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Problem vs. problems



 
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Meaning of 'put her money where her mouth is' | Difference between devote and spend
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Problem vs. problems Thu Feb 17, 2005 6:20 am  Problem vs. problems
 

Test No. incompl/inter-7 "A Holiday Report", question 2

The problems I have ......... the language are to do with spelling.

(a) on
(b) to
(c) with

Test No. incompl/inter-7 "A Holiday Report", answer 2

The problems I have with the language are to do with spelling.

Correct answer: (c) with
_________________________

Hello teachers,

I understand that the answer for this question is 'with,' but I have another question regarding the sentence.

Why does the subject in the sentence have to be plural? 'To do with spelling' is shown as just one problem there, so in this case can we say this as follows?
'The problem I have with the language is to do with spelling.'

Could you please explain why the plural form is used in the sentence for me?

Many thanks for your help in advance.
Kirara
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Joined: 17 Feb 2005
Posts: 2

Problems Thu Feb 17, 2005 10:05 am  Problems
 

An interesting question. Both singular and plural can be used here but I have chosen the plural really to show that spelling can present a whole range of problems and it isn't exclusively spelling because the phrase is to do with/concerning.
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Problem vs. problems Fri Jul 01, 2005 11:12 am  Problem vs. problems
 

I don't understand why can't say 'have problem on the language'?
Thx!
CraNeO
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With/on Fri Jul 01, 2005 11:19 am  With/on
 

Using on doesn't work here because it is too precise. You need with because this means connected with/associated with and is used here to give the general idea rather than the specific.
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