Are they correct ?

Question

Please check whether these corrections are right or wrong ?

1. Too great a variety of studies destruct the mind.
Too great a variety of studies will destruct the mind.

2. The whole fleet of ships were captured.
The whole fleet of ships was captured.

3. None but fools has ever believed it.

None but fools have ever believed it.

4. He is one of the cleverest boys that has passed through the school.
He is one of the cleverest boys who have passed through the school.

5. My friend, philosopher and guide have come.
My friend, philosopher and guide has come.

6. The majority are opposed to this proposal.
The majority is opposed to this proposal.

7. He told me that he saw his father last month.
He told me that he had seen his father last month.

8. If he would have worked hard, he would have passed the examination.
If he had worked hard, he would have passed the examination.

9. Unless he will be more careful, he will not recover.
Unless he is more careful, he will not recover.

Avangi · Accepted Answer

Hi, Aparajaya. Welcome to English Forurms. Thanks for joining us! [<:o)] - A.

This is just my opinion:
I'm not sure about #4. The substitution of "who" is correct, but I would stick with "has."

In #6, both are correct. According to "notional concord," you may use singular or plural, according to the way you think of it in your own mind.

Likewise in #7, both are correct. The past perfect is correct, but optional.

The others I feel are all correct.

Cool Breeze · Answer

Welcome to EF, Aparaya![Y]

Aparajaya1. Too great a variety of studies destruct the mind.
Too great a variety of studies will destruct the mind.

Your correction is fine. The simple present destructs could also be used to denote a universal truth; in other words, this always happens.

Aparajaya2. The whole fleet of ships were captured.
The whole fleet of ships was captured.

English usage varies greatly with regard to a singular or plural verb in cases like this. Very often the plural is common in British English while Americans prefer the singular. There are often different opinions about correctness. Both of the above sentences are fine with me but I think I would choose were if I had to choose just one of the verbs.

Aparajaya3. None but fools has ever believed it.
None but fools have ever believed it.

Only have is correct.

Aparajaya4. He is one of the cleverest boys that has passed through the school.
He is one of the cleverest boys who have passed through the school.

Has is definitely wrong even though it is very common even in native speakers' speech. This is a universal mistake that can be and is made in very many languages. People who get it wrong just look at one and use has because of that. They don't realise that the actual antecedent of the relative pronoun is the cleverest boys.

Who have passed is fine but that have passed would also be right. In fact, quite a few grammarians would prefer it because of the superlative the cleverest in the antecedent.

Aparajaya5. My friend, philosopher and guide have come.
My friend, philosopher and guide has come.

Have is right if three people came. Has is right if one person came. This one person is simultaneously your friend, philosopher and guide.

Aparajaya6. The majority are opposed to this proposal.
The majority is opposed to this proposal.

Both are fine. See my reply to No. 2.

Aparajaya7. He told me that he saw his father last month.
He told me that he had seen his father last month.

Both are fine. My preference would be saw.
Aparajaya8. If he would have worked hard, he would have passed the examination.
If he had worked hard, he would have passed the examination.

Your correction is correct.

Aparajaya9. Unless he will be more careful, he will not recover.
Unless he is more careful, he will not recover.

Your correction is correct.

CB

Anonymous · Answer

they are correct.....without doubt

Anonymous · Answer

however in the fourth question in place of ....who have...that have... should have been used.

Are they correct ?

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