Search results for 'tag:Plurals tag:Constructions' matching tags 'Plurals' and 'Constructions'

Re: This is about the word "there"

Yoong Liat — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:31:23 GMT

Hi Anon

Below is the information extracted from two books on English usage. The first book is on British English usage, the second on American English usage.

1. The Right Word at the Right Time states as follows:

There is an apple and pears for dessert.

There are apples and a pear for dessert.

2. The Merriam-Webster Guide to English Usage states as follows:

When a compound subject follows the verb and the first element is singular, the verb may be either singular or plural:

There is a lake and several small streams.

There are a dog and a few cats in the house.

The singular construction is more common. Still, some writers insist on formal agreement and use a plural verb:

There were an apartment house and a parking lot at the end of the block.

Re: The politician's close associations/relations with know criminals

Montur — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:21:18 GMT

The words are not synonymous. "Association" (notice the singular construction, not plural), implies the sort of liaison one might have with business âassociatesâ, or indeed criminal ones. âRelationshipâ on the other hand (also singular for preference), embraces the possibility of a closer, perhaps more intimate bond. In the context, âassociationâ would be my preferred choice.

Re: Pronoun question

CalifJim — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:16:27 GMT

Eddie88
Why is the rule that one is to use the possessive pronoun with a gerund?

Why is the rule that one is to use "am" with "I", and "are" with "you"? Why is the rule to use "this" with singular nouns and "these" with plural nouns? The rules are an attempt to summarize usage. There is no reason why. They're just rules.

And anyway, you don't always have to use a possessive pronoun with a gerund.

Helen is annoyed by all that paper being on the kitchen table. (Few would write paper's.)

Paul agrees to there being a policy established to control the price of coal. (Certainly not there's)

And you can use a pronoun in the objective case if you want to be less formal.

Tina appreciated him/his helping her with the repairs.

Eddie88
And can someone please explain when it is the objective case when there is preposition in the sentence.

I'm not sure what you're asking, but the objective case is used after a preposition.

with me; for him; without her; from me; to him; etc.

Eddie88
For example one is to use WHOM (the objective case) when a preosition is in the sentence.

As above,

with whom, for whom; without whom, from whom, etc.

These would be used in questions and in relative clauses.

With whom did you attend the play?

For whom are you waiting?

From whom did you receive that letter?

The man of whom I spoke yesterday has arrived.

Miss Thomas was the woman with whom Mr. Sparks was dancing.

___

Constructions with whom are all rather formal.

Re: Why "there is"?

Yoong Liat — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 04:45:06 GMT

Hi Ohmyrichard

The following is for your information.

Below is the information extracted from two books on English usage. The first book is on British English usage, the second on American English usage.

The Right Word at the Right Time states as follows:

There is an apple and pears for dessert.

There are apples and a pear for dessert.

The Merriam-Webster Guide to English Usage states as follows:

When a compound subject follows the verb and the first element is singular, the verb may be either singular or plural:

There is a lake and several small streams.

There are a dog and a few cats in the house.

The singular construction is more common. Still, some writers insist on formal agreement and use a plural verb:

There were an apartment house and a parking lot at the end of the block.

Re: Grammatical mistakes

AlpheccaStars — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 02:04:10 GMT

4) Instead of "in this order", it might sound better as "in that order"

The rule for #5 is:

The conjunction or does not conjoin (as and does): when nor or or is used the subject closer to the verb determines the number of the verb.

(From the dictionary) Usage Note: When all the elements in a series connected by or are singular, the verb they govern is singular: Tom or Jack is coming. Beer, ale, or wine is included in the charge. When all the elements are plural, the verb is plural. When the elements do not agree in number, some grammarians have suggested that the verb should agree in number with the nearest element: Tom or his sisters are coming. The girls or their brother is coming. Cold symptoms or headache is the usual first sign. Other grammarians, however, have argued that such constructions are inherently illogical and that the only solution is to revise the sentence to avoid the problem of agreement: Either Tom is coming or his sisters are. The usual first sign may be either cold symptoms or a headache.

"The management or restoration of these systems are critical issues" >> not correct.

The management or restoration of these systems is a critical issue.

The management and restoration of these systems are critical issues.

Re: Is this noun singular or plural?

WilsonBR — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 03:18:50 GMT

Very clear information! Thank you, CalifJim!

Just one more question to make it even clearer.

If I saw a True or False Question. What should I check for each sentence?

( ) There is a growing number of people...

( ) There are a growing number of people...

Are both constructions acceptable?

Thank you once again!

Re: Plural Subject, Pluarl Verb, Singular Object

AlpheccaStars — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 04:58:53 GMT

Ditch
But can anyone think of a construction with a plural subject and a singular object that implies individual ownership, but which doesn't involve any modifers?

Only when it is really obvious, such as an innate characteristic::

Male lions have a mane, females do not.

Palamino horses have a flaxen mane and tail and a contrasting golden coat.

Re: Plural Subject, Pluarl Verb, Singular Object

Ditch — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 03:39:27 GMT

Thank you both for shedding some light on this!

"The key word is 'most'."

I suspected as much. What if the sentence is modified by an adverb?

"Sometimes, the cats have a collar."
"Usually, the cats have a collar."
"Often, the cats have a collar."
"Typically, the cats have a collar."

To me, they all sound right.

What about, "A lot of cats have a collar"?

Obviously, it doesn't always come down to modifiers.

"The players had an objection."

But can anyone think of a construction with a plural subject and a singular object that implies individual ownership, but which doesn't involve any modifers?

Re: "any"-defining

Fandorin — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:18:36 GMT

Kooyeen

You can do that too, but it is not common, it's only used sometimes for emphasis. It's easy to build odd sentences that way, so I personally prefer to avoid using it that way, as a learner. When talking about one thing, using the article "a" (or "an") is the common way to say it...
Do you have a sister? Is there a hospital near here? I don't have a sister, you must be mistaking me for someone else...

I didn't consider uncountable nouns because they are not usually used in the plural, so they weren't part of our problem. I didn't consider idioms or exceptions either... I can think of a couple of them right now:
Is there any reason why you are not allowed to do that?
There isn't any way to find out the truth, I'm afraid.

The singular seems to be the idiomatic choice in those cases.

Yes, it's odd way not to use "a". Indeed, "any=some" implies itself plural noun to be used. So the difference in translation some of constructions in English seems to be slightly smoothed between two meanings you mentioned above. At least it's so in my language.

Re: Not only, but also

Philip — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:39:47 GMT

Although I use the construction often in other places, I do not remember ever using not only...but also as the subject of a sentence. Perhaps your problem in choosing a singular or plural verb is exactly why I don't deal with it.