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 #2 (permalink) Tue Aug 22, 2006 15:30 pm Subject-verb agreement |
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It's not clear because there are options. I would prefer the plural as the formal choice in both instances, but some would use the singular in #1 because what appears singular and in #2 because the objects are being itemized one by one, as if observed in that order.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's |
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 Mister Micawber
Language Coach
Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 13015
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| #3 (permalink) Tue Aug 22, 2006 16:07 pm Subject-verb agreement |
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| Thanks a lot, Mr. Micawber! Now I can get some sleep! :lol: |
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Hunnybunny
I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 22 Aug 2006
Posts: 12
Location: Philippines
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| #4 (permalink) Wed Aug 23, 2006 11:08 am Subject-verb agreement |
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hi
so the correct answer is
1. What he needs (is) loving parents and a stable home.
2. In the office (is) a table, a chair and a new computer.
am i right ? |
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Smart
I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 18
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| #5 (permalink) Wed Aug 23, 2006 15:23 pm Subject-verb agreement |
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| hunnybunny wrote: |
1. What he needs (is/are) loving parents and a stable home.
*** What's the rule for this?
2. In the office (is/are) a table, a chair and a new computer.
This has been driving me crazy for the past few days now. Please help me! :cry: |
This is difficult because it's a case of inversion of the verb. Just as in a question, you move the verb up before the subject of the sentence when you add some kinds of material to the front for emphasis.
Let's go back to the basic form of the sentences as they would be constructed in the English-speaking mind before the material was moved.
Loving parents and a stable home are what he needs.
There are two things that he needs (and one of the items is plural even on its own), so you have to use the plural verb form are.
So, when you move "what he needs" to the front, and put the verb before the subject, you correctly get this:
What he needs are loving parents and a stable home.
Let's go to the next sentence:
A table, a chair and a new computer are in the office.
Again, there are three items, so you have to use the plural form of the verb.
In the office are a table, a chair and a new computer.
This whole thing is confusing at the beginning, but it's not rocket science once you realize that it involves moving things around in the sentence.
Look at these examples where the subject is singular:
A stable home is what he needs.
What he needs is a stable home.
A new computer is in the office.
In the office is a new computer.
In real-life, spoken English, people say all kinds of ungrammatical things, but what I've shown you here is the standard rule. |
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Jamie (K)
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 6552
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
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| #6 (permalink) Sat Aug 26, 2006 6:51 am Subject-verb agreement |
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thank you so much Mr:Jamie (K)
now is very clear.
kind regards |
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Smart
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Torsten
Learning Coach
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| #8 (permalink) Sun Aug 27, 2006 6:48 am Subject-verb agreement |
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now It's very clear
thank you so much Mr:Torsten
that what i want, somebody follow or monitor what i have written?
and give me his comment and the correct way to it. |
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Smart
I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 18
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| 'If' versus 'Iff' | Am I supposed not…? vs. Am I not supposed…? |
