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Latest post Sun, Dec 21 2008 1:07 PM by Anonymous. 3 replies.
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Anonymous  +  570646 Fri, 26 Sep 08 03:11 PM
I have this sentence:
Not only a plane, but also a ship can carry a lot of passengers.
If I had used "to be" instead can, would it be in singular or plural?
Eg: "Not only a plane, but also a ship ARE full of passengers"  "Not only a plane, but also a ship IS full of passengers"
Anonymous
Kooyeen  +  570676 Fri, 26 Sep 08 04:00 PM
Hi,
I would only use the singular.... IS. Smile
Kooyeen
Joined on Thu, Dec 22 2005
Italy
Senior Member 4,966
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Philip  +  570705 Fri, 26 Sep 08 05:39 PM
Although I use the construction often in other places, I do not remember ever using not only...but also as the subject of a sentence.  Perhaps your problem in choosing a singular or plural verb is exactly why I don't deal with it.
Philip
Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005
Veteran Member 8,726
At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen
, ,
Anonymous, 334 days ago
you have to choose verb according to object which is nearest to verb.

not only the plane but also the ship is full of people
not only the plane but also the ships are full of people
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