Why is the correct?

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#61173 Mon, 13 Dec 04 04:23 PM

Bananas are a fruit.

I'm well aware that "Bananas are fruits." is grammatically right. What I don't know is why the first example sentence is ok. What's the explanation? Can you please give me more similar sentences? Thanks!

- Ranjit

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CalifJim

#61183 Mon, 13 Dec 04 05:54 PM

It's short for "Bananas are a type of fruit" or "The set of all bananas is a subset of the set of all fruit" or "Bananas are examples of a particular kind of fruit".

Roses are (examples of) a (certain kind of) flower. = A rose is a flower. = The rose is a flower. = Roses are flowers.

I realize that the use of a plural subject with a singular predicate noun seems troublesome, but it's quite common.

Students are a delight.
Operas are a bore.
Stamps are an interesting hobby.
Computers are a nuisance.
English tests are a bother.

CJ

CalifJim

Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004

California

Veteran Member (17,568)

"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

Nouns, Plural subject, Plurals, Predicates