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Student199 Posted 8 years ago
Grammar

Antecedent(esp. multiple uncountable nouns) + relative pronoun + verb

(Summary)

Some journalists seem to use singular verbs when their antecedents are composed of, especially, multiple unaccountable nouns. Others, plural verbs.

(Q1) Are these two usages being accepted generally? Otherwise, should plural verbs be used when they have multiple antecedents? Which one is preferred to be grammatically correct?

Or,

(Q2 ) Is this usage related to the combination of "the amount of + multiple uncountable nouns"?


(Some Examples)

(1) BBC

"The amount of money, time, work that has went into the renovation - and for this to happen - is madness."


(2) The New York Times

On Friday night, Mara bemoaned the amount of time and money that is going to be spent in court, and said it was not a productive process at a time when the N.F.L. is so popular. Smith apologized to fans that it had come to this.


(3) The Guardian
It is not only time and money that are the issue.


(4) BBC

"It will reach a point where the sales of a new model of feature phone will not be able to justify the amount of time and money that is spent into developing it."


(5) The New York Times

The people in these neighborhoods can’t just pick up and move; moving takes time and money, which are in short supply in such neighborhoods.


(6) Forbes

Royalty clauses differ, but a typical clause would call for the landowner to be paid a royalty based on the amount of oil and gas that is produced and saved from the well, traditionally 1/8th of the gross production.


(7) Forbes

After a certain period of time (such as 20 or 25 years, for example), your federal student loans (not private student loans) can be forgiven. However, you likely will owe income taxes on the amount of your student loans that are forgiven.

  

Top answer

student199 (Q2 ) Is this usage related to the combination of "the amount of + multiple uncountable nouns"? Yes. All but one of your singular verb examples involve "the amount of ~" which is grammatically singular no matter what follows.

  • student199 (Q2 ) Is this usage related to the combination of "the amount of + multiple uncountable nouns"?
  • Yes.
  • All but one of your singular verb examples involve "the amount of ~" which is grammatically singular no matter what follows.
  • In (7), I suppose "that are forgiven" is intended to modify "student loans" rather than "amount", but to me it does not read tremendously well.
  • Opinions may vary.
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1 Answers
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student199(Q2 ) Is this usage related to the combination of "the amount of + multiple uncountable nouns"?

Yes. All but one of your singular verb examples involve "the amount of ~" which is grammatically singular no matter what follows. In (7), I suppose "that are forgiven" is intended to modify "student loans" rather than "amount", but to me it does not rea

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