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Christanford Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Agreement question
In a government commercial (is it still called a commercial?) about the swine flu I heard this:
If respiratory symptoms or fever develop.....
I wonder why 'develop' is used in the plural here when the noun in its immediate proximity, 'fever', is singular.
Thanks so much in advance!
If respiratory symptoms or fever develop.....
I wonder why 'develop' is used in the plural here when the noun in its immediate proximity, 'fever', is singular.
Thanks so much in advance!
Top answer
If it is not selling something and giving information it may be called different things. From the government, it is gennerally called a 'public service announcement'. The plural form is correct because it refers to more than one thing.
- If it is not selling something and giving information it may be called different things.
- From the government, it is gennerally called a 'public service announcement'.
- The plural form is correct because it refers to more than one thing.
- If respiratory symptoms or fever develop..
- First, symptoms is plural, plus the 'or' conjunction combines symptoms and fever into a plual.
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5 Answers
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If it is not selling something and giving information it may be called different things. From the government, it is gennerally called a 'public service announcement'.
The plural form is correct because it refers to more than one thing. If respiratory symptoms or fever develop.. First, symptoms is plural, plus the 'or' conjunction combines symptoms and fever into a plua
The plural form is correct because it refers to more than one thing. If respiratory symptoms or fever develop.. First, symptoms is plural, plus the 'or' conjunction combines symptoms and fever into a plua
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ChristanfordIn a government commercial (is it still called a commercial?) about the swine flu I heard this:To me, 'develops' should be used.
If respiratory symptoms or fever develop..
I wonder why 'develop' is used in the plural here when the noun in its immediate proximity, 'fever', is singular.
Thanks so much in advance!
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Yoong LiatTo me, 'develops' should be used.
Nope. Even native speakers make this mistake. Please see above. The noun is plural and the verb must agree.
Typo:
Even though dad is singular, the 'or' conjunction combine 'mom' and 'dad' into a plural.
Combine should have been combines in this sentence.
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Hi cwtch,
I hate to disagree with you because I've really enjoyed your posts so far, but with a compound subject joined by an "or" (instead of an "and") the verb agrees with the noun that comes closer to the verb.
However, that's "the rule." That's not always what sounds right, and in some settings, the rule of "not sounding weird" trumps the grammatical rule in a spoken message.
I hate to disagree with you because I've really enjoyed your posts so far, but with a compound subject joined by an "or" (instead of an "and") the verb agrees with the noun that comes closer to the verb.
However, that's "the rule." That's not always what sounds right, and in some settings, the rule of "not sounding weird" trumps the grammatical rule in a spoken message.
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Grammar GeekHi cwtch,
I hate to disagree with you because I've really enjoyed your posts so far, but with a compound subject joined by an "or" (instead of an "and") the verb agrees with the noun that comes closer to the verb.
However, that's "the rule." That's not always what sounds right, and in some settings, the rule of "not sounding weird" trumps t
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