "If any of my grandchildren does not attain the age of eighteen..."
or does one say, "If any of my grandchildren do not attain the age of eighteen..."
The second phrase seems to imply ...
0
votes
1answer
48 views
Why is the verb form “releases” used in this long sentence?
An LED needs to be a diode, specifically because the way the charge
carriers recombine in the forward-biased diode junction releases the
correct amount of energy to create photons in the visible ...
1
vote
1answer
105 views
Subject verb agreement when “one of” used
Are these two sentences correct?
One of the employees who is worker at KP is here.
One of the employees who are workers at KP is here.
What is the context of who in both the sentences?
1
vote
1answer
154 views
Counting nouns using “slew” and the grammatical implications
Just having a lively debate with a content writer over whether we should say
There are a slew of reasons...
or
There is a slew of reasons...
Read this article which suggests that different ...
3
votes
1answer
69 views
How do I identify subjects when quantities are involved?
I'm working my way through The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation, and I came across a difficulty.
In one of the quizzes, the book asks you to identify the subjects and verbs in sentences, and ...
0
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2answers
349 views
Has or have in this sentence?
The two leadership styles combined have a demonstrable effect on team effectiveness
or
The two leadership styles combined has a demonstrable effect on team effectiveness
0
votes
2answers
996 views
Should “is” or “are” be used in this sentence? [duplicate]
"One example I can think of is the expiration labels on food."
It seems like you should say "is" because "example" is a singular noun, but the sentence sounds weird to me for some reason. Maybe "the" ...
0
votes
1answer
61 views
David’s friendly demeanour, brilliant sense of humour and warmth, “make” or “makes” you feel right at home. [duplicate]
Should I use make or makes in the following sentence?
David’s friendly demeanour, brilliant sense of humour and warmth, make you feel right at home.
I say make, but my friend says makes.
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3answers
5k views
Can you start a sentence with “her”? [closed]
Can someone please answer this burning question? Is the following sentence correct?
Her and her voice were truly a gift.
0
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4answers
2k views
“He would have done anything you [would ask/would have asked/had asked] him to”
I want to say "He'll do anything you ask him to" but in the past tense, as that was the case 10 years ago, but he's not like that anymore. Which of the following should I use?
He would have done ...
1
vote
2answers
585 views
List + 'much more are' or 'much more is' - what is correct
I have the following question: If a list of items is followed by 'and much more', should the following verb be singular or plural? E.g. "over a hundred hours of gameplay, exciting quests, mysterious ...
0
votes
1answer
462 views
Subject and Verb Agreement - When to use Singular / Plural [duplicate]
I see below suggestion in Grammarly on Subject and Verb Agreement.
"The verb needs does not seem to agree with the subject that. Consider changing the verb form."
And they give below examples on ...
5
votes
2answers
4k views
Does “fruit” get singular or plural verb form? [duplicate]
Which one is correct?
There are no low-hanging fruit.
Or
There is no low-hanging fruit.
Or are both correct? If both are correct, is one of them more preferable?
0
votes
2answers
3k views
Is it correct to say “the truth is” when the rest of the sentence is in the past?
Is it correct to say:
The truth is, he was a great explorer.
Or do I have to say:
The truth was, he was a great explorer.
Or are both okay?
1
vote
1answer
44k views
In my house, “there were” or “there was” many toys
Which of the following is correct and why:
1) In my house, there were many toys.
2) In my house, there was many toys.
An answer with an explanation would be greatly appreciated.
0
votes
1answer
219 views
one or more verb agreement [duplicate]
Sentence: A recent review of our records indicates that one or more of your dependents does/do not have a valid birthday on file
This is actually for a business letter and we have conflicting ...
1
vote
1answer
86 views
What is the structure in the sentence: “The reason scientists believe that…”
I have this sentence from one of my IELTS books:
One of the reasons scientists think that there is a link between stress and cancer is the idea that there may be a cancer-prone personality
At ...
-1
votes
2answers
574 views
Which still wants vs which still want [duplicate]
Which one is correct?
1) Pick those pieces of your heart which still wants to be happy , or
2) Pick those pieces of your heart which still want to be happy.
2
votes
0answers
140 views
Mass Noun em-dash List-of-Plurals em-dash Verb
Is it just me, or?
All of the content you see on Stack Exchange—all the questions, answers, edits, reviews, users, badges, tags, and more—is stored in a relational database.
Seems technically ...
3
votes
4answers
490 views
British English plural verb for group noun in a contraction
I'm curious about the use of the famous British plural verb form with a group noun¹ in a contraction. The general custom for the plural is discussed here and here but those don't call out contractions....
0
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1answer
2k views
should I say 'a group of friends who lives close by' or 'a group of friends who live close by' [duplicate]
I'm attempting to design a worksheet for TEFL students. Here's one of the questions:
4) Your friend Tina who lives close by comes to visit you today. You want to ask her what she was doing when it ...
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2answers
1k views
(English Grammar ) reason why my answer is wrong why it is not has been visiting , why is answer is have been visited [closed]
Actual question :
Since 2011 they _____ their son every year. (to visit) ?
My answer :
Since 2011 they has been visting their son every year
Correct is:
Since 2011 they have visited ...
1
vote
1answer
129 views
“5 votes {was/were} chosen to be the number of close votes needed…”: Which is correct?
"5 votes was chosen to be the number of close votes needed to close a question on Stack Exchange."
Grammarly says that I should change "was" to "were," but it doesn't sound right to me. What's the ...
0
votes
1answer
1k views
The reason… is you? [closed]
In Hoobastank's The Reason, a lyric is
And the Reason is you...
Is that sentence (grammatically) correct? I'm asking because, you know... You are the reason.
Specifically, should "is" in the ...
2
votes
1answer
179 views
Plural verb used after 'type'
Today I was reading a programming book and I encountered the following sentence (emphases mine):
In this case, for example, the type that all three compilers report
for param are incorrect.
I'm ...
1
vote
5answers
1k views
Should I consider “Hectare” as singular or plural?
Every year some 13 million hectares of rain forest, an area about the size of England, disappears.
In this context, should I use disappear or disappears?
But I might see some sentences which ...
