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a pair of shoes is / are?

This question has no verified answers · 13 replies
Can I say,

A pair of shoes is / are near the flower pot.

The shoes are near the flower pot.
Veteran Member 7,051
What do you think Vincent?
Senior Member 2,912
I will choose "is"
Veteran Member 7,051
Why Teo?
Senior Member 2,912
Isn't incorrect? I thought "a pair of " is an unit, so I assumed it should be used "is"
Veteran Member 7,051
I didn't mean to say that it is wrong. I just wanted to learn your reason for choosing it and I see that you know the reason very well. Now, don't forget this reason okay?
Cheers.
Senior Member 2,912
So, my answer is correct? How about this?

The shoes are put beside the flower pot. (isn't correct?)
Veteran Member 7,051
Vincent, you often use present tense, and in real life, we don't use that very often.

Every day, the shoes are put beside the flower pot -- this is not a very likely sentence.

The last I noticed, the shoes had been put besides the flower pot. Are they no longer there?

She put the shoes beside the flower pot.
Veteran Member 25,033
So, what is the correct answer?

idea There is a pair of shoes beside the flower pot.

(ii) The pair of shoes is next to the flower pot.

(iii) There is / are a pair of shoes near the flower pot.

(iv) These are shoes and flower pot.
Veteran Member 7,051
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