the axis

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New2grammar

#508928 Sat, 03 May 08 12:50 PM

The pineapple is an example of a multiple fruit: multiple, spirally-arranged flowers along the axis each produce a fleshy fruit that becomes pressed against the fruits of adjacent flowers, forming what appears to be a single fleshy fruit.

Should the bolded phrase be corrected as ". Each produces"?

Also, what does "the axis" refer to in this passage? (It is not mentioned before) Here's the link if it helps

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pineapple

Thanks!

New2grammar

Joined on Tue, Nov 21 2006

Veteran Member (6,945)

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Takoyaki-English

#508935 Sat, 03 May 08 01:22 PM

Hello.

"The pineapple is an example of a multiple fruit: multiple, spirally-arranged flowers along the axis each produce a fleshy fruit that..."

It's just that "the flowers each" produce a fleshy fruit.

Takoyaki-English

Joined on Tue, Apr 29 2008

Japan

Full Member (121)

Takoyaki-English

#508936 Sat, 03 May 08 01:26 PM

Hello.

The Oxford Dictionary says:
When each is used after a plural subject, it has a plural verb: They each have their own email address.

"They each" could be replaced with "Each of them."

Takoyaki-English

Verbs, Plurals, Plural subject

New2grammar

#508937 Sat, 03 May 08 01:30 PM

Thank you Takoyaki! That's really helpful. Any idea about the axis?

New2grammar

Takoyaki-English

#508952 Sat, 03 May 08 01:46 PM

New2grammar,
My pleasure.

I just left out "along the axis" to get to the point.

Takoyaki-English

Grammar

New2grammar

#508955 Sat, 03 May 08 01:55 PM

I still have no clue what the axis refers to. :(

New2grammar

Takoyaki-English

#508960 Sat, 03 May 08 02:13 PM

New2grammar,

A flower along the axis is one that has risen up vertically, I think.

Takoyaki-English

Grammar

New2grammar

#508965 Sat, 03 May 08 02:37 PM

You are saying the axis refers to a flower that's perpendicular to the ground. I'm afraid I can't picture that fruit. Which flower would that be? If all the flowers are all perpendicular to the ground, I don't see how they can form a cylindrical shaped fruit, instead they will form a plane over the ground, a plank-shaped pineapple, which would be a really expensive pineapple. I've seen a square watermelon from Japan sold at a price 50 times the usual round watermelon. :)

New2grammar