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Believer Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

Can be workable depending on where it is coming from?

Hi,

I think I got the following sentence from a post here.

I think the reason that Mike gave for being late was credible.

Here, I think you can make it 'a reason' if the writer is thinking or coming from the "multiple reasons" point of view and it can be written like this.

I think a reason that Mike gave for being late was credible.
  

Top answer

I think you need some other stuff in there to have a clear sentence, say: I think at least one of the reason s that Mike gave for being late was credible. I think one of the reason s that Mike gave for being late was credible. I think only a reason that Mike gave for being late was credible.

— Marius Hancu

  • I think you need some other stuff in there to have a clear sentence, say: I think at least one of the reason s that Mike gave for being late was credible.
  • I think one of the reason s that Mike gave for being late was credible.
  • I think only a reason that Mike gave for being late was credible.
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3 Answers
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I think you need some other stuff in there to have a clear sentence, say:


I think at least one of the reasons that Mike gave for being late was credible.
I think one of the reasons that Mike gave for being late was credible.
I think only a reason that Mike gave for being late was credibl
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Thank you.

Do you think your third sentence is correct?

I think only a reason that Mike gave for being late was credible.

I don't see that pattern that much.
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Here, I think you can make it 'a reason' if the writer is thinking or coming from the "multiple reasons" point of view

It could work that way, yes, but the more common structure for expressing that thought is:

I think one of the reasons that Mike gave for being late was credible.

CJ
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