|
|
 #2 (permalink) Sat Dec 12, 2009 9:22 am more than one |
|
|
Hi,
'There are' would require a plural to follow - there are more than 6 people involved, for example.
Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple |
|
Alan
Co-founder
Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 14444
Location: UK
|
|
| #3 (permalink) Sat Dec 12, 2009 9:31 am more than one |
|
|
I agree with you, Mr. Alan.
Is "more than one person" plural or singular?
Please confirm.
Thanks,
Er.S.M.M.Hanifa |
|
 Hanifasmm
I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 28 Oct 2008
Posts: 362
|
 |
| #4 (permalink) Sat Dec 12, 2009 9:47 am more than one |
|
|
Hi,
Yes, 'more than one person' means just that - at least two and thus the 'idea' is plural but the subject in your sentence is 'person' and that is singular.
Alan
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms |
|
Alan
Co-founder
Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 14444
Location: UK
|
|
| #5 (permalink) Sat Dec 12, 2009 16:18 pm more than one |
|
|
Mr. Alan, sir,
1. As there is more than one person involved, more care has to be taken.
2. As there are more than one person involved, more care has to be taken.
I am a little confused.
Could you explain to me how you derive that the subject in my above sentences
is 'person' and that is singular?
Thanks,
Er.S.M.M.Hanifa |
|
Hanifasmm
I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 28 Oct 2008
Posts: 362
|
|
| #6 (permalink) Sat Dec 12, 2009 16:55 pm more than one |
|
|
Hi,
'There is' looks forward to a singular noun and that singular noun is 'one person'. 'There is more than one person who is involved'
Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Passive Voice |
|
Alan
Co-founder
Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 14444
Location: UK
|
|
| #7 (permalink) Sat Dec 12, 2009 18:35 pm more than one |
|
|
With respect to the 1st sentence, I find your logic is OK.
What about for my second sentence?
Do you consider my second sentence is wrong grammatically?
Please clear my doubt.
Thanks a lot,
Er.S.M.M.Hanifa |
|
Hanifasmm
I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 28 Oct 2008
Posts: 362
|
|
| #8 (permalink) Sat Dec 12, 2009 19:40 pm more than one |
|
|
Hi,
I don't honestly want to say any more about this. Logic doesn't really come into play here. 'Person' is singular and will always be singular. 'Persons' is plural and will always be so.
Alan
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Prepositions |
|
Alan
Co-founder
Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 14444
Location: UK
|
|
| #9 (permalink) Sun Dec 13, 2009 5:33 am more than one |
|
|
Hanifa,
You may have been confused by Alan's last example "persons" compared to "people" in his earlier example. Anyway, the word "people" is treated as a plural noun and as already explained, "[more than one] person" is treated as singular. Logically then, "there is ..... one person" / "there are .... two people". Your second sentence did not follow this logic by saying "there are .... one person".
I don't know if that confuses you more... I hope not. |
|
Mxreader
New Member
Joined: 15 Nov 2008
Posts: 5
|
|
| #10 (permalink) Sun Dec 13, 2009 12:09 pm more than one |
|
|
Dear Mr. Alan & Mr. Mxreader,
Thanks a lot for all your explanations,
Er.S.M.M.Hanifa |
|
Hanifasmm
I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 28 Oct 2008
Posts: 362
|
|
|
| Pretty or quite? | resist vs withstand |
