I'm a curriculum developer and write training materials for an agency that works on behalf of children. I often use "child(ren)" when the context could refer to one child or more than one child.
Which is correct: "The child(ren) is.." or "The child(ren) are..."? I can't find any grammar rule anywhere that relates to that issue.
Which is correct: "The child(ren) is.." or "The child(ren) are..."? I can't find any grammar rule anywhere that relates to that issue.
keneldeerWhich is correct: "The child(ren) is.." or "The child(ren) are..."? I can't find any grammar rule anywhere that relates to that issue.I haven't seen this before but it strikes me as a perfectly good extension of the much more common "parentheses s" as in father(s), mother(s), etc.
Comments
The children are ....
The/A child is ....
Child is singular. Children is plural. Therefore, use singular verb for first (is) and plural verb (are) for second.
The child(ren) is(are)...
are.
You are technically saying "the child or children..." therefore are would be most appropriate.