|
|
 #2 (permalink) Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:42 am whose - of which - which of |
|
|
The computer, the memory capacity of which has just been upgraded, is among the latest generations. Correct but awkward.
The computer whose memory has just been upgraded, is among the latest generations. Much better and easier to read.
There are a teacher and fifty students there. "Are" refers to the teacher as well as the students so you need the plural form of the verb.
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary |
|
Torsten
Learning Coach
Joined: 25 Sep 2003
Posts: 10051
Location: EU
|
|
| #3 (permalink) Fri Apr 04, 2008 3:08 am whose - of which - which of |
|
|
Hi Torsten,
Thanks a lot for your help.
About the second question, I know the plural form of the verb is more suitable here, but I ask you because I was distracted by this: I have heard form someone that when we use the verb be to list something, the verb should be in singular. For example:
There is two tables, nine chairs and three blackboard in the room
I wonder if this is right and whether it is right in British English or in American English.
By the way, Torsten, I guess you are American, right? 
_________________
 ... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know..
Sorry seems to be the hardest word... |
|
 Nessie
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 1102
|
 |
| #4 (permalink) Fri Apr 04, 2008 3:40 am whose - of which - which of |
|
|
Hi Nessie
I think most native speakers would write "There are two tables, nine chairs and three blackboard in the room." To be honest, that probably is mainly because the word 'two' immediately follows the verb (and also because of the other numbers in the sentence).
However, if a group of things can be considered to be one unit, the word 'is' can be used. For example:
- There is spaghetti and meatballs on the menu.
(Spaghetti and meatballs is the name of one item on the menu.)
Sometimes you will see "there's" used to present a list of things that exist in one particular place:
- There's milk, eggs and cheese in the fridge.
(In other words 'there is some of each in the fridge'.)
We don't generally say "there is" in spoken English. Instead we usually say "there's".
The word "there's" is sometimes used in informal spoken English for both singular and plural.
. |
|
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8265
Location: USA
|
|
|
Nessie
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 1102
|
|
| #6 (permalink) Fri Apr 04, 2008 3:51 am whose - of which - which of |
|
|
| Quote: |
| The computer whose memory has just been upgraded, is among the latest generations. |
Typo? That sentence needs either two commas or no commas, Torsten.
. |
|
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8265
Location: USA
|
|
| #7 (permalink) Fri Apr 04, 2008 3:58 am whose - of which - which of |
|
|
Hi Nessie
"There is" is commonly used if the sentence basically means "There is some of this, and there is some of this, and there is some of this. In other words, you are not really looking at the things as plural things, but rather you're looking at single categories of things that make something up.
Why don't you try creating a few sentences of your own? I'll be happy to tell you if they sound natural to my ear.
. |
|
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8265
Location: USA
|
|
|
Nessie
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 1102
|
|
| #9 (permalink) Fri Apr 04, 2008 4:39 am whose - of which - which of |
|
|
Hi Nessie
Sorry, but I don't really like this sentence with 'is':
There is tables, chairs and blackboards in the room.
I worded my last post badly. I meant that you could look at each of the things in the fridge as a basic food rather than as countable, multiple things. And some of those things are also likely to be uncountable (singlular) nouns.
I don't have any problem saying "There's a teacher and 50 students in the classroom." To me, you might be looking at the group of 51 people as something that typically forms a single unit. In other words, a single class typically consists of one teacher and multiple students. However, if you turned the the sentence around and said "50 students and a teacher", I'd be much more likely to use "there are".
Sometimes "there's" will be used with an idiom like this:
There is a lot of blood, sweat and tears required before you can even hope to win a gold medal at the Olympics.
. |
|
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8265
Location: USA
|
|
|
Nessie
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 1102
|
|
|
Nessie
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 1102
|
|
|
Nessie
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 1102
|
|
| #13 (permalink) Sat Apr 05, 2008 8:34 am whose - of which - which of |
|
|
Hi Nessie,
The use of 'there is/there are' is in the process of change as happens all the time with living languages and that's probably why you find it so troublesome. Grammarians refer to 'existential there' when it is used to introduce a topic or subject. Conventionally we have:
There is a fly in my soup
There are two spiders on the wall.
At the same time in conversation, narrative and informal language you will hear this:
A How many bedrooms does the house have?
B There's four bedrooms if you count the very small one.
Probably this doesn't help much but that's the current position in the language and There is/there's are becoming acceptable. The sentences you have given in your previous posting:
| Quote: |
There IS A TEACHER and fifty students there.
There ARE two tableS, nine chairS and three blackboardS in the room
There IS spaghetti and meatballs on the menu
There'S milk, eggs and cheese in the fridge |
all seem fine to me. All I am trying to say is that you may well hear/read sentences that break this 'rule' and that's why I have explained that 'there is' is creeping into the language and can be used with singular and plural. If you know French, you can see a similar construction in 'C'est'.
Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Read all about it |
|
Alan
Co-founder
Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 9191
Location: UK
|
|
|
Nessie
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 1102
|
|
|
| Exercise: They were warned never ... with the members of any extremist | Optional test questions (you don't have to take the driving test if you don't) |
