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Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
All is/are sad?
I was taught that if all refers to humanbeings it takes a plural verb but if all refers to things, it takes a singular verb.
For example,
1) All are sad.
2) All is sold out.
And the rule also applies to 'enough', for example,
1) Enough have to attend the meeting.
2) Enough is said about that topic.
This may be a stupid question but if the rule is correct, which kind of verb does it take when 'all' or 'enough' refers to animals?
By the way, some say it just depends on context. Like if it refers to everything then you use a singular verb.
Could you please explain what exactly is the rule? Thank you very much in advance.
For example,
1) All are sad.
2) All is sold out.
And the rule also applies to 'enough', for example,
1) Enough have to attend the meeting.
2) Enough is said about that topic.
This may be a stupid question but if the rule is correct, which kind of verb does it take when 'all' or 'enough' refers to animals?
By the way, some say it just depends on context. Like if it refers to everything then you use a singular verb.
Could you please explain what exactly is the rule? Thank you very much in advance.
Top answer
If all refers to people, a plural verb is used: All are pre sent. = Everybody is present. If all means the same as everything, a singular verb is used: All that glitters is not gold.
- If all refers to people, a plural verb is used: All are pre sent.
- = Everybody is present.
- If all means the same as everything, a singular verb is used: All that glitters is not gold.
- All takes a plural verb if it refers to a plural noun : There are five books on the table.
- All are mine.
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1 Answers
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If all refers to people, a plural verb is used: All are present. = Everybody is present.
If all means the same as everything, a singular verb is used: All that glitters is not gold.
All takes a plural verb if it refers to a plural noun:
There are five
If all means the same as everything, a singular verb is used: All that glitters is not gold.
All takes a plural verb if it refers to a plural noun:
There are five
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