arkein  +  690449 Tue, 24 Mar 09 06:11 PM Hello, I'm confused as to which of these four sentences is correct, in particular whether the words underlined should be made to agree in the singular or plural: 1) "The direction and purpose that my life has taken since my studies at the Institute owe a great deal to Professor E's tuition." 2) "The direction and purpose that my life have taken since my studies at the Institute owe a great deal to Professor E's tuition." 3) "The direction and purpose that my life has taken since my studies at the Institute owes a great deal to Professor E's tuition." 4) "The direction and purpose that my life have taken since my studies at the Institute owe a great deal to Professor E's tuition." My gut feeling tells me sentence 1 is the correct one... but I'm not sure. Any help would be greatly appreciated. arkein Joined on Tue, Mar 24 2009 New Member 03 Plurals, Sentences

	arkein  +  690488 Tue, 24 Mar 09 08:40 PM Ah thanks... Ok for HAS relating to MY LIFE, But in this sentence OWE does not relate to MY STUDIES. The intended sense of the sentence relates OWE to THE DIRECTION AND PURPOSE TAKEN BY MY LIFE... I am confused whether THE DIRECTION AND PURPOSE should be taken as plural or singular... i.e., the sentence could be rewritten: Since my studies at the institue (i.e., since I finished my studies at the institute), the direction and purpose that my life has taken owe(s) a great deal to Professor E's Tuition (i.e., his tuition during my studies at the institute). So should it be OWE or OWES? Thanks again for any input! arkein Plurals, Sentences

	Grammar Geek  +  690500 Tue, 24 Mar 09 09:10 PM If you think of "direction and purpose" as linked then it's one idea, and it takes the singular in both places: has and owes. If you think that the direction your life has taken and the purpose your life has taken (which is odd phrasing) are two things, then it's plural: have and owe. Studies is NOT the subject for the verb "to owe." The subject is the "direction and purpose" of the author's life. So whether it's one thing or two, it needs to be the same in both parts of the sentence. Do you think the author meant is as one unit, or as two things? Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,683 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random! Plurals, Sentences

	renan torres-rivero  +  690501 Tue, 24 Mar 09 09:11 PM On the other hand, this is my version of your text: "The direction and purpose that my life has taken since I finished my studies at the institute are, in a great deal, due to Professor E's tuition." (i.e. You owe a great deal what you are now) Comments, please ;-) renan torres-rivero

	Kooyeen  +  690506 Tue, 24 Mar 09 09:24 PM I like the singular: HAS, OWES. Using the plural "owe" wouldn't be bad at all, though. I wouldn't even notice, I guess. Just my preference. Kooyeen Joined on Thu, Dec 22 2005 Italy Senior Member 4,984 Parental Advisory / Explicit Posts Plurals

	arkein  +  690509 Tue, 24 Mar 09 09:28 PM Thanks Grammar Geek, Renan & Kooyen! So it could, technically go both ways, since THE DIRECTION AND PURPOSE could be taken either as singular or plural... My instincts tell me the sentence with HAS and OWES sounds better too. @ Renan: I'll give your version consideration. thanks! Although in your sentence I'd change "in a great deal" to "to a great/large extent" I actually translated this sentence from a French sentence which is even more grammatically thorny because of the rule of gender and plurality agreement when the direct object complement (complément d'objet direct) is placed before the past participle with the use of the auxillary verb 'avoir' with 'passé composé' conjugation... horrible confusing rule: which means I'm not sure whether it should be: La direction et le sens qu'a pris ma vie depuis mes études à l'institut doit beaucoup à l'enseignement du Professeur E. or La direction et le sens qu'ont pris ma vie depuis mes études à l'institut doivent beaucoup à l'enseignement.... or La direction et le sens qu'a pris ma vie depuis mes études doivent beaucoup... but I guess this is not the right forum for that particular prickly pear! Thanks again to all! arkein Plurals, Genders, Direct Objects, Sentences, Languages