Search results for 'tag:Plural subject tag:Grammar' matching tags 'Plural subject' and 'Grammar'

Re: Plural Subject, Pluarl Verb, Singular Object

Ditch — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 05:26:22 GMT

Hello again!

I found this exchange on another forum:

I read the following from a well-known book published in America.

"Not only do subjects need to agree with their verbs, but they need to agree with their objects as well. So it's incorrect to say the cats have a flea collar, the object must be plural as in the cats have flea collars."

But I have never heard of anything like "subject and object agreement". So could you tell me if this is right? And can't we use sentences like nowadays all computers have an embedded modem, or in case of complement, their principal crop is potatoes or the younger children are a problem?

I'd say that this is more an issue of logic than of grammar. The distinction between singular and plural is important to speakers of English, and in your first example, multiple cats would indeed have multiple collars, so it would sound illogical for you to use the singular "collar" and imply that there was only one collar.

However, if I have 2 children who attend the same school, I would say:
- My children love their school.
If each child attends a different school, I would say:
- My children love their schools.

About your other examples:
- Nowadays all computers have an embedded modem. [You should say, "All computers have embedded modems", though that doesn't make it clear whether or not each computer has only one modem. Here it is best to use the collective form:
- Nowadays every computer has an embedded modem. ]

- Their principal crop is potatoes. [This, of course is fine. It is perfectly logical. ]

- The younger children are a problem. [This is also correct, assuming that you have a single problem. If you wanted to say that each child individually was a problem, you could say, "The younger children are problems."]

As I say, it is a question of logic and what you are trying to communicate, not grammar. But you must use the proper singular or plural form to say what you intend.

Now I see there is no grammar rule like "subject and object agreement", but we should follow logic in determining the number of an object or a complement.

END

âIn your first example, multiple cats would indeed have multiple collars, so it would sound illogical for you to use the singular "collar" and imply that there was only one collar."

I donât see why âhave a flea collarâ in âThe cats have a flea collarâ should imply that "there [is] only one collar" when âown a TVâ in âMost families own a TVâ is understood to mean one TV per family.

Please help me out and choose either 1. or 2.

1. 'B' is wrong. Since "Most families own a TV" is also acceptable, "The cats have a flea collar" is also acceptable.

2. 'B' is right. "The cats have a flea collar" is illogical, but "Most families own a TV" is acceptable because...

If you choose 2., please, please, please finish the sentence.

I've rewritten this part several times now to try to make it clear where my confusion lies.

Thanks for your time.

Re: Plural Subject, Pluarl Verb, Singular Object

Ditch — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 03:19:27 GMT

So, the verb has to agree in number with the subject, but the object doesn't have to agree in number with the verb? Makes sense. I'd just never thought about the grammar behind sentences like the one I posted. All I remember from school is "make the verb agree with the subject."

Thanks guys.

Plural Subject, Plural Verb, Singular Object

Ditch — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 01:18:18 GMT

I only know the basics of English grammar, and someone just asked me a question that completely stumped me.

"These days, more and more people have mobile phones, and most young people seem to have one."

Why is it acceptable for the object to be "one" when the subject and the verb are both plural?

Re: Three out of every four automobile owners in the U.S also own a bicyle

Avangi — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:02:12 GMT

Kprasadreddy
Three out of every four automobile owners in the U.S also own a bicyle

One out of every four automobile owners in the U.S also owns a bicyle

Kprasadreddy
Thanks but can you explain the grammar behind it?

In your first example, "three" is the subject of the sentence. The prepositional phrase "out of etc." modifies "three." The plural subject requires the plural verb, "own."

The subject of your second sentence is "one," which is singular and takes the singular verb "owns."

The separate issue, "bicycle(s)," is something I'm not sure about. If you say "'Three people own a bicycle," it could be interpreted to mean that they all share in the ownership of a single bicycle. In the present example, context would rule that out; but "Three people own bicycles," could mean that A owns one, B owns one, and C owns five - equals seven bicycles all together. (You might argue that that doesn't matter.)

Best regards, - A.

Re: comma before 'when'? is it correct?

Carson21 — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 06:10:26 GMT

Futurehuman11 wrote:
That fight comes in 10 days, when Lesnar takes on former UFC heavyweight champ Frank Mir in the co-main event of UFC 81.

This is similar to the case of the second clause renaming the first.

My teacher, Mrs. Smith, is the first English teacher I've had that didn't use 'is' with a plural subject!

We renamed "my teacher", so we use a comma.

... 10 days, when Lesnar...

This time, rather than re-naming (or rather, re-specifying) a person or object, we're renaming a time frame.

I must comment, however, on the odd grammar of the first clause. "That fight comes in 10 days..." sound wierd to me. If I were to write that whole sentence, it'd look like this:

Lesnar takes on former UFC heavyweight champ Frank Mir in UFC 81 in ten days! or Ten days from now, Lesnar takes on ...

Unless there's a context this sentence was pulled out of?

Re: I need help with the Grammar on my Essay!

Feebs11 — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 23:27:19 GMT

two thoughts really stands in the forefront. plural subject = plural verb.

Secondly, I started Cub Scouts when I was 7, working my way

the self discipline and responsibilities given by my ~~pears~~ peers truly expanded

brought tremendous satisfaction, having once been in their shoes.

giving on a personal level can change people's lives.

Re: Please answer ASAP. Thanks in advance.

Grammar Geek — Thu, 31 May 2007 21:54:39 GMT

spelling and grammar = plural subject = plural verb = were.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

Re: Verb form for "any of the..."

Kilimanjaro — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 15:56:40 GMT

Gori wrote:

When you start a sentence, for example, "None of the students...,"
I know that one can use either "is" or "are" as its verb. (According to grammar books, they say "is" is more formal than "are" in this case.)

Now my question is this: in the following examples, which is correct to use as a verb form?

1. If any of the students attends a seminar, ...
2. If any of the students attend a seminar, ...

Can I use either case? If so, which verb form is considered to be more formal--singular "attends" or plural "attend"?

Hello Gori

-----When "any of" is followed by a plural subject, the verb can be singular or plural. A singular form is more common in a formal style.

If any of your friends is / are interested, let me know.

Ref: MICHAEL SWAN (PRACTICAL ENGLISH USAGE)------

However, as for the question form ; "Do any of these books belong to you" is the only example he gives in his book. I wonder if "does any of these books belong to you" works as well. Perhaps a native speaker can help us.

Re: grammar problem---a sentence from a fact sheet

Alexacao — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 12:23:37 GMT

CalifJim wrote:
Hmmm. I don't see any reason to agonize over plurality here. To me the full energy savings is only one entity -- a certain monetary amount, so the ... savings ... is not included in the prices ... What would the plurality be that could be included (but isn't) in something like prices? Could we include only one saving in the price?

CJ

Thanks a lot.

But could one say "The full energy saving from recycling used beverage containers, for example, is not included in the prices negotiated in a curbside recycling contract."? If this sentence is ok, why bother using the plural subject?

Re: Somebody.....problem

Goodman — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 22:21:31 GMT

Here is an article Iâve found in the interest of singularity and plurality. It may be helpful in answering some of the questions.___________________________________________________________

Is None Singular or Plural?

By Diane Sandford

Published July 21, 2003

Welcome to a new feature from LLRX: a column on grammar. Grammar? Who cares about grammar? You should. How you write makes a strong impression on all your working relationships. Of course, I'm interested because I find it fun. It can even be billable! I once spent hours meticulously diagramming a section of the CFR for a litigation partner to help him determine the intent of a regulation. He later asked just what the correct term was for people like me - those odd individuals who like to edit, diagram sentences, and debate about things grammatical. I was quick to respond, "Grammar Goddess, of course!"

Every firm can use a grammar goddess (or g-d). With my trusty style manuals, dictionaries, and grammar books by my side, I plan to take a look at common questions of grammar that arise during the work day and share the answers with you. Rarely a day goes by that I'm not asked a grammar question.

Â· Should certain words in a title be capitalized?

Â· Should a sentence with ambiguous antecedents be recast ? (Yes!)

Â· Does a closing quotation mark go before or after the period? (After.)

Recently, a summer associate asked whether the indefinite pronoun none was singular or plural. She asked because she wasn't sure which form of verb to use with it, singular or plural. I suggested that she think of none as not one, and that quickly resolved the issue.

Indefinite pronouns by definition reference nonspecific things or people. Most of these pronouns take a singular verb, some are always plural, and a few may be either singular or plural. Take a look at the lists below, and you'll notice that most indefinite pronouns are singular.

Â· Singular: another, anybody, anyone, anything, each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, many a, neither, no one, nobody, nothing, one, other, somebody, someone

Â· Plural: both, few, many, others, several

Â· Singular or Plural: all, any, none, some, such

A good rule of thumb is to treat most indefinite pronouns as singular and try to remember the few exceptions.

Example 1: Neither of the attorneys (was/were) available for comment.
Think: Not one of the attorneys was available for comment. (singular subject/singular verb)

Example 2: None of the documents (is/are) identified in the brief.
Think: Not one of the documents is identified in the brief. (singular subject/singular verb)

Example 3: Some of the arguments (was/were) weak.
Think: More than one of the arguments were weak. (plural subject/plural verb)

On the surface, indefinite pronouns seem simple and harmless, but they often cause confusion for writers. Try rephrasing the sentence by replacing the indefinite pronoun with some of the suggested variations above, and you'll usually make the correct choice.

If you are interested in a more extensive discussion of indefinite pronouns, take a look at Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage (available in print only) or visit www.bartleby.com, one of the most useful web resources for writers, editors, and researchers alike. Simply enter a free-text search or select a specific reference title to search from the pull-down menu (e.g., Strunk's Style).

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