http://www.englishforums.com/English/GeneralEnglishGrammarQuestions/Forum12.htmAsk your questions on grammar and get your sentence checked. We answer lots of different types of general English grammar questions here.enCSMOD (Build: 3273.32735)http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhyIsTheCorrect/mhmr/post.htm#61183Mon, 13 Dec 2004 17:54:18 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:61183CalifJim0http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhyIsTheCorrect/mhmr/post.htm#61183http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-61183.xmlIt'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". <br /> <br />Roses are (examples of) a (certain kind of) flower. = A rose is a flower. = The rose is a flower. = Roses are flowers. <br /> <br />I realize that the use of a plural subject with a singular predicate noun seems troublesome, but it's quite common. <br /> <br />Students are a delight. <br />Operas are a bore. <br />Stamps are an interesting hobby. <br />Computers are a nuisance. <br />English tests are a bother. <br /> <br />CJ <br /> <br /> <br />http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhyIsTheCorrect/mhlh/post.htmMon, 13 Dec 2004 16:23:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:61173Guest1http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhyIsTheCorrect/mhlh/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-61173.xmlBananas are a fruit. <br /> <br />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! <br /> <br />- Ranjit <br />