By Verbs, Compound subjects

It's not an easy sentence. You have a compound subject, so you'd think a plural verb would be required. If you said, "One of the important influences is that of nature," you'd easily accept that "influences" is not the subject, and you'd reject "One of...

I think so. You have a compound subject, "waking", and "sounds," so you require a plural verb, "were." I would say, "in my bed." It's difficult to parse this sentence, if I use the term correctly. It would read better if both subjects were the...

A "while" clause usually answers the question "when," although it could have other uses. But that's the way we were using it in your example. So that makes the clause adverbial in function, modifying the verb. "Since" is more like "because," and would...

I'm amused by the credit given to native speakers. We can say, "I've never heard such a thing," or "I'd say it this way," but that doesn't mean we know what's "correct." For example, when I say, "Just between you and me, I think she's great," people from the next register are horrified. "NO,...

Tbsukt wrote:1) A new year is at the open with new joys and new opportunities. As they always say, carpe Diem, seize the day! Live each day to the fullest but never forget to save some time for both your bodies and souls to rest.2) Your friendship and loyalty to one another inspires me. Cherish...

Hi Teo I hope the following will be helpful. In BrE, it should be There is a cat and a dog. 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'...

The limitation and the damage - compound subject linked by and, so use the plural form of the verb, do. (Does the contract really impose damage?)

I can only tell you my experiences as a parent. My older daugher is 10. This year, she brought home papers in which she had to identify things like the simple subject, the complete subject, the simple predicate, the complete predicate, etc. She also had exercises last year on whether something...

The 'rule' is that the verb agrees in number with the proximal (nearest) noun of the compound subject. But it doesn't work with 'and'-- it works with 'or':A boy or three girls are meeting me at the station.Three girls or a boy is meeting me at the station.But:Three girls and a boy are meeting me...

Yes Are ([or is??) the following acceptable? Passing exams IS important to me. Yes Passing exams and enjoying college ARE important to me. Yes Supporting the Dallas Cowboys IS importing to Matt and Greg Yes Playing football and basketball MEANS a lot to Greg The next two depend if you think of...