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Belinda Chen Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
All is/are
Here I have a question about "all" word usage. I have asked the similar question earlier. But here I would like to make it clear what I am really confused about after I have searched for the answers that are related with such questions somewhere else.
The word can be used as singular as well as plural pronouns.
Ex: All are yours/ All are equal, All is lost/ All is gone.
So I am wondering if I can take "all" in the sentences below as either plural or singular to have the proper verb (is or are) by what I want them to be when I write. I have found that there are many discussion about such question. Some said "all" as subject should always take singular verb. Some are not.
-All I bought is/are books.
-All I need is/are five pens.
-All I should invest my money in is/are telecoms companies.
-All he has is/are us. (All here is always followed by is)
-All I want to do is/are to eat and drink. (All here is always followed
by is)
Besides, some who said "all" should take singular verb for this kind of sentences also think that they use a plural verb when something plural has already been mentioned:
- I thought I had plenty of matching socks. "But all I have left are odd ones."
But they use a singular verb when there's no reference back to a previous plural:
- My father died many years ago. "All I have left is my memories."
Here is my further question that if "all" as subject can only take singular verb, what about the sentences below? Aren't they grammatical by having plural verbs?
-All that are cheaper always stimulate people to purchase them.
-All that are regarded as functional items are popular.
-He lent me ten books. "All that are easy for me to read are only two books.
-She saw ten films recently. "All that made her impressed are only the three.
Please help me to figure it out. Thanks you.
The word can be used as singular as well as plural pronouns.
Ex: All are yours/ All are equal, All is lost/ All is gone.
So I am wondering if I can take "all" in the sentences below as either plural or singular to have the proper verb (is or are) by what I want them to be when I write. I have found that there are many discussion about such question. Some said "all" as subject should always take singular verb. Some are not.
-All I bought is/are books.
-All I need is/are five pens.
-All I should invest my money in is/are telecoms companies.
-All he has is/are us. (All here is always followed by is)
-All I want to do is/are to eat and drink. (All here is always followed
by is)
Besides, some who said "all" should take singular verb for this kind of sentences also think that they use a plural verb when something plural has already been mentioned:
- I thought I had plenty of matching socks. "But all I have left are odd ones."
But they use a singular verb when there's no reference back to a previous plural:
- My father died many years ago. "All I have left is my memories."
Here is my further question that if "all" as subject can only take singular verb, what about the sentences below? Aren't they grammatical by having plural verbs?
-All that are cheaper always stimulate people to purchase them.
-All that are regarded as functional items are popular.
-He lent me ten books. "All that are easy for me to read are only two books.
-She saw ten films recently. "All that made her impressed are only the three.
Please help me to figure it out. Thanks you.
Top answer
If you consider that 'all' can refer to either the totality of one thing, or a group of many things, does this help? I don't know if your example sentences are strictly grammatically correct, but they are clumsy and no-one would use such convoluted sentences.
- If you consider that 'all' can refer to either the totality of one thing, or a group of many things, does this help?
- I don't know if your example sentences are strictly grammatically correct, but they are clumsy and no-one would use such convoluted sentences.
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12 Answers
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If you consider that 'all' can refer to either the totality of one thing, or a group of many things, does this help? I don't know if your example sentences are strictly grammatically correct, but they are clumsy and no-one would use such convoluted sentences.
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All my shoe is black - one black shoe. All my shoes are black - lots of black shoes.
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Thanks for the reply.
How about the "all that are" phrase as a subject in the sentences below? Do they not work either?
The five radiation treatments are all that are planned at this time.
=All that are planned at this time are the five radiation treatments.
The marble materials are all that are available
=All that are available are the marble materials.
How about the "all that are" phrase as a subject in the sentences below? Do they not work either?
The five radiation treatments are all that are planned at this time.
=All that are planned at this time are the five radiation treatments.
The marble materials are all that are available
=All that are available are the marble materials.
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Belinda Chen Thanks for the reply.How about the "all that are" phrase as a subject in the sentences below? Do they not work either?The five radiation treatments are all that are planned at this time.=All that are planned at this time are the five radiation treatments.The marble materials are all that are available=All that are available are the marble materials.
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By choosing 'is' or 'are' you are defining whether the 'all' is single or multiple. Often this could be interpreted either way, for example 'food and drink' can be single or multiple. It's only when the subject obviously conflicts with the logical type of all that the sentence looks obviously wrong.
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All I want is food-and-drink. All I want are food and drink. (Hyphens not normally used, just here to illustrate the point.
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Vic Z(Hyphens not normally used, just here to illustrate the point.)Yes, but both parentheses are normally used.
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Vic Z Watching footie .. my excuse!Multi-tasking isn't as easy as it seems.
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Really appreciate your explanation. It helps a lot.
Also I am wondering if the sentences are ungrammatical and sounds odd ?
Her children are all who she cares about.
=All who she cares about are her children.
Those experts are all who he needs
=All who he needs are those experts.
They are all who she loves.
=All who she loves are them.
We ar
Also I am wondering if the sentences are ungrammatical and sounds odd ?
Her children are all who she cares about.
=All who she cares about are her children.
Those experts are all who he needs
=All who he needs are those experts.
They are all who she loves.
=All who she loves are them.
We ar
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