0
Victo Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
A plethora of excuses
A plethora of excuses were/was heard
I say were.
I say were.
Top answer
PLETHORA Generally speaking, I would expect this word to be used with 'of+plural noun' (a plethora of things), and would thus expect a plural verb. However, I'd say a singular verb would be more likely if the phrase began with 'the' (rather than with 'a'). This would follow a usage tendency similar to the way we use 'a number of' vs.
- PLETHORA Generally speaking, I would expect this word to be used with 'of+plural noun' (a plethora of things), and would thus expect a plural verb.
- However, I'd say a singular verb would be more likely if the phrase began with 'the' (rather than with 'a').
- This would follow a usage tendency similar to the way we use 'a number of' vs.
- 'the number of'.
- r=947106904#947106904
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
1 Answers
0
PLETHORA
Generally speaking, I would expect this word to be used with 'of+plural noun' (a plethora of things), and would thus expect a plural verb. However, I'd say a singular verb would be more likely if the phrase began with 'the' (rather than with 'a'). This would follow a usage tendency similar to the way we use 'a number of' vs. 'the number of'.
- quoted from
Generally speaking, I would expect this word to be used with 'of+plural noun' (a plethora of things), and would thus expect a plural verb. However, I'd say a singular verb would be more likely if the phrase began with 'the' (rather than with 'a'). This would follow a usage tendency similar to the way we use 'a number of' vs. 'the number of'.
- quoted from
0
Related Questions